Blur’s Damon Albarn has recalled his time with the late Marianne Faithfull and shared that they used to get “quite lairy”.
Marianne Faithfull’s Death
The death of the iconic singer and actor was confirmed yesterday (January 30) by her representatives who announced that she had “passed away peacefully in London” at the age of 78, “in the company of her loving family.”
Tributes Pour In
Mick Jagger, Metallica, Morrissey, and Sir Paul McCartney are among the many artists and admirers who have paid tribute to Faithfull. A number of other artists and admirers shared tributes to Faithfull, a range of which can be found here.
Damon Albarn’s Memories
Albarn recently reflected on his time with Faithfull in a chat with The Guardian, sharing how they met in the early 00s. At the time, Blur bassist Alex James would hang with her a lot and invited Albarn to a studio on the Goldhawk Road.
“I think we were all in a high party mode at the time. I sat down and had quite a good banter with her straight away,” he told the outlet.
Damon Albarn (Composition) and Marianne Faithfull – “Monkey Journey To The West” 9 Acts-Opera at the Chatelet theater according to the Chinese Xi Jou literature. (Photo by Bertrand Rindoff Petroff/Getty Images)
He continued: “We were quite lairy with each other. I said: ‘I can sit down and write a song, a perfect song.’ And she said: ‘All right, well go on then.’ And I sat down and I wrote the song which became ‘Green Fields’ in one go. I don’t remember a lot more about that evening, but that’s how I met her.
“We’d always hang out with each other when I was in Paris. She’d hang out with all the Nick Cave people. I didn’t see her so much when she got back to London and the last few years I didn’t really see her at all.”
Collaboration and Tribute
Albarn also shared how his mother was obsessed with Faithfull’s 1979 LP ‘Broken English’ and would dance around their living room singing ‘Why D’Ya Do It?’. He also described Faithfull as “lovely, beautiful, wonderful.”
Speaking about the time they had spent together, the ‘Song 2’ hitmaker said: “We always had a laugh. She had an endless source of incredible, somewhat salacious stories about people who had all become much more circumscribed in their behaviour. She was always a bit cynical about how people were transformed into pillars of the establishment. But she was always true to her creed.”
In 2002, Blur and Faithfull teamed up on the track ‘Kissin Time’ from the latter’s 15th album of the same name. He also opened up about the song and said: “I only vaguely remember it. I mean, look, we were just another of her backing bands.”
Graham Coxon’s Tribute
Elsewhere, Blur’s Graham Coxon also paid tribute to the late singer and actor. Taking to his personal X/Twitter account, Coxon shared a black and white photo of Faithfull and tweeted: “You’re the only person that said the things I really needed to hear at a time when I really needed to hear http://them.you gave me the confidence/ permission to “fly” and to shake off self consciousness/doubt-you told me I was beautiful when I felt ugly- 4eva in your debt.”
— graham coxon (@grahamcoxon) January 30, 2025
Marianne Faithfull’s Legacy
Faithfull was a key figure in the ‘Swinging London’ arts and music scene in the ’60s, becoming one of the leading female artists during the British Invasion era. She is remembered for hits including ‘As Tears Go By’ and for her roles on stage and screen.
It was her association with The Rolling Stones, however, that drove her public profile to a significant extent. Having married the artist John Dunbar in 1965, with whom she had a son Nicholas, she left her husband for Jagger the following year, with whom she had a four-year relationship.
She is often considered to have been a “muse” for the band, and is thought to have inspired songs such as ‘You Can’t Always Get What You Want’ and ‘Wild Horses’. She also co-wrote their song ‘Sister Morphine’, although she had to win the rights to be credited as a writer in a long legal battle years later.
Conclusion
Marianne Faithfull was a true icon of the music industry, leaving behind a legacy of incredible music and a lasting impact on those who knew her. Her passing has left a void in the music world, but her memory will live on through her music and the countless stories of those who were lucky enough to know her.
FAQs
Q: What was Marianne Faithfull’s age at the time of her death?
A: Marianne Faithfull was 78 years old at the time of her death.
Q: Who did Marianne Faithfull marry and have a child with?
A: Marianne Faithfull married John Dunbar in 1965 and had a son named Nicholas with him.
Q: What was Marianne Faithfull’s association with The Rolling Stones?
A: Marianne Faithfull was in a four-year relationship with Mick Jagger and is often considered to have been a “muse” for the band, inspiring songs such as ‘You Can’t Always Get What You Want’ and ‘Wild Horses’.
Q: What was the name of Marianne Faithfull’s final concert?
A: Marianne Faithfull’s final concert was held at Le Bataclan in Paris in 2016.