RIP Marianne Faithfull

News broke yesterday that Marianne Faithfull died at the age of 78. Her death received international coverage and my intent here is not to provide an obituary, but rather summarize her most well-known collaboration with Bowie.

In 1973, Bowie and Marianne Faithfull performed a memorable (if off key) duet of Sonny & Cher’s “I Got You Babe” as part of Bowie’s self-curated 1980 Floor Show, a theatrical, cabaret-style production filmed at London’s Marquee Club. Faithfull also performed “as Tears Go By” and “20th Century Blues” on the show (though those performances were actually recorded the day before).

The overall show was an avant-garde spectacle featuring a futuristic set and performances from Bowie and guest artists. Bowie’s red suit (which I have read described as a PCS suit or a basque, but have difficulty describing in my own words) with ostrich feathers and Faithfull’s nun’s habit added to the surreal aesthetic. To me, this remains Bowie at his weirdest but in Faithful he had met his match.

Faithfull’s performance, while visually striking, also reflected her personal struggles. By this time, I have read she was battling severe heroin addiction, homelessness, and deteriorating health, which had transformed her once-clear voice into a deep, husky tone. She spent several years living on the streets of Soho, London, missing career opportunities, including the chance to capitalize on her collaboration with Bowie. Despite this, she later overcame her addiction and staged a comeback with her critically acclaimed 1979 album, Broken English.

In a 2016 interview with The Independent following Bowie’s death, Faithfull reflected on her friendship with Bowie, recalling their 1973 duet. She described Bowie as a friend she had known since his early career, noting that he was once “at the bottom of the bill” on a tour she did when he was still David Jones, while she was positioned as “the token chick” between The Hollies and Bowie.

American audiences got to see The 1980 Floor Show as a one-hour episode of The Midnight Special. Unless I am mistaken, it has never been shown on American television again (though it is easy enough to find, for instance, on YouTube) and is the only time Bowie appeared on American television appearing as Ziggy Stardust. I also believe this to have been Bowie’s final appearance as Ziggy. I also own a CD of the musical performances from the show, which is marred by poor sound quality and missing something without the visuals.