Maria Lane, 1st Viscountess Naburn

Maria Elizabeth Katherine Lane-James-Newart, Viscountess Naburn (14 September 1976 – 12 February 2005), known professionally as Maria, was an English singer, songwriter, composer, author and actress. A figure in the alternative and grunge scenes of the 1990s and early 2000's, she rose to prominence as the lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist of the alternative rock band Sour, which she formed in 1992. Lane drew public attention for her extensive partying lifestyle, as well as her highly publicised personal life following her marriage to Trip frontman Cristiano Westford.

Lane struggled with substance abuse and addiction. She died of a heroin overdose on 12 February 2005, at the age of 29.

## Early Life

### Childhood

Lane was born on 14 September 1976 in Kensington, England, to 30-year-old George Lane, a politician, and 27-year-old Lady Ophelia James-Newart, famous model and socialite. George and Lady Ophelia had married in 1971. She had two older brothers James (b.1972) and George Jr (b.1975), as well as an older sister Louise (b.1973). A third brother, Harrison, was born in 1979. Lane's parents separated when she was five, and she chose to live with her father as her mother could not financially provide for her.

With her mother being highly regarded within the modelling industry, Lane spent most of her life surrounded by artistic influence. At the age of 8, Lane began to pursue a career in acting, whilst simultaneously pursuing singing on the encouragement of her paternal grandmother Baroness Elizabeth Fitzgerald.

Lane appeared in her first film at the age of 8 when she played Daisy, a young cowgirl visiting her grandfather for the summer, in Summer Song alongside Richard Kane. Though now considered a cult classic, the film received relatively low reviews and failed financially. With the assistance of her godfather, Sir Stanley Keach, Lane was able to secure 3 more roles in 1985 for Black, Marilyn In The Woods and Karma. In 1987, Lane appeared in The Lieutenant's Wife, earning Lane her first Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy. A year later in 1987, Lane rose to international stardom after her role as Violet in Little Choice earned her nominations at the British Academy of Film Awards and the Golden Globes. Along with the success of Little Choice, Lane was awarded with the Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy for her portrayal of Jasmine in The Palace Tea.

In 1989, her godmother Birgitte, Duchess of Gloucester awarded Maria a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music, where she studied Contemporary Music and Musical Theatre. She attended the school for three years and founded a short-lived group called The Bear, with Ashton Dollway, her childhood friend, before dropping out to found Sour in 1992. Several years later it was reported that Lane had been expelled at 16 for "repeated behavioural issues" and also for having a relationship with the son of then Head Mistress Cathleen Donovan, but these claims were denied by Donovan as well as George Lane.

After the death of her maternal grandfather in 1989, she became Viscountess Naburn.

## Career

### Early Career: 1992-1995

After her success with the soundtrack for No Girls Allowed in early 1992, later winning multiple awards including 3 Grammys, Maria met with producer Kat Smithy to discuss the potential of her pursuing a career in music. Smithy invited Maria to stay in "The K Block", a collaborative musicians accomodation in London, during her summer break so Maria could experience the musician's lifestyle to guide her decision. Between June and August 1992, Maria shared her accomodation with Elizabeth Bankman before intending to return to London in early September. Initially Bankman found Maria to be snobbish and arrogant over her success in music, however the two bonded after partaking in mutual drug taking whilst on a night out in London. Bankman convinced Maria to drop out of the Royal Academy of Music and start there band Sour. Despite attempts by Lanes family and her then short term boyfriend Ashton, Maria left the school shortly after her 16th birthday and moved in with Bankman and her family in Brighton.

Lane introduced Bankman to a number of record executives hoping to receive a contract offer for Sour’s proposed first album, however many rejected the duo on account of Bankmans defensive behaviour. With financing from Maria’s mother, aswell as assistance from other associates of Lane in the music business, Lane and Bankman chose to establish their own record label from which they would release there work, founding Ornament International soon after.

During the recording for Sour’s debut album, Lane continued her acting career appearing in the 1992 film Climb in the supporting role of Jenny Price, the drug addicted wife to a failed musician. Lanes portrayal led to her first Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress.

Sour’s debut album Skin, was released on 5 December 1993. Produced entirely by Maria and Bankman, many songs were influenced by the grunge seen emerging in Britain at the time, while retaining elements of the original punk rock era established in the 70’s. Though both share writing credits for the album, Lane wrote the majority of the songs. The album received immense critical acclaim with it being hailed “the greatest debut album in British history” by both critics and fans alike.

The album debuted at number one in 14 countries including the UK, US and Australia. It broke numerous records including longest British number 1 album, 26 weeks before moving 2 places to number 3, best selling debut album and best selling album by a female artist. It is certified 16× Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and is one of the best selling albums in history with 51 million certified sales. Later in 1994, it was nominated for and won 5 Grammys including Album of the Year, Record of the Year and Best Rock Song.

To profit on the success of Skin, Sour began a 12 week European Tour in February 1994 touring the UK, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Belgium, Croatia, Poland, Sweden, Czech Republic, Greece and Romania.

Dubbed “the year of everything” by her fans, Lane worked tirelessly in 1995 producing multiple projects. These included appearing in the two films 12 Seconds To Midnight, earning the Oscar for Best Actress and Best Original Song, and The Residential, earning the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress. Additionally Lane and Bankman released the albums Burn The Bridge and Hate The Sound to critical acclaim. Originally planned to be released as a single album, Sour’s team advise they be released separately otherwise the album would have been too long and not sold well. Burn The Bridge became notable for its chart rivalry with The Academic’s Over The Rainbow with the victory eventually going to the Academics after a series of losses for Sour at the 1996 Grammy Awards only winning Rock Song of the Year.

## Death

On February 12, 2005, less than three weeks before the start of her Bad Taste world tour in London, with all concerts sold out, Lane died from cardiac arrest, caused by a heroin overdose. Paramedics received a 999 call at 7:50am and arrived four minutes later. Lane was not breathing and CPR was performed. Resuscitation efforts continued en route to Kensington and Chelsea Hospital, and for more than an hour after Lane's arrival there, but were unsuccessful, and Lane was pronounced dead at 9:34 am.

News of Lane's death spread quickly around the world. Despite being asked by Countess Louise Lane, Lane's sister, not to report Lane’s death till her father had been told, Aaron Coffee reported the death of Lane on social media at 9:40 am. At the time of Lane’s death, George Lane was attending the Rio Carnival in Brazil and was made aware of his daughter’s passing after being ambushed by locals attempting to offer condolences. George later sued Coffee for £28 million, arguing that reporting on the death of Maria before his knowing had caused great distress to the Lane family. George settled the suit after Coffee’s arrest for supposedly assaulting a pub landlord earlier that year.

Family and friends attended Lane's private funeral on 2 March 2005 at St Mary Abbotts Church in Kensington, London. Her father and his fiance, Dr Toby George, as well as the rest of her family, close friends Harry May and Georgia Horn, producer Katherine Gates, her godparents including the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, Sir Stanley Keach and Diana Pillard, June Westford and Lanes longtime music partner, Elizabeth Bankman, were among those in attendance at the private service led by Revd Emma Dinwiddy Smith. Her brother delivered the eulogy, quoting her song Roses. A recording of "Can’t Help Falling In Love With You", performed by her late husband Cristiano Westford, closed the service with mourners singing along. She was later transported to the cemetery of Waddesdon Manor, where she was buried beside her late husband and mother, Countess Ophelia James-Newart.

Upon her death, her eldest son inherited all her titles and became George Westford, Viscount Naburn. Furthermore, her second son was made Philip Westmore, Viscount Melbourne.

## Charity Work and Patronage

In 1999, whilst attending a dinner as representative of her father, Maria confessed to the then Governess of California, Hillary Clark, “I love my husband very much and I will always be prepared to serve Papa in his duties, but I can’t help feeling so unbelievably bored by it all”. In her role as the Viscountess Naburn, aswell as her role as a celebrity and member of the Lane family, she was expected to make regular public appearances at hospitals, schools, and other facilities. From the mid-1990s, she became increasingly associated with numerous charities. She carried out 195 official engagements in 1996 and 341 in 1998.

In 1998 Maria gave birth to her twin sons George and Phillip. Soon after, Phillip was declared completely deaf as well as partially blind in one eye. Though initially Maria attempted to keep Phillips' condition secret, she later began to develop an intense interest in charities working with the blind and visually impaired. Most notably Maria was able to raise £40 million for the National Deaf Children’s Society, by donating the profits from her single “Listen To My Hands”, which later earned the Grammy for Song of the Year.

In addition to this, Maria was also a keen supporter in the fight against illiteracy. In 2001,  with assistance from her sister, Countess Louise, Maria helped found the Same Page Foundation to help tackle illiteracy in Primary and Secondary education. On frequent occasions, Maria gained major international attention for her efforts in helping to solve the “appalling crisis of illiteracy plaguing our schools”, including nearly bankrupting herself to help pay for 27 different schools to receive new textbooks.

## Discography

**Studio Albums**

I Thought You Were Dead (1999)

Taking My Hand (2002)

Nothing (2003)

All Hot (2005)

**with Sour**

Skin (1993)

Burn the Bridge (1995)

Hate the Sound (1995)

Vanilla (1996)

Lead the Way (1997)

**Soundtrack Albums**

No Girls Allowed (1992)

12 Seconds To Midnight (1995)

Just A Boy (1999)

The Collector (2001)

Crossing (2002)

Sun (2003)

I Wasn't Gone Yet (2005)