Marianne Faithfull…Sister Morphine

[Photo By Decca]

Whether it was pop stardom at 17, being the girlfriend of legend MICK JAGGER at 19, the tragic heroin addiction or being one of the 60s style icons, MARIANNE FAITHFULL admits that today she is better known for her life story than for her career. Even though she is an award winning songwriter with many STONES tracks under her belt, Faithfull’s subsequent solo work, which was often critically acclaimed, has at times been overshadowed by her personal history.

But, Faithfull has brought it back with new album ‘Horses and High Heels’, releasing early this March. Claiming that she has had “writer’s block” on her last record thus making an album of covers, the new album has more promise. Faithfull states that “For me it was important to come back to songwriting and I am really pleased and proud of the songs that I wrote.” Long-time collaborator, the musicologist Hal Willner, produced ‘Horses and High Heels’ for Faithfull, who also produced ‘Strange Weather’ and ‘Easy Come, Easy Go’. We also see guest appearances from the likes of LOU REED and WAYNE KRAMER from MC5 who will also be on tour with her.

Today she claims to listen to a wide range of music. “Polly Harvey [PJ HARVEY] (we worked together on Before The Poison), she is incredibly talented and her new album Let England Shake is wonderful. I listen to all sorts of music, from Mozart to Verdi, the Stones to Aretha Franklin.” Her taste hasn’t changed since her early career, stating that “Great music is always great, regardless of the time”.

Inspired by her life, it was important to Faithfull to write from experience. “It comes from life really; the title track was inspired by both Dublin and Paris where I live. I write about things I see and experience...”



Persuaded to sing by her then manager Andrew Loog Oldham and The Rolling Stones in 1964, Faithfull had a big hit with her debut single ‘As Tears Go By’ in the UK and the US. She had a series of hits in the mid 60s that placed her fragile, angelic voice against delicate orchestral pop arrangements. Writing for THE ROLLING STONES was a defining moment for Faithfull, claiming ‘Sister Morphine’ as her own and also contributing to ‘You Can’t Always Get What You Want’.

Her life was a complete rollercoaster ride of highs and lows, but when she was introduced to hard drugs, the high life she was used to dispersed, and Jagger left her in 1970. In 1979, Faithfull made a comeback with ‘Broken English’ which had a substantial change in her sound; due to a serious drug habit her voice had dropped an octave with a raspy, cutting edge. Faithfull had found her individuality and became respected in the music industry for her new contemporary sound.

Drugs ruled her life, so much so that she moved to Paris to be with Count Jean de Breteuil, a french aristocratic drug dealer, also supplying to the likes of Keith Richards and JIM MORRISON. Faithfull has stated that it was he that was responsible for the death of Jim Morrison, he provided the drugs. Faithfull had taken Tuinals, and was completely out of it when she found out. In his panic, Breteuil beat her and dragged her off to Marrakech, this was just one of the many depressing moments Faithfull encountered.

Hard drugs had ravaged her life. Involved with the wrong people, Faithfull soon had no income and became homeless in her thirties on the street’s of Soho.

But now, Faithfull like to live in high style. Spending so much time with THE ROLLING STONES she claims that MICK JAGGER spoiled her, she felt like a rich person. Now living in Paris, with a huge fireplace, she is still living the high life, investing in a designer wardrobe from the likes of Chanel and Balenciaga. But despite all her misfortune, the new record reflects how she feels today; “I am in a happy state at the moment and the audience can feel it. It is a nice happy record for me anyway.”

Check out ARTROCKER’s Fashion story on Marianne Faithfull here and her website for more updates mariannefaithful.org.uk Album out March 7th.