An Appointments diary-plus which covers Marianne Faithfull’s 2005 US tour journal in support of her album Before the Poison. The tour took her to The Town Hall, New York (March 12) and in the following days Park West, Chicago and the Henry Fonda Theater, Los Angeles. The diary charts Faithfull’s busy Parisian life during the early months of 2005 before chronicling the American tour with a performance at the Henry Fonda theatre which would be released as Marianne Faithfull Live in Hollywood.
Writing in a diary printed by the Paris Ritz Hotel, Faithfull uses early entries as an aide-memoire: ‘learn text chant song’; she makes notes of Parisian appointments such as ‘Dior? 2.30’ and ‘Cliniquant da Château Garches’ for which she records a series of prices. There are dates with her partner ‘Francois’ (Ravard, record/ film producer) and film showings: ‘Sexy Beast’ as well as regular instructions to ‘go to Clinic’ and lists of phone calls to make - with the requisite phone numbers. There are more extensive trips to ‘Balengiaga [sic] with Sigrid… massage Go to steam & swim Wilfrid’. In early March Faithfull left Paris ‘for N.Y.C.’ at which point a series of American events starts appearing in the diary: ‘Boston Paradiso’ and ‘N.Y. Town Hall’ as well as meeting ‘Sofia Coppolla’ while making Marie Antoinette. On the last leaf of the diary MF has written: ‘all I can say Right here, Right now. What a moment!’
DESCRIPTION: Ritz Paris pre-printed diary bound in blue rexine (10.5x16,5cm) extensively chipped to the exterior. First leaf ‘Disponent’ (Manager) partly torn away no doubt for notetaking purposes; Faithfull has jotted ‘how to wake up...’ on the verso together with ‘Friquette Phone info...’ and a number. Full entries begin on the 5th January and continue to April 20th with a few notes to the rear. Faithfull has used a variety of different coloured biros.
MARIANNE FAITHFULL (1946-2025) was a singer who found ‘pop fame and tabloid infamy in the 60s but returned to music in the 70s with Broken English, a statement of bloody-minded survival’ (Guardian) She forged a 50 year career as a songwriter and recording artist after escaping her early image as Mick Jagger’s angelic girlfriend as well as achieving some success as an actor, all of it against a backdrop of addiction and personal struggles which were made manifest in her musical output. She died last year in Paris.
PROVENANCE: From the estate of Marianne Faithfull.
