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When news broke of Marianne Faithfull's death on Thursday (January 30), those close to the beloved singer took to social media to pay tribute. Paul McCartney mourned the death of his "life-long friend" in an Instagram post. What sad news that Marianne Faithfull has passed away," he captioned an old photo of himself and Faithfull. "She came into my life in the Sixties and was a beautiful, sweet 17 year old who radiated innocent joy. Then through the years I was lucky enough to run into her and to become a life-long friend."
"It’s very sad to think that I won’t be meeting her again but my memories of our encounters over the years will always bring me joy," McCartney reflected. "May god bless you Marianne and guide you in the next steps of your journey."
Mick Jagger, who dated Faithfull from 1966-1970, also shared an emotional tribute. "I am so saddened to hear of the death of Marianne Faithfull. She was so much part of my life for so long," he captioned an Instagram post showcasing photos of himself and Faithfull. "She was a wonderful friend, a beautiful singer and a great actress. She will always be remembered."
Faithfull was one of the most popular female artists in the British Invasion and is widely considered a muse for Jagger and The Rolling Stones. It's speculated that some of the band's most famous songs, including "Wild Horses" and "You Can’t Always Get What You Want," are about her. She released her debut single, "As Tears Go By," in 1964. It was the first song ever written by Jagger and Keith Richards and shot up the UK Top 10, peaking at No 9. The Stones released their own version a year later. After a turbulent decade fighting drug addiction, Faithfull's critically acclaimed album Broken English came out in 1979. Faithfull is also known for collaborating with Metallica on their 1997 hit "The Memory Remains."
Faithfull passed away on January 30 at the age of 78. "Marianne passed away peacefully in London today, in the company of her loving family," a statement from her spokesperson said.