Tonight's extremely sad breaking news is that legendary English singer Marianne Faithfull has died aged 78.

"It is with deep sadness that we announce the death of the singer, songwriter and actress Marianne Faithfull," reads a statement. "Marianne passed away peacefully in London today, in the company of her loving family. She will be dearly missed."

Although she'd moved back to England, Marianne spent many happy years living in Shell Cottage in County Kildare, Dublin and latterly Waterford. During that time she became a good friend of Hot Press - see https://www.hotpress.com/opinion/marianne-faithfull-it-took-a-new-generation-to-appreciate-what-i-could-really-do-it-took-a-hell-of-a-long-time-22851168 for one of her classic interviews - and collaborated with the likes of The Chieftains and her near neighbour Ronnie Wood. She also contributed a stunning version of 'Madame George' to a Van Morrison tribute album and appeared as Pirate Jenny in a Gate Theatre production of The Threepenny Opera

A swinging '60s icon, her musical career began in 1964 when she met Rolling Stones manager Andrew Loog Oldham and he brokered a record deal for her which bore fruit with the following year's Come My Way album. Hits like 'As Tears Go By', 'Counting', 'This Little Bird' and 'Come Stay With Me' and countless Top Of The Pop appearances followed.

She became even more of a tabloid fixture when she entered into a relationship with Mick Jagger, which was rarely off the front-pages.

By the time they went their separate ways in 1970, she'd also become a full-blown film star with The Girl On A Motorcycle remaining iconic to this day.

After a prolonged career break, she returned in 1979 with Broken English, which earned her a Grammy nomination and critical acclaim from many of the same journalists who'd scoffed at her pop career.

She never stopped making music with her last album, 2021's She Walks In Beauty, another career high. It featured guest turns from Nick Cave and Brian Eno, both of whom spoke afterwards about how thrilled they were to be involved.

Down through the years, she had weathered bouts of anorexia and heroin addiction and falling into a coma for several weeks after catching COVID-19 early on during the pandemic.

"I first saw Marianne Faithfull singing ‘As Tears Go By’ on British television, and thought she was magnificent,” Hot Press editor Niall Stokes says. “I met her for the first time in the 1970s, when she was playing the Irish circuit, around the release of the Dreaming’ My Dreams album and single, which was a No.1 hit in Ireland. We got on really well, though she was not in a great place in many ways at the time. But, even slightly down on her luck, she was a proper star.

“I was absolutely thrilled for her, when she released the Broken English album on Island Records in 1979. That was a complete artistic rebirth – in fact it was probably the moment when she fully shrugged off the mantle of Mick Jagger’s ex- and established herself for what she really always was: a brilliant artist and a powerful songwriter. The song ‘Why D’Ya Do It?’ – co-written with Heathcote Williams among others – was a standout, a visceral, raging, totally explicit, X-rated rant that confirmed that she didn’t give a flying fuck about propriety. I liked that.

"We met a good few times over the years and it was always a pleasure. She could sound posh and a bit forbidding, and it might have been a roller coaster living with her – but there was a warmth between us that meant a lot to me. She lived a really full life, took all sorts of risks and gave a huge amount to the world, not just through her art but through her own colourful and chaotic life story.

“Her legacy is immense. She will never be forgotten by those who knew her or listened deeply to her extraordinary, poetic, theatrical and hugely intelligent music. So long, Marianne."

Here are some of the tributes that have been pouring in:

I am so saddened to hear of the death of Marianne Faithfull. She was so much part of my life for so long. She was a wonderful friend, a beautiful singer and a great actress. She will always be remembered. pic.twitter.com/aFAu1TwNTO

— Mick Jagger (@MickJagger) January 30, 2025

Farewell Marianne Faithfull
I first heard Broken English on a school trip in 1980
and it blew my mind. She was such a free spirit and true talent.
We met in Amsterdam in 1994 and spent an afternoon chatting and in between interviews - going to listen to Why D’Ya Do it, right now pic.twitter.com/YxgxeOKOdL

— Tim Burgess (@Tim_Burgess) January 30, 2025

👉🏿I am deeply saddened to learn that Marianne Faithfull has passed away. She was a wonderful singer and a talented actress. She will be greatly missed. My thoughts and prayers are with her son @nicholasdunbar her family and loved ones. pic.twitter.com/YkpKQujBhR

— Bianca Jagger Nicaraguense por gracia de Dios 🇳🇮 (@BiancaJagger) January 30, 2025

One of my favourite albums of all time. RIP Marianne 💔 pic.twitter.com/Crj4F9R83f

— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) January 30, 2025

Metallica's Lars Ulrich says: "Thank you, Marianne…

"For the good times
For your kindness
For the great stories
For your fearlessness

"… And the biggest Thank You and Fuck Yeah for your incredible and unique contribution to our music, and for always being so willing to join us in performing it… and partake in the ensuing shenanigans! Rest in Peace."