Marianne Faithfull is dead: overdose, abortion… her tumultuous story with Mick Jagger

Marianne Faithfull passed away this Thursday October 30 at the age of 78. The singer had a life marked by ups and downs.

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British singer Marianne Faithfull has died

IN BRIEF

• British singer Marianne Faithfull has died at 78 years old at London, surrounded by her family, according to an official statement.
• Known for her unique voice, she made her mark in the 1960s with the song 'As Tears Go By' and battled heroin addiction.
• Discover how Marianne Faithfull overcame personal and professional challenges throughout her career.

The music world is in mourning. Marianne Faithfull, has died at the age of 78 in London, a spokesperson has revealed in a statement sent to AFP. “It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of British singer, songwriter and actress Marianne Faithfull. She passed away peacefully in London today, in the company of her family. She will be greatly missed,” it said.

A British singer, songwriter and actress whose career spanned several decades, Marianne Faithfull was recognizable for her deep, gravelly voice. In 1964, at the age of 17, she was spotted by Andrew Loog Oldham, the manager of the Rolling Stones. She then enjoyed immense success with her famous song As Tears Go By.

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Addiction Marianne Faithfull's drugs

At the same time, she had a highly publicized relationship with Mick Jagger. She thus became a muse of the group. &At the end of the 1960s, her musical career declined, notably because of her tumultuous relationship with the rocker and her problems with addiction to the heroine.

In her book, Marianne Faithfull confided in particular about her early years: “I was scary to see, anorexic and incredibly thin, a real skeleton; if you had met me, you wouldn't have wanted anything to do with me,” she confided in her book.

Marianne Faithfull: “I explored all my limits”

The singer has been through very difficult times: “I explored all my limits, and even beyond. It was almost too much, I wouldn't recommend anyone to do the same thing as me”, she explained in the columns of Elle magazine in 2008. Later, the artist managed to get through it thanks to a therapeutic program based on on psychoanalysis and acupuncture: “You can get off drugs if you want to, but there's no point in going to rehab if it's your record company or your agent who sends you there,” she had specified.

In March 2020, Marianne Faithfull made headlines following her hospitalization in London after contracting the coronavirus. “Marianne Faithfull's manager […] has confirmed that Marianne is being treated for Covid-19 in a London hospital. She is in a stable condition and is responding well to treatment. We wish her a full and speedy recovery,” the singer's agency had announced at the time.