Marianne Faithfull, Singular Icon of British Pop, Dies Aged 78

THE GUARDIAN: Singer and actor overcame drug addiction and homelessness to collaborate with everyone from the Rolling Stones and Metallica to Jean-Luc Godard

Marianne Faithfull, whose six-decade career marked her out as one of the UK’s most versatile and characterful singer-songwriters, has died aged 78.

A spokesperson said: “It is with deep sadness that we announce the death of the singer, songwriter and actress Marianne Faithfull.

“Marianne passed away peacefully in London today, in the company of her loving family. She will be dearly missed.”

With a discography that spanned classic 60s pop tunes to the prowling synthpop of Broken English and onto collaborations with Nick Cave, Warren Ellis, Lou Reed and more, Faithfull was idolised by fans and fellow musicians alike, and was also celebrated across the worlds of fashion and film.

Mick Jagger, with whom she had a four-year relationship, said: “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.”

Born in 1946 in London, Faithfull was descended from Austrian nobility on her mother’s side – her great-great-uncle Leopold von Sacher-Masoch wrote the erotic novel Venus in Furs – but grew up in relatively ordinary surroundings in a terraced house in Reading. » | Ben Beaumont-Thomas, Music editor | Thursday, 30 January 2025

Marianne Faithfull was a towering artist, not just the muse she was painted as: The late singer made her share of bad decisions – but someone this artistically adventurous and unafraid was never going to have an ordinary life »

Life in pictures »

LE FIGARO :

La chanteuse britannique Marianne Faithfull est décédée à l’âge de 78 ans : Ancienne égérie du swinging London, compagne de Mick Jagger, la chanteuse a commencé sa carrière très jeune. Mais elle a attendu la seconde partie de sa vie pour se métamorphoser en puissante interprète. »

Sufjan Stevens ‘Learning to Walk Again’ after Autoimmune Disease Diagnosis

THE GUARDIAN: US musician in rehabilitation after contracting potentially life-threatening Guillain-Barré syndrome

Sufjan Stevens said he owes his life to his medical team. Photograph: Dawn Miller
The Oscar-nominated US indie-folk artist Sufjan Stevens has announced he is suffering from a serious autoimmune disease.

In an Instagram post, he said he has been diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) and is unable to walk. He said symptoms began last month: “My hands, arms and legs were numb and tingling and I had no strength, no feeling, no mobility,” he wrote. After a diagnosis in hospital, he spent two weeks “stuck in a bed, while my doctors did all the things to keep me alive and stabilise my condition. I owe them my life.” » | Ben Beaumont-Thomas | Wednesday, September 20, 2023

Taliban Calls Music Immoral, Torches Instruments in Crackdown

Aug 2, 2023 | The Taliban burn musical instruments and humiliate artists in a crackdown across Afghanistan. CNN's John Vause is joined by Ahmad Sarmast, Director of Afghanistan's National Institute of Music.

Joel and Harry : If You Go Away | Gay Themed

Jul 27, 2023 | Mini Series Name: Flowers in the Attic: The Origin 2022 Music: If You Go Away Performed by Scott Walker

Tina Turner: Legendary Rock’n’roll Singer Dies Aged 83

Era-defining music … Tina Turner performing in 1987. Photograph: Sipa/Rex/Shutterstock
THE GUARDIAN: Turner who initially found fame in a turbulent musical partnership, became one of the biggest acts in the world as a solo artist and one of the defining pop icons of the 1980s

Tina Turner, the pioneering rock’n’roll star who became a pop behemoth in the 1980s, has died aged age of 83 after a long illness.

She had suffered ill health in recent years, being diagnosed with intestinal cancer in 2016 and having a kidney transplant in 2017. » | Laura Snapes | Wednesday, May 24, 2023

ALSO READ:

Tina Turner, Magnetic Singer of Explosive Power, Is Dead at 83: First hailed in the 1960s for her dynamic performances with her husband, Ike, she became one of the most successful recording artists of all time. »

LIRE AUSSI :

Tina Turner, la « reine du rock’n’roll », est morte : En soixante-dix ans de carrière, la vedette du rhythm’n’blues avait imposé sa griffe. Tina Turner s’est éteinte, mercredi 24 mai, à l’âge de 83 ans. »

LESEN SIE AUCH:

Tina Turner ist tot: Die US-Sängerin Tina Turner ist nach langer Krankheit im Alter von 83 Jahren verstorben. Mit Hits wie „What’s Love Got to Do With It“ und „The Best“ wurde sie weltberühmt. »

One Little Click; One Big Blast!

Boogieing keeps you young!
Click here to boogie.
With many thanks to designartmagazine.com on Pinterest for this splendid photo of a ballet dancer.

Lisa Marie Presley, Singer and Daughter of Elvis, Dies Aged 54

THE GUARDIAN: Presley was rushed to hospital on Thursday night after suffering a suspected cardiac arrest

Musician Lisa Marie Presley, pictured in 2013 in Nashville, Tennessee. She has died. Photograph: Christopher Polk/Getty Images for Wonderwall
Lisa Marie Presley, singer and the only child of Elvis and Priscilla Presley, has died at the age of 54, after suddenly being hospitalised on Thursday.

Her 77-year-old mother confirmed Presley’s death later on Thursday night.

“It is with a heavy heart that I must share the devastating news that my beautiful daughter Lisa Marie has left us,” Priscilla Presley said in a statement. “She was the most passionate strong and loving woman I have ever known. We ask for privacy as we try to deal with this profound loss. Thank you for the love and prayers. At this time there will be no further comment.”

Presley was taken to hospital from her home in Calabasas, California, after a reported cardiac arrest, TMZ first reported. Her mother asked fans to keep her daughter in their prayers in a statement issued when the news first broke. » | Sian Cain | Friday, January 13, 2023

Mort de Lisa Marie Presley, la fille unique du King, à 54 ans « : Selon les médias américains, elle avait été transportée d’urgence à l’hôpital, jeudi matin, après un arrêt cardiaque à Los Angeles. Ancienne chanteuse, elle a fait la une de la presse internationale pour son mariage avec Michael Jackson en 1994. »

Notturno, Op. 27: No. 2 in D-Flat Major

Notturno, Op. 27: No. 2 in D-Flat Major · Maurizio Mastrini | Chopin & Liszt: Immortal Piano

Mali: No Rhythm or Reason as Militants Declare War on Music

THE GUARDIAN: Islamist militants are banning music in northern Mali, a chilling proposition for a country where music is akin to mineral wealth

The pickup halted in Kidal, the far-flung Malian desert town that is home to members of the Grammy award-winning band Tinariwen. Seven AK47-toting militiamen got out and marched to the family home of a local musician. He wasn't home, but the message delivered to his sister was chilling: "If you speak to him, tell him that if he ever shows his face in this town again, we'll cut off all the fingers he uses to play his guitar with."

The gang then removed guitars, amplifiers, speakers, microphones and a drum kit from the house, doused them with petrol, and set them ablaze. In northern Mali, religious war has been declared on music.

When a rabble of different Islamist groups took control of the region in April there were fears that its rich culture would suffer. But no one imagined that music would almost cease to exist – not in Mali, a country that has become internationally renowned for its sound.

…

The ban comes in the context of a horrifically literal and gratuitous application of Sharia law in all aspects of daily life. Militiamen are cutting off the hands and feet of thieves or stoning adulterers. Smokers, alcohol drinkers and women who are not properly attired are being publicly whipped. As one well-known Touareg musician from Kidal says: "There's a lack of joy. No one is dancing. There are no parties. Everybody's under this kind of spell. It's strange." » | Andy Morgan | Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Bee Gees Singer Robin Gibb Dies After Cancer Battle

BBC: Bee Gees singer Robin Gibb has died aged 62 after a lengthy battle with cancer.

The announcement was made by his family with "great sadness".

British-born Gibb's musical career began when he formed the Bee Gees with his brothers Barry and Maurice in 1958.

The group are among the biggest-selling of all time with hits spanning five decades, including Stayin' Alive, How Deep Is Your Love, Massachusetts and Night Fever.

Gibb's family said in a statement: "The family of Robin Gibb, of the Bee Gees, announce with great sadness that Robin passed away today following his long battle with cancer and intestinal surgery.

"The family have asked that their privacy is respected at this very difficult time."

Broadcaster Paul Gambaccini described the singer as "one of the major figures in the history of British music". (+ videos) » | Monday, May 21, 2012

BBC: Obituary: Robin Gibb (+ video) »

Céline Dion & Andrea Bocelli: The Prayer (Live In Boston Taking Chances Tour 2008)

Please don’t forget to view the video full screen. It’s quite spectacular!

As Ina Garten would say: “How fabulous is that?”!

Whitney Houston Final Autopsy Results Revealed
THE GUARDIAN: Singer's drowning was caused by a combination of heart disease and cocaine use

The final autopsy report on Whitney Houston's death shows that the singer's body contained traces of cocaine, marijuana, the allergy medicine Benadryl, the muscle relaxant Flexeril and the anxiolyitc Xanax. When police arrived at her hotel room in Los Angeles on February 11, they also found an open bottle of champagne, prescription drug bottles, loose pills, and a small spoon with a "white crystal-like substance in it and a rolled up piece of white paper". » | Guardian Music | Thursday, April 05, 2012

Related »

Whitney Houston 'Had Taken Cocaine before Accidentally Drowning in Her Bath'

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Whitney Houston had taken cocaine shortly before accidentally drowning in her bath, according to a coroner's officer.

The 48-year-old singer was found submerged in a tub in her room at the Beverly Hilton on Feb 12, the night before the Grammy Awards. The release of autopsy findings ends weeks of speculation about what killed her.

Los Angeles County Coroner's spokesman Craig Harvey said the cause of death was accidental drowning due to the effects of heart disease and cocaine use.

Cocaine and its by[-]products were found in her system, and it was listed as a contributing factor in her death. He said the results indicated Houston was a chronic cocaine user. » | Nick Allen | Los Angeles | Thursday, March 22, 2012


Related »

Monkees Singer Davy Jones Dead at 66 from Heart Attack
TMZ: Davy Jones -- lead singer of The Monkees -- died after suffering a heart attack this morning ... TMZ has learned.

An official from the medical examiner's office for Martin County, Florida confirmed with TMZ they received a call from Martin Memorial Hospital informing them that Jones had passed away.

A rep for the singer tells us Jones suffered a heart attack at his home this morning ... and was transported to a hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Jones is survived by his wife Jessica and 4 daughters from previous marriages. He was 66-years-old. Jones was married to Jessica Pacheco -- his 3rd wife. » | Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Whitney Houston's Funeral Ends to I Will Always Love You
Farewell Whitney Houston. The star leaves the church for the final time to I Will Always Love You.

Foreigner: I Wanna Know What Love Is

foreigner - i want to know what love is by kareem93

”I’m Your Baby Tonight”

Whitney Houston: ”How Will I Know”

Dubai Fountains Dance to Whitney Houston
Fountains dance and sparkle to Whitney Houston's hit, I Will Always Love You, at a specially choreographed display in Dubai.

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Whitney Houston's golden hearse arrives in her home state of New Jersey: Fans gather outside a Newark funeral home to welcome the singer's hearse back to her birth place ahead of a funeral expected later this week. » | Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Related »

US Singer and Actress Whitney Houston Dies Aged 48
BBC: American singer and actress Whitney Houston has died in Los Angeles at the age of 48.

Police said she died in her room at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, where she had been staying as a guest.

Houston was one of the most celebrated female singers of all time, with hits including I Will Always Love You and Saving All My Love For You.

But her later career was overshadowed by substance abuse and her turbulent marriage to singer Bobby Brown.

Police spokesman Mark Rosen told reporters Houston was pronounced dead at 15:55 pm (23:55 GMT) in her room on the fourth floor of the Beverly Hilton Hotel.

Fire department personnel and members of hotel security were attempting to resuscitate her when police arrived at the scene, he said, but their efforts were unsuccessful.

"She has been positively identified by friends and family that were with her at the hotel, and next of kin have already been notified," he added.

The cause of her death remains unclear but Mr Rosen said there were "no obvious signs of criminal intent".

'Finest voice'

Houston's background was steeped in soul and gospel music.

Her mother was gospel singer Cissy Houston, she was cousin to singer Dionne Warwick and goddaughter to Aretha Franklin. (+ video + audio) » | Saturday, February 11, 2012