The baby girl who, though she never took a breath, left an indelible mark on music history.
The world of rock ‘n’ roll is built on legends—of songs, of scandals, of lives lived at breakneck speed. Among the most poignant of these is the story of Corrina Jagger, the daughter of rock royalty Mick Jagger and Marianne Faithfull, a child who never had the chance to shape her own legacy. Her story is one of tragic loss, occurring at the height of her parents’ fame and turbulent romance, a single event that altered the course of several lives.
This is the story of the child who was lost but not forgotten, a brief life that has been woven into the fabric of rock history.
The Parents: A Swinging London Fairytale
To understand Corrina’s story, one must first understand the world she was born into—a world of immense creativity, fame, and chaos.
Mick Jagger: The Rolling Stone
By 1968, Sir Michael Philip Jagger was already an international icon. As the lead singer of The Rolling Stones, he and guitarist Keith Richards had forged one of the most successful songwriting partnerships in rock history. Jagger was the definitive rock frontman, known for his distinctive voice, energetic performances, and a countercultural persona that both shocked and fascinated the public. His career was skyrocketing with albums like “Beggars Banquet,” but his personal life was a whirlwind of romantic entanglements and public scrutiny.
Marianne Faithfull: The Folk Goddess
Marianne Faithfull was already a star in her own right when she met Jagger. Discovered in 1964, she shot to fame with her hit single “As Tears Go By”—a song written for her by Jagger, Richards, and their manager Andrew Loog Oldham. With her ethereal beauty and melodic voice, she became one of the leading female artists of the British Invasion. She was also an accomplished actress, starring in films like “The Girl on a Motorcycle”. When she and Jagger began their relationship in 1966, they became the quintessential power couple of Swinging London.
The Tragic Event: Loss at Seven Months
In 1968, during the height of her parents’ very public romance, Marianne Faithfull suffered a late-term pregnancy loss. Corrina Jagger was stillborn at seven or eight months of gestation. The profound loss occurred while Faithfull was returning from Jagger’s country house in Ireland.
The couple had already chosen a name for their daughter: Corrina Faithfull Jagger (sometimes referenced as Corinna Jagger). This was not just a tragic personal event but a public one, as the entire world watched the couple navigate their grief amidst the glare of the media spotlight.
The Aftermath: A Relationship Unraveling
The loss of Corrina had devastating and long-lasting effects on both parents, particularly Marianne.
- A Mother’s Grief: Faithfull’s grief was overwhelming. She later revealed that she attempted suicide following the heartbreaking loss. This tragedy, combined with the unraveling of her relationship with Jagger, led her into a severe struggle with drug addiction. Her career went into a tailspin, and she eventually experienced periods of homelessness in London’s Soho, battling heroin addiction and anorexia.
- A Father’s Legacy: For Mick Jagger, the loss was a private sorrow within an increasingly public life. He would go on to have eight children with five different partners, but Corrina remains his first daughter, a child who was lost before she could be known.
Corrina’s Faint Echo in the Music
While Corrina Jagger never lived, her memory and the pain of her loss are subtly etched into the music of the era. During their relationship, Faithfull was a significant muse for Jagger and Richards.
She is widely believed to have influenced the lyrics of several classic Rolling Stones songs, including “Wild Horses” and “I Got the Blues” from the 1971 album “Sticky Fingers”. More directly, she co-wrote the haunting “Sister Morphine,” a song whose themes of pain and desperation took on a new, painful resonance after her own struggles with addiction began.
The emotional turmoil of this period—including the loss of Corrina—undoubtedly seeped into the creative output of both Jagger and Faithfull, adding a layer of profound sadness to their already complex artistic legacies.
A Lasting Impact: The Family Tree
Mick Jagger’s large family has continued to grow and evolve, but Corrina is a fixed and remembered part of it.
- Mick Jagger’s Eight Living Children: Jagger is the father of eight surviving children, each from different relationships.
- Karis Hunt Jagger (b. 1970), with Marsha Hunt.
- Jade Jagger (b. 1971), with Bianca Jagger.
- Elizabeth Jagger (b. 1984), with Jerry Hall.
- James Jagger (b. 1985), with Jerry Hall.
- Georgia May Jagger (b. 1992), with Jerry Hall.
- Gabriel Jagger (b. 1997), with Jerry Hall.
- Lucas Morad-Jagger (b. 1999), with Luciana Gimenez Morad.
- Deveraux Jagger (b. 2016), with Melanie Hamrick.
- A Grandmother’s Reflection: Jade Jagger, Mick’s second child, once poignantly described their sprawling, blended family, noting, “My father now has eight children with five partners — a globetrotting support network that seems to be ever expanding”. This public acknowledgment from a half-sister confirms that Corrina, though absent, is part of the family’s history.
A Friendship Rekindled
Despite the pain of their past, time eventually healed the wounds between Jagger and Faithfull. In 2007, while Faithfull was battling breast cancer, Jagger reached out. She reflected, “He hadn’t called me for 35 years and here he was, making sure I was OK. He loves me and I love him. The fact that our relationship ended in 1970 doesn’t matter”. This reconciliation showed that the bond they shared, forged in part by the loss of their daughter, had endured decades of separation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Corrina Jagger?
Corrina Jagger was the stillborn daughter of Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger and singer Marianne Faithfull. She was lost in 1968 when Faithfull was seven or eight months pregnant.
What was the full name of Mick Jagger’s daughter?
Her full name was Corrina Faithfull Jagger, incorporating her mother’s surname.
How did Corrina Jagger’s death affect her parents?
The tragedy had a profound and devastating impact, particularly on Marianne Faithfull. It contributed to a suicide attempt and a subsequent struggle with drug addiction that derailed her career for years. For both, it marked a painful chapter in their very public relationship.
Did Mick Jagger and Marianne Faithfull have any other children together?
No, Corrina was their only child together. Mick Jagger has eight other children with four other women.
Are there any photos of Corrina Jagger?
No. As she was stillborn, there are no publicly available photographs of Corrina Jagger. Her memory is preserved through the stories and acknowledgments of her family.
The story of Corrina Jagger is a silent, sorrowful verse in the loud, explosive song of the 1960s. It reminds us that behind the iconic music and the glamorous facade of rock stardom, there were real human beings experiencing profound love and loss. Though she never drew breath, her story is a part of rock ‘n’ roll history, a poignant “what if” that continues to resonate.