Marianne Faithfull was one of only few female pop icons to emerge in the 1960s. For years she battled with drug abuse but later celebrated a massive comeback not only as a singer but also as an actress.
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Marianne Faithfull turns 75
Marianne Faithfull's life story amounts to so much more than just the usual tales of sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll surrounding the living legend. She is a passionate performer with great insight into the human condition.
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Modest beginnings in London's pubs
Marianne Faithfull's unique voice was first heard at pubs across London as she grew into her teenage years. In 1964, Faithfull celebrated her first major success with "As Tears Go By," penned by Rolling Stones' band members Mick Jagger and Keith Richards. Other hits followed, including "This Little Bird" and "Summer Nights."
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Living the swinging '60s
In 1965, Faithfull married artist John Dunbar, and became a permanent fixture in London's booming counterculture scene. By the end of that year she gave birth to her only son, Nicholas. But two years later the marriage collapsed, and Faithfull went on to start a relationship with one of the greatest names in rock history.
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Relationship with Jagger
Marianne Faithfull's romantic involvement with Mick Jagger ended up playing a major role in the rock band's overall direction. Songs like "Sympathy for the Devil," "Wild Horses" and "Sister Morphine" were all heavily influenced by their passionate relationship. The latter song, which Faithfull also recorded in her own right, speaks of her issues with drug addiction, which worsened over time.
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One night in Paris...
By 1970, Jagger and Faithfull had separated, leading her further into drug abuse. When Jim Morrison overdosed on heroin in Paris in 1971, the press tried to link Faithfull to the death of The Doors' lead singer, saying she was present when it happened. Years later, Faithfull explained in her autobiography that the only connection was the fact that both musicians used the same drug dealer.
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10-year hiatus
Faithfull withdrew completely from performing for almost a decade, unable to overcome her addiction. Some of that time she spent living on the streets of London's entertainment district, Soho. In 1979, she celebrated a comeback with a radical album, "Broken English." She dedicated the namesake title track to Ulrike Meinhof, a founding member of the Red Army Faction (RAF) terror group in Germany.
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From girl on a bike to empress of Austria
Marianne Faithfull has always looked for artistic fulfillment beyond music as well. Since 1966, she has featured in more than 20 movies, for instance co-starring with Alain Delon in the 1968 film "The Girl on a Motorcycle" or "Shopping," alongside Sadie Frost and Jude Law in 1994. She even played Empress Maria Theresa of Austria in Sofia Coppola's 2006 biopic, "Marie Antoinette."
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Laughing to keep from crying in 'Irina Palm'
The highlight in Faithfull's acting career was her leading role in the 2007 drama "Irina Palm," which garnered her a nomination for a Golden Bear award at that year's Berlinale. Critics and cinemagoers alike fell in love with the film, in which Faithfull plays a 50-year-old woman trying to master her way through some pitfalls of life by taking on an unlikely occupation involving her palm.
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Still well-connected
Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Marianne Faithfull's career continued to flourish, as the singer took on more mature tones. Her musical collaborations also contributed to her massive success. Faithfull hit the recording studio with great performers, including Pink Floyd's Roger Waters, Metallica, Nick Cave and P.J. Harvey. She is pictured here alongside Neil Tennant of the Pet Shop Boys in 1997.
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Not quitting just yet
In 2021, Faithfull was infected with COVID-19 while recording her new album "She Walks In Beauty." She spent three weeks in intensive care, and both her lungs and her voice remain badly affected. Whether she will ever be able to sing properly again is questionable. But she remains confident; after all, she has bounced back from the brink of death more than once.
Marianne Faithfull embodied the groove of the "swinging '60s" like no other. She quickly rose to become the poster girl of the infamous decade, cozying up to the Rolling Stones in more ways than one: first she was Mick Jagger's girlfriend, then Keith Richards' lover before moving on to Brian Jones.
But she wasn't just a glorified muse: Marianne Faithfull launched a successful career in music in her own right, often overshadowed by drug abuse and which later drove her into homelessness and at least one suicide attempt.
In the end, she overcame her demons and celebrated a return to showbiz in style: Marianne Faithfull is a recognized performer, actress and, above all, survivor. The lady with the inimitable husky voice turns 70 on December 29.
