Marianne Faithfull (1946–2023) was a singular figure in British music whose life and work constantly defied expectations. Discovered at a
Rolling Stones party in 1964, she became a pop star overnight with “As Tears Go By,” written by Jagger/Richards, and quickly emerged as a central presence of the Swinging London scene. Her close relationship with the Stones fed both myth and music, but the late 1960s brought a dramatic collapse into addiction, homelessness, and artistic silence. Against all odds, Faithfull returned with Broken English (1979), an unflinching album shaped by
punk,
new wave, and autobiography, redefining her cracked, world-weary voice as a strength rather than a flaw. She went on to reinvent herself repeatedly—interpreting Brecht and Weill, collaborating with artists as diverse as
Nick Cave ,
PJ Harvey,
Tom Waits, and
Metallica, and acting in film and theatre. Faithfull’s career is a rare case where survival, reinvention, and artistic credibility grew stronger with time.
