British singer and actress Marianne Faithfull has passed away. She was 78.

A spokesperson told Sky News UK, “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.”

Faithfull became popular in the ‘60s with her song, As Tears Go By, which landed in the UK Top 10 in 1964. That same year, she began her career after attending a party for The Rolling Stones, where Andrew Loog Oldham discovered her.

Her debut album, Marianne Faithfull, was released simultaneously with her album Come My Way in 1965. However successful her music became, her relationship with Mick Jagger from 1966 to 1970 was highly publicised.

Faithfull’s popularity grew thanks to her appearance in films such as The Girl On A Motorcycle (1968) and Hamlet (1969). However, due to her publicised personal problems of anorexia, homelessness, and addiction in the ‘70s, that popularity was ultimately overshadowed.

Due to persistent drug abuse in the ‘70s and severe laryngitis, Faithfull’s high-registered vocals changed and became raspy and cracked, leading to a career in jazz and blues.

Faithfull made a comeback with her 1979 album Broken English, which earned her a nomination for the Grammy Award for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance. Throughout her career, she released 21 albums. The most recent, a spoken-word album recorded with Warren Ellis, She Walks In Beauty, was released in 2021.

Paying tribute to Faithfull, Mick Jagger wrote on Instagram, “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.”

Metallica’s Lars Ulrich said:

Thank you, Marianne…

For the good times

For your kindness

For the great stories

For your fearlessness

…And the biggest Thank You and Fuck Yeah for your incredible and unique contribution to our music, and for always being so willing to join us in performing it…and partake in the ensuing shenanigans!

Rest in Peace

- Lars

Warren Ellis wrote, “Farewell Queen. I love you. Warren.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Mick Jagger (@mickjagger)

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Warren Ellis (@thewarrenellis)