As one of the most prominent female musicians of the 1960s British Invasion, Marianne Faithfull rubbed elbows with countless rockstars. Big egos, larger-than-life personalities, and a propensity for debauchery were all part of the music industry deal. But surprisingly, Faithfull had some of the highest praise for a rocker typically associated with the epitome of sex, drugs, and rock ‘n’ roll.
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According to Faithfull, his affinity for this kind of raucous behavior paled in comparison to that of his bandmate.
Marianne Faithfull Had High Praises For This Rockstar
Marianne Faithfull’s orbit was intrinsically linked to the Rolling Stones from the outset. She got her first big break when the Stones’ manager discovered her at a party for the band in 1964. Faithfull continued friendships and collaborative relationships with the band from then on, serving as a muse for the Rolling Stones and inspiration behind tracks like “Wild Horses” and “I Got the Blues.” In a 2009 interview with Classic Rock, Faithfull revealed she always felt particularly close to Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards.
“Keith and I have always had a lot of respect for each other,” Faithfull said. “He used to play little folk songs for me when I was quite young, and I don’t think he even liked folk music. He’s got a very Catholic taste.” Faithfull mentioned Richards’ then-forthcoming memoir, Life, and compared Richards to his bandmate, Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger. “Mick wouldn’t be able to [write an autobiography] because he hasn’t behaved so well. Even Mick must know that he’s done some loathsome things.”
“Keith hasn’t,” she continued. “He’s got some things he really doesn’t approve of, as a gentleman—an outlaw gentleman. He doesn’t approve of too much promiscuity. And if you are going to have a fling, he doesn’t think anybody should know. I’m pretty sure he’s had little flings in the past, but nobody knows about them.”
She Credited Keith Richards To Introducing Her To Country
While we wouldn’t readily associate Marianne Faithfull or Keith Richards with country music, the former artist credited the latter for introducing her to the musical style. “I learnt about country music through listening to him and Gram Parsons singing along to hundreds of old country and western songs at his house in the 60s. Of course, then Keith got very good at writing faux country music, don’t you think? He sings a Merle Haggard song on my album.”
The Haggard song Richards performs on Faithfull’s 2008 record Easy Come, Easy Go is “Sing Me Back Home,” which Haggard released in January 1968. It stands to reason that it was one of the country songs Faithfull watched Richards and Parsons sing at the guitarist’s home. “I’d heard that she’d recorded it, and they sent the tape, and I did it on an overdub,” Richards told Rolling Stone after Faithfull’s death in January 2025. “Both Marianne and I love Merle Haggard; that song was a staple with Gram and me. We loved Merle, too.”
“Marianne was a great friend and a very strong woman,” Richards said. “She had a form of sincerity that she always kept. Even as her voice changed through the years. She always meant what she did. She loved it. But she had none of that sort of showbiz side, which can get in the way. It was hard to argue with Marianne. Luckily, I had no reason to, but from other people who did, it was a no-go, really. She was also a great laugh. And there was absolutely no pretension about her, which is very hard to believe sometimes with singers like that.”
Photo by Stephan C Archetti/Keystone Features/Hulton Archive/Getty Images
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