Marianne was just a would-be folk singer when she was discovered by Andrew Loog Oldham at a Rolling Stones launch party. According to Miss Faithfull, "My first move was to get a Rolling Stone as a boyfriend. I slept with three and decided the lead singer was the best bet." She left her husband (the famous John Dunbar, who knew everyone in the art and music scene in the 60's) to live with Mick Jagger. Needless to say, Marianne's singing career took a back seat and she became known instead as one of the most glamorous rock star girlfriends. Marianne's presence in Mick's life is one of two women to have greatly impacted the Rolling Stones, as can be seen in the songs she (along with Anita, but we'll save her for another post) is said to have influenced: "Sympathy for the Devil" "You Can't Always Get What You Want" "Wild Horses" "I Got the Blues" "She Smiled Sweetly" "Winter" "She's Like a Rainbow" "100 Years Ago" and "Let's Spend the Night Together". Mick and Marianne's romance was quite a torrid one, to say the least. Jerry Hall once said Mick had told her that Marianne was the only woman he had really loved, or something along those lines. They were together for 5 years, but by the start of 1970, just as the Stones were in midst of becoming legends, Marianne's life hit rock bottom. She blames no one but herself, and by the end of the 70's she had gotten her life back on track.
The very first photo taken of Mick and Marianne.
With the other Stones.
Photos either come from dietcokeandsympathy.blogspot.com or mariannefaithfull.fm
