Anita Pallenberg – a name synonymous with the vibrant heart of the '60s rock and roll era, a muse who inspired some of the greatest music of the time, and a style icon whose influence remains timeless.
From her groundbreaking impact on the fashion scene to her indelible mark on the world of music, Anita's legacy is a testament to a life lived boldly and passionately. With her fearless spirit and avant-garde style, she not only walked alongside legends but became one herself.
Ahead of the cinema release of Catching Fire: The Story of Anita Pallenberg (from 17 May), find out more about the rock pioneer below.
EARLY LIFE
Anita was born in Rome in 1942. At 19 she moved to New York, it was 1963 the swinging sixties where Anita found herself in the downtown scene, surrounding herself with the likes of Andy Warhol and Allen Ginsberg. She started a career in modelling using it as a means to travel across the world. Her journey into the heart of 60s rock ‘n’ roll started in 1965 in Munich when she attended a Rolling Stones concert - “The concert was wild, police had to push the audience back. Mick [Jagger] got so scared he had to hide. I loved every minute of it.” - Anita Pallenberg from her unpublished memoir, narrated by Scarlett Johansson in Catching Fire: The Story of Anita Pallenberg.
A somewhat chance encounter, Anita snook backstage and “noticed Brain Jones right away" saying “he was the most beautiful one in the group”. “I offered the band some hash and Brian said yes.” Anita recalls her meeting with the Rolling Stones in her memoir, after this Brain and Anita were inseparable, becoming an integral part of the Rolling Stones' inner circle.
Keith Richards and Anita Pallneberg
“She knew everything, and she could say it in five languages. She scared the pants off me.”
-Keith Richards
muse
Anita's influence on the Rolling Stones is legendary. Not just a muse but a collaborator, her presence is felt in the band's aesthetic, their music, and even their personal lives. Gimme Shelter and other classics have been said to be inspired by Anita. Her artistic sensibility, boldness, and keen fashion sense helped shape the band's image during their most formative years. Pallenberg's relationship with Richards produced three children, further cementing her legacy within the rock and roll dynasty.
Keith Richards and Anita Pallenberg with their child Marlon.
STYLE ICON
Beyond her association with the Stones, Anita was a style icon, embodying the spirit of the era with her bohemian-chic aesthetic. Her fearless fashion choices, blending masculine and feminine elements with a touch of avant-garde, influenced not just her circle but fashion trends that would echo for decades including Kate Moss. From micro dresses paired with hip-hugging belts to luxurious feathered jackets and bold animal prints, she embodied the quintessential influencer of her era.
“She was everything you want a rockstar to be – or for me, everything you want a woman to be.” -Kate Moss
The documentary Catching Fire: The Story of Anita Pallenberg is in cinemas from 17 May.