Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Marianne Faithfull reveals ‘awful’ memory loss from Covid

Musician was diagnosed with the virus last year and later contracted pneumonia

Ellie Harrison
Friday 15 January 2021 05:25 EST
Comments
UK Covid-19 vaccinations: Latest figures

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Marianne Faithfull has revealed she has short-term memory loss as a result of Covid-19.

The musician contracted the virus last April. She also suffered from pneumonia and spent three weeks in hospital.  

In a new interview with The Guardian, Faithfull revealed that she has suffered memory loss as a result of the illness.

“It’s wild, the things I forget,” she said. “Short-term. I remember the distant past very well. It’s recent things I can’t remember. And that’s ghastly. Awful. You wouldn’t believe how awful it is.”

Faithfull, 74, has survived heroin addiction, bulimia, suicide bids, homelessness, breast cancer, hepatitis C and an infection following surgery for a broken hip. When she contracted coronavirus, she had numerous underlying health conditions, including emphysema.

Her new album, She Walks in Beauty, comes out in April and Faithfull said it might be her last, given the effects of Covid-19 on her lungs. 

“I may not be able to sing ever again,” said Faithfull. “Maybe that’s over. I would be incredibly upset if that was the case, but, on the other hand, I am 74.”

She added: “I don’t feel cursed and I don’t feel invincible. I just feel f***ing human. But what I do believe in, which gives me hope, I do believe in miracles.”

The singer rose to fame in the Sixties, with hits including “As Tears Go By”, which was written by Mick Jagger – who she later dated – and Keith Richards. The song was released when she was just 16. 

She had a tumultuous career from the Seventies onwards, suffering from a heroin addiction but releasing acclaimed albums such as Broken English and collaborating with producer Hal Willner on the 1987 album Strange Weather. She later worked with Twin Peaks music producer Angelo Badalamenti on 1995’s A Secret Life.

In the early 2000s she released the albums Kissin’ Time and Before the Poison. Her latest record was 2018’s Negative Culpability.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in