Echoes of a Coma: Marianne Faithfull's Surreal Journey with Brian Jones and The Rolling Stones
Rolling Stones co-founder Brian Jones tragically passed away at the age of 27 in 1969. Following his death, singer Marianne Faithfull found herself in a surreal world during a coma induced by an overdose of sleeping pills. She believed she was in a formless realm with Jones, contemplating the edge of a cliff where he chose to slip off while she hesitated.
Faithfull's downward spiral continued as she equated herself with Jones, feeling like a disposable member of the band. In a desperate attempt to join him in death, she consumed over 100 barbiturate pills while Mick Jagger was asleep in their hotel room in Australia. Fortunately, the windows were too small for her to jump out, leading her to slip into a coma for nearly a week.
During her coma, Faithfull experienced a vision of walking with Jones in a quivering world, contemplating the choice to go over the edge of the Dulac landscape. Despite hearing voices calling to her, she ultimately decided not to follow Jones and returned to consciousness after six days in the hospital. Upon waking up, she was greeted by Jagger, who expressed relief at her return.
The iconic line, "Wild horses wouldn't drag me away," from The Rolling Stones' song "Wild Horses" was inspired by Faithfull's post-coma conversation with Jagger. While Jagger denied the song was about her, Faithfull's influence on the band's creative process was undeniable. The incident further strained the relationship between Faithfull and Jagger, but their emotional reunion in the hospital remains immortalized in the song.
The haunting experience of Marianne Faithfull's coma and her connection to The Rolling Stones' music serves as a poignant reminder of the turbulent times in the late 1960s. Despite the challenges and tragedies faced by the band and its associates, their music continues to resonate with audiences worldwide.