The death of singer and actress Marianne Faithfull has been announced. She was 78.
Faithfull's hits included As Tears Go By, which was written by The Rolling Stones’ Mick Jagger and Keith Richards and recorded while she was still in her teens.
In addition to her music career, Faithfull also acted in films including The Girl on a Motorcycle, as well as varios theatre productions.
A statement said: "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."
Born in Hampstead, London, in 1946, Faithfull began her singing career in 1964, after being discovered by Rolling Stones manager Andrew Loog Oldham.
She released her eponymous debut album in 1965, and she was part of what was dubbed 'The Engflish Invasion' as a host of British acts stormed the US charts.
From 1966 to 1970, she had a highly publicised romantic relationship with Mick Jagger.
She was famously found wearing nothing except a rug at an infamous drugs bust at Rolling Stones guitarist Richards' country house, Redlands, in 1967.
Following her split with Jagger, Faithfull spent two years on the streets of Soho while addicted to heroin before living in a squat.
After a long commercial absence, she made a remarkable comeback with the 1979 release of her critically acclaimed album Broken English, which is regarded as her definitive body of work.
Faithfull then re-invented herself in 1987 as a jazz and blues singer, with the critically acclaimed Strange Weather, and in the same decade went into rehab.
The daughter of a British military officer and an Austro-Hungarian Jewish baroness, Faithfull recently appeared in Sofia Coppola's film Marie Antoinette.
She made guest star appearances as God in the TV sitcom Absolutely Fabulous.
Mick Jagger paid tribute to Marianne Faithfull as "a wonderful friend, a beautiful singer and a great actress" in a post on social media.
Jagger wrote: "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."
My heartfelt condolences to Marianne's family! I’m so sad and will miss her!!
— Keith Richards (@officialKeef) January 30, 2025
Love, Keith
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Photo: J.Bouquet pic.twitter.com/shgcKmQPkf
Keith Richards has said he is "so sad" following the death of Marianne Faithfull.
"My heartfelt condolences to Marianne's family! I’m so sad and will miss her!! Love, Keith," he wrote in a statement on X.
Richards also posted a photograph of the two of them toasting a drink together.
Source: PA
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