Singer Marianne Faithfull has died, aged 78

Singer, and sometimes actress, Marianne Faithfull, has died at the age of 78.

A statement was released this morning stating, “Marianne passed away peacefully in London today, in the company of her loving family.”

While no official cause of death has been given, the singer had previously suffered several health problems, including bulimia, breast cancer and emphysema caused by decades of smoking.

Faithfull, who had been making music since 1964 when she was discovered by an A&R rep at a launch party for a Rolling Stones record, enjoyed success with songs such as As Tears Go By (1965), Witches’ Song (1979), and her cover of the classic track It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue (1985). But she is best known for her hugely successful singles Broken English and The Ballad of Lucy Jordan, both released in 1979.

An arty black-and-white video was created for the promotion of Broken English, directed by English artist and gay rights activist, Derek Jarman. The clip portrays the futility of war, with distressing scenes lifted from footage of real wars around the world.

Little known for her acting career, Faithfull did star in the popular mod film The Girl On A Motorcycle, released in 1968. It is said her look and vibe in the movie inspired much of Patsy Stone’s character in the UK comedy series, Absolutely Fabulous. Indeed, Faithfull appeared in three episodes of Ab Fab, boldly playing ‘God’.

By her own admission, Marianne Faithfull said she “didn’t do conventional” and was considered pretty much an outlier in the music industry.

She went out with Rolling Stones lead singer Mick Jagger for four years, ending their relationship in 1970 as Marianne’s renowned penchant for illicit substances finally caught up with her (as it did for others in the Stones’ inner circle). After splitting up with Jagger, Faithfull spent years living as a heroin addict on the streets of Soho, London. Fortunately, she survived her addictions and continued to create music up until 2021, releasing more than 20 albums.

In 2005, she released a collaborative LP, Before the Poison, which included collabs with PJ Harvey, Nick Cave, Damon Albarn of Blur, and Jon Brion.

Marianne Faithfull’s trademark, whisky-soaked voice, which turned cracklier and duskier as the decades marched on, will be one forever remembered in music’s classic archives.

Antonino Tati