Sixties pop icon passes away aged 78
<p>British pop icon Marianne Faithfull has died at the age of 78, with the BBC confirming the news by citing a statement from her spokesperson. </p>
<p>“It is with deep sadness that we announce the death of the singer, songwriter and actress Marianne Faithfull,” the statement read. </p>
<p>“Marianne passed away peacefully in London today, in the company of her loving family. She will be dearly missed.”</p>
<p>Faithfull was best known for her debut single <em>As Tears Go By</em> which reached the UK top 10 in 1964. </p>
<p>She was also famously the girlfriend of Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger in the 60s, becoming a muse for the rock star, inspiring songs such as <em>Wild Horses </em>and <em>You Can't Always Get What You Want</em>.</p>
<p>Tributes have poured in for the singer, with Jagger describing her as "a wonderful friend, a beautiful singer and a great actress," saying he was "so saddened" by the loss. </p>
<p>His Rolling Stones bandmate Keith Richards shared that he was "so sad" following her death and that he "will miss her". </p>
<p>Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood posted an old picture of him, Faithfull and Richards in a recording studio with the caption "Farewell dear Marianne". </p>
<p>He then shared a more recent photo of the pair with the caption: "Marianne will be dearly missed. Bless her xx".</p>
<p>Throughout her life, the singer had suffered multiple health problems, including bulimia, breast cancer and emphysema caused by decades of smoking.</p>
<p>After a period of drug addiction and homelessness in the early 1970s, Faithfull resurrected her career with the critically acclaimed album Broken English in 1979. She also wrote three autobiographies and had a film acting career. </p>
<p>Her most recent comeback was in 2020, and despite falling into a coma and being hospitalised for three weeks after catching Covid, she recovered. </p>
<p>In March 2022, the singer moved to Denville Hall, a retirement home for actors and other professional performers in London. </p>
<p>Faithfull is survived by her son, Nicholas Dunbar, who she shares with ex-husband and artist John Dunbar. </p>
<p><em>Image: Bill Francis/Kobal/ Shutterstock Editorial</em></p>
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