Elizabeth Taylor

“The ups and downs, the problems and stress, along with all the happiness, have given me optimism and hope because I am living proof of survival”

A star since her childhood the 1960s provided Elizabeth Taylor with some of her most iconic and critically acclaimed roles. It was also the era in which her personal life became tabloid fodder as she embarked on a public affair with fellow actor, Richard Burton.

Elizabeth Taylor was born in London in 1932. When the family moved to America many insisted that the beautiful Elizabeth, with her dark hair and unusual violet eyes, should be in films. Her first role came in 1942 but it was the 1944 film, National Velvet that cemented her star status. She transitioned easily to adult roles in the 1950s starring in films including, A Place in the Sun, Giant, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and Suddenly Last Summer. The beginning of the new decade proved controversial for Elizabeth, in 1959 she married her lover, singer Eddie Fisher. Fisher had left his wife Debbie Reynolds for Elizabeth and many turned against Liz, calling her a 'home wrecker'. Still she won an Academy Award for her role in the film BUtterfield 8. That same year, 1960, she began filming the historical epic, Cleopatra. During filming she began an affair with co-star Richard Burton and their actions garnered much press attention, they were even condemned by the Vatican. In 1961 Liz suffered near fatal pneumonia and underwent an emergency tracheotomy. Her illness won her back some support from the general public who were becoming increasingly fascinated with her romance with Burton. Released in 1963 Cleopatra was a box office success. She and Burton were married and the starred together in The V.I.Ps, The Sandpiper and Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? which was to become the most acclaimed performance of her career. However towards the end of the 60s Elizabeth's career was in decline. In the 1970s she and Burton divorced and then remarried, only to divorce again. She continued to star in films but battled addiction, ill health and marital difficulties. In her later life she devoted her time to her philanthropic work where she worked tirelessly to raise money for AIDS/HIV causes. She passed away in 2011.

Elizabeth was a controversial star from an early age. Married eight times to seven men she had four children, but it was her relationship with Richard Burton that gained the most media attention. For her actions she was labelled a 'bad mother' and faced increasing hostility from the general public, but she cared little for others opinions and carried out her life on her terms. Her 'Cleopatra' hairstyle and makeup even started a fashion trend, with all things Egyptian becoming very popular during the 60s.

Her roles during this period were also challenging. For her role as the alcoholic housewife, Martha, in Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? she gained weight and wore a wig, some not able to recognise the usually glamorous star. She took on roles reflective of her own tumultuous life with Burton and starred in a variety of genres. Though the 1960s are generally not regard as her best period, film wise, it is for the iconic role of Cleopatra that she is best known today.

Elizabeth Taylor was a passionate, vivacious woman. She was dedicated to her profession, beliefs and friends. Sadly today she is most remembered for her 8 marriages but she was a wonderful actress and should be remembered for her onscreen roles and philanthropy.

“Nothing will raise you self-esteem as much as helping others. It will make you like yourself more and make you more likable”

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Marianne Faithfull

“Between the ages of seventeen and nineteen I shed any number of old lives and grew new ones overnight without any of them seeming quite real to me; I discarded them as cavalierly as a child who moves from one game to another. Pursued in earnest, any one of these might have led to a reasonably happy life. But then again, I wasn’t interested in happiness. I was looking for the Holy Grail.”

With her beautiful voice, aristocratic heritage and wistful style, Marianne was one of the most popular female singers during the 1960s but her tumultuous personal life often overshadowed her talent. For Marianne the 1960s were times of both success and tragedy.

Marianne was born in 1946 in England, on her mother's side she was related to Austrian Royalty. Her childhood was marred by bouts of tuberculosis which also cut into her schooling. By 1964 at the age of eighteen Marianne was performing regularly in folk clubs. At a launch party for The Rolling Stones she met their manager Andrew Loog Oldham and he signed her to a recording deal. Her first major hit was with the Jagger Richards penned, 'As Tears Go By'. Her version peaked at No 9. in the UK charts. The following year Marianne married artist John Dunbar and gave birth to their son Nicholas. She also released her first two albums, Come My Way (UK only) and Marianne Faithfull. Her personal life though was proving tumultuous, as John descended further into the world of drugs, Marianne became unhappy with her life. In 1966 she left John to be with Mick Jagger the lead singer of The Rolling Stones. Between the years 1965-1967 Marianne released three more albums, Go Away from My World, North Country Maid and Love in a Mist. She remained one of the most popular female singers of the era and had great success abroad as well as in Britain. Unfortunately Marianne's association with The Rolling Stones overshadowed her talent and success as a singer. In 1967 she and the other Stones were involved in a drug bust at Keith Richards home. Marianne was found naked, wrapped in a fur rug and following the event her image was tainted by the press and she became addicted to cocaine. The following year she tragically miscarried a baby girl.
Marianne left Mick in 1970, lost custody of her son and battled addiction, anorexia and homelessness. Still she released two albums during this period including the much lauded, Broken English. Marianne successfully reinvented herself as a singer/songwriter in the 1980s and has since recorded over fifteen albums. As well as her singing career Marianne has appeared in several films, including the 1968 film, Girl on a Motorcycle, in which she starred alongside Alain Delon. Marianne continues to tour and record to this day.

Despite the 1960s liberalism and sexual revolution Marianne suffered the judgement of many for her reckless behaviour. She once lamented that the drug bust turned the boys into heroes but she was labelled a 'villain' and a 'bad mother'. It was an image she suffered with for many years, constantly having to prove herself as she was doubted by many who believed her to be nothing more than 'Mick Jagger's Girlfriend'. She was often erroneously labelled as a 'groupie' but her career has been both long and successful.

Marianne was also a fashion icon during the decade, with her mini skirts, bohemian dresses and long blonde hair. She was one of the more popular folk singers of the day and her youthful image helped audiences to accept many of the traditional folk songs she sang. She was also successful in bridging the gap between folk and pop.

Marianne was a young woman when she was thrown into the heady world of Swinging London. When the 1960s came to an end she was only 23 but had many tragic and euphoric experiences behind her. Marianne should not only be defined by her relationships with the Stones but should be celebrated for her wonderful contributions to the world of music and her strength throughout an often difficult life.

“All these half-truths strung together created a very misleading image. That press release…projected an eerie fusion of haughty aristocrat and folky bohemian child-woman. It was a tantalizing ready-made-fantasy. Unfortunately, it wasn’t me”

Vashti Bunyan

"I wanted my songs to be heard-I didn't want to be a little disappearing person! Which is what I became, but it wasn't what I wanted to do"

With her ethereal voice, and gentle, story like lyrics Vashti Bunyan was largely unknown during the 1960s. It has been in more recent years that her music has seen a resurgence in popularity.

Vashti was born in England, 1945. In the early 1960s she briefly studied art at Oxford University, but was expelled for lack of attendance. She was inspired by the music of Bob Dylan and embarked on a music career. She wrote her own songs and was 'discovered' by The Rolling Stone's manager, Andrew Loog Oldham. Her first single, released in 1965, was penned by Jagger and Richards, 'Some Things Just Stick in Your Mind'. Vashti however didn't want to become the next Marianne Faithfull, and was determined to use her own material, rather than have others write it for her. Her next single was her own, the beautiful, 'Train Song' but it failed to make much of an impact. Instead Vashti decided to travel to the Hebridean Islands with her boyfriend, Robert Lewis, in a gypsy caravan. Their idea was to join a music commune being formed by fellow songwriter, Donovan. Though this never materialised they lived in the Hebrides with their two children in a tiny cottage. It was during this journey that Vashti began writing songs for her album, Just Another Diamond Day. Released in 1970, the album told the story of Vashti's journey through Britain, unfortunately however it failed to make an impact, and a discouraged Vashti gave music away in order to raise her children. 
Vashti disappeared from public view, however during this time her album became a cult classic and in the early 2000s was selling for astronomical fees on ebay. Encouraged by this new interest in her work Vashti has since released two new albums, Lookaftering and Heartleap, and a compilation album of her  previously unreleased sixties work. 

Vashti's songs are the hidden gems of 1960s music, they are beautiful and lyrical, she transports her listener to the wilds of Scotland, with her trusty companions, Bess the horse, and her dogs. Vashti has now become known as the godmother of 'Freak Folk' for her more experimental use of voice and instruments. 

As a young woman in the male dominated sixties world of music Vashti knew what she wanted and was determined to have her words at the forefront, she wanted to make her mark on the music industry using her own songwriting talents. She also experienced a different side of 1960s life travelling throughout Britain. She and Robert were often met with suspicion for being travellers, but they also met many kind people, it was a freer way of existence and influenced Vashti profoundly. 

"I came back to London with a certainty that there were momentous changes ahead. Though I could not articulate my thoughts. For myself I had big ideas of recording my own songs, dreams of freedom and fame-and absolutely no money"