How Marianne Faithfull endured heartbreaking custody fight of baby son Nicholas & drug demons before death aged 78
One of Britain’s most famous and successful singers, Marilyn Faithfull, passed away Friday, shocking the music industry.
However, amid her brilliant career, the 78-year-old trailblazer notoriously battled drug addiction and a custody dispute.
When Marianne was spotted at a Rolling Stones party in 1964 at the age of 16, her fame went through the roof.
She would quickly gain recognition as one of the most innovative British female singer-songwriters after being catapulted to stardom by Andrew Loog Oldham.
However, during an amazing career, Marianne, who gained fame for the song “As Tears Go By,” also had her share of setbacks.
During her hectic existence in the rock ‘n’ roll industry, she valiantly fought against drug addiction and lost custody of her son Nicholas.
After splitting from Nicholas’ father, John Dunbar, owner of the Indica gallery, the rock star muse became Mick Jagger’s boyfriend from 1966 to 1970.
Prior to her relationship with the Rolling Stones leader, Marianne and Dunbar had a son, Nicholas, in November 1965.
According to reports, the band’s iconic song Sympathy for the Devil was influenced by Marianne’s affair with Jagger.
However, at the time, their tumultuous relationship was surrounded by controversy.
She had relationships with Brian Jones and Keith Richards.
False reports circulated in 1967 that when authorities searched Richards’ apartment for narcotics, they discovered her nude behind a fur bedcovering.
After her breakup with Jagger, Marianne succumbed to alcoholism and hard drugs, despite the highs of chart success.
Her life started to spiral out of control, and she tried to kill herself by drug overdose on a plane in 1969. A year later, she got divorced and lost custody of her son.
In 1972, she became an alcoholic and anorexic heroin addict who lived in a bomb-damaged tenement in London’s Soho after a suicide attempt put her in a coma.
“My answer to everything was to get as stoned as possible and live on the street, which made me sort of unattractive,” Marianne previously told The Guardian.
In a 2002 BBC interview, she also reflected on these years, calling her addiction a form of cruel rehabilitation.
“I was in agony and I healed myself as best I could,” she stated. Since medications are painkillers, using them was one method.
“It was all too much for me,” she clarified.
“I really didn’t like my gilded cage.”
However, Marianne was able to get back in touch with her son Nicholas in the final days of her life, and time does really heal all wounds.
In an earlier interview, the music legend called him a “very sensible” financial expert.
“We went through a lot,” she remarked. However, we overcame it, and I’m proud of that. since I adore being a parent.
“I never thought I would.
As a result of her drug addiction, Marianne’s voice has become permanently harsh and lower in pitch due to laryngitis and drug misuse.
But with her album Broken English, she successfully returned by 1979.
She received a Grammy Award nomination for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance.
Marianne would go on to produce 20 albums and was always open about her battles with drug usage and an eating condition.
Yesterday evening, a representative for the renowned artist conveyed the heartbreaking news.
They released the following statement: “We regret to inform you of the passing of singer, songwriter, and actor Marianne Faithfull.
“Marianne died quietly today in London, surrounded by her devoted family.
“She will be dearly missed.”
Marianne made her acting debut while she was dating the rock star.
She starred in popular films like Hamlet, The Girl on a Motorcycle, and I’ll Never Forget What’s’isname, making her a household name.
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As a prolific author, Marianne wrote three volumes on her life: Marianne Faithfull: A Life on Record, Memories, Dreams & Reflections, and Faithfull: An Autobiography.
She was also appointed a Commandeur of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the French government.