Sir Paul McCartney has paid tribute to the late Marianne Faithfull, calling her a “beautiful, sweet” soul following her passing on January 30 at the age of 78.
Faithfull, a key figure in the ‘Swinging London’ music and arts scene of the 1960s, was best known for hits like As Tears Go By and her connections to The Rolling Stones. Her representatives confirmed that she passed away peacefully in London, surrounded by her family.
McCartney shared his tribute on Instagram, posting a black-and-white photo of them together. He recalled meeting her in the 1960s when she was just 17 and described her as radiating “innocent joy.” He expressed sadness over her passing but said memories of their time together would always bring him happiness.
Other artists also honored Faithfull, including Mick Jagger, who shared a personal message, Metallica, who described her as “fearless,” and Morrissey, who credited her with bringing people closer together.
Faithfull’s influence extended beyond music. Though often seen as a muse for The Rolling Stones—believed to have inspired songs like You Can’t Always Get What You Want and Wild Horses—she was also a songwriter, co-writing Sister Morphine, a credit she had to fight for legally.
She had ties to The Beatles as well, with her voice appearing on their 1966 track Yellow Submarine. Despite her relationship with Jagger, she once said she was more of a Beatles fan than a Rolling Stones fan.
In later years, Faithfull faced health challenges, including a severe battle with COVID-19 in 2020 that nearly took her ability to sing. Her last concert took place in Paris in 2016, where she performed some of her most beloved songs alongside covers of Leonard Cohen and Bob Dylan.
A biopic of her life, Faithfull, has been in production since 2020 but has yet to be completed.
