Marianne Faithfull, 1946-2025

 

In the early 80's, I was dating a Rolling Stones fanatic. I mean, I'm a big fan of the Rolling Stones. But this was something else altogether. She was relentless. Bursting out into "Stray Cat Blues on subway cars. Knowing the lyrics to every song on "Tattoo You" a day after its release. Dressing like Keith. Calling out Stones' songs at other people's concerts. She was all in. 

 

The upside is that I got to see artists in concert that I most likely would not have seen, just because a Stone might show up. Peter Tosh at The Ritz in 1981. (No Mick.) Screamin' Jay Hawkins at The Savoy. (No Keith.) And Marianne Faithfull at The Ritz in 1982. (No Mick Or Keith.) It was disappointing for her, but not for me. All three shows stayed with me all these years later. But so did the night my girlfriend sang all of Marianne's "Why'd Ya Do It" at the top of her lungs in a packed West 4th Street McDonald's. If you don't know the lyrics, look em up and think of me, that night, trying to eat a Big Mac while this was going on. (Good times. )

Years later, late 90's, Vicki Wickham, who was a friend of my shop, came in one night with Nona Hendryx and Miss Faithfull. She was sweet and elegant and was very happy to sign my copy of "Dangerous Acquaintances," which I sadly left behind with a number of things I wish I didn't. But, I still have my Ritz stub. Gonna listen to Marianne right now.

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