Mick Jagger And Marianne Faithfull were together for years (Image: Getty)
The late had a tumultuous four-year romance with frontman in the 1960s. Following the announcement of her passing at 78, tributes have been pouring in, and her life and career have come under the spotlight once again.
Marianne, already an established musician, began an on-again, off-again relationship with Mick in 1966, which ended in 1970. By then, she had already released the hit song As Tears Go By, co-written by Mick and , in 1964.
Prior to her relationship with Mick, Marianne was married to artist John Dunbar, with whom she had a son, from 1965 to 1966. After leaving the family home, she reportedly moved in with Mick.
Tragedy struck in 1968 when Marianne suffered a miscarriage at seven months, having planned to name their daughter Corinna. According to an interview with the Telegraph, this loss, combined with alleged infidelity, led to a “suicide attempt” and contributed to her struggles with drug addiction.
Marianne Faithfull’s tumultuous romance with Mick Jagger had its share of scandal, including an alleged incident where Mick was said to have been unfaithful with Anita Pallenberg – Keith Richards’ partner at the time. In what seemed like a soap opera twist, Marianne and Keith reportedly ended up sleeping together as payback, reports .
Marianne died surrounded by her family (Image: Getty)
Detailing the one-off encounter with Keith to the Daily Mail, Marianne enthused: “I think it was so great and memorable because it was just one night. That was it.”
The love affair between Marianne and the Rolling Stones frontman fell apart in 1970. It was during the troubled aftermath of their separation that she endured a harrowing period, living rough on Soho’s streets while grappling with addiction and an eating disorder, a plight earlier reported by The Guardian.
Reflecting on her storied relationship with Mick years later in an interview with Rolling Stone magazine, she candidly remarked in 2021: “Although it was wonderful, it was only four years. It was a wonderful time, and he was great, but I don’t think I fit into that life or what he wanted in a woman, that’s all.”
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Marianne was a singer and actress in the 60s (Image: Getty)
Further digging into her past troubles, reports mentioned that Marianne disclosed to Q magazine how a notorious drugs raid at Keith Richards’ residence in 1967 spelled doom for her and Mick’s relationship. Caught in a naked state covered only by a fur rug during the raid, she experienced public vilification following swirling rumours, as various sources accounted for.
Marianne Faithfull divulged: “It damaged our relationship, and [four years later] I was living on the street as a drug addict.”
She revealed feelings of inadequacy and low self-esteem, stating she felt “all the things” that typically plague a drug addict. She concluded: “But I don’t think I would’ve felt like that if the drugs bust hadn’t happened.”
Her cancer diagnosis in 2007 led to a reunion with Jagger, as she once said: “He hadn’t called me for 35 years and here he was, making sure I was OK. He loves me and I love him. The fact that our relationship ended in 1970 doesn’t matter.”
On Thursday, the news broke that Marianne had passed away, with an announcement that read: “It is with deep sadness that we announce the death of the singer, songwriter and actress Marianne Faithfull. Marianne passed away peacefully in London today, in the company of her loving family. She will be dearly missed.”
Later that evening, Mick paid a heartfelt tribute to her on social media, describing his late ex-partner as “a wonderful friend, a beautiful singer and a great actress”. He penned: “I am so saddened to hear of the death of Marianne Faithfull. She was so much part of my life for so long. She was a wonderful friend, a beautiful singer and a great actress. She will always be remembered.”