Marianne Faithfull (1946-2025)

Publié le par olivier

Marianne Faithfull (1946-2025)

British singer and actress Marianne Faithfull has died at the age of 78. She was known for hits like As Tears Go By, which reached the UK top 10 in 1964, and for starring roles in films including 1968's The Girl On A Motorcycle with Alain Delon. She was also famously the girlfriend of Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger in the 1960s, inspiring songs such as Wild Horses and You Can't Always Get What You Want.

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.

Mick Jagger (2025)

 

After a period of heroin addiction in the 1970s, she resurrected her career in 1979 when she was signed by Chris Blackwell on the Island label and released the New Wave-influenced album Broken English and its lead single The Ballad Of Lucy Jordan which is now considered a classic.

Marianne Faithfull in the Bahamas (1982)

Marianne Faithfull in the Bahamas (1982)

In 1982, Marianne Faithfull spent some time in the Bahamas writing and recording the album A Child's Adventure at Compass Point with Barry Reynolds and Wally Badarou. She visited Robert Palmer at his home just across the street from the studios on several occasions, as Rock and Roll photographer Lynn Goldsmith remembers.

Robert Palmer at home with Marianne Faithfull and Joe Cocker (1982)

Robert Palmer at home with Marianne Faithfull and Joe Cocker (1982)

"In 1982, I was in Nassau to photograph three artists; Robert Palmer, Marianne Faithfull and Joe Cocker. Robert lived on the island. When I entered his home, he had a rhythm track playing that I recognized as James Brown's. He wanted to leave it on because he was looking for a melody. After doing some pictures, I suggested inviting Joe Cocker over - maybe he'd have a melody. Joe came over. We had a few drinks, made some pictures, and Joe improvised to the track. He left. Palmer said, 'No, that wasn't it.' I suggested asking Marianne to come over, maybe she'd have something. Over comes Marianne - more drinks, more pictures, some singing. She leaves. He says, 'No, that wasn't it.' By now I've had enough drinks to give me the courage to suggest something I'd wanted to do for some time. I gave a 'self-confidence' tape to Robert and asked if we could put it over the rhythm track."

Marianne Faithfull, Grace Jones, Joe Cocker and Robert Palmer in the Bahamas (1982)

Marianne Faithfull, Grace Jones, Joe Cocker and Robert Palmer in the Bahamas (1982)

"When we were in Nassau, Marianne was working on writing with Barry Reynolds. She asked me to make some nudes of her outdoors... I wasn't comfortable doing that then - on a previous trip to Nassau I'd been robbed and shot at - but on our walk, I found an outdoor shower which felt like a safe place and made sense for Marianne to be without clothes. She wanted me to make an image that was bare except for her single strand of pearls. That place with her under the showerhead felt timeless to me then and still does now."

Marianne Faithfull and Barry Reynolds photographed by Lynn Goldsmith in Nassau (1982)

Marianne Faithfull and Barry Reynolds photographed by Lynn Goldsmith in Nassau (1982)

I think normal life for Marianne could feel intolerable. She could sense the shimmer of gold on a gray gravel road. She seemed to know that there was an entire dimension hidden inside things.

Lynn Goldsmith (2025)

lynngoldsmith.com
instagram.com/lynngoldsmith

Voir aussi :

Partager cet article