T. Rex - Electric Warrior
On this week’s episode, its another “Listener Pick,” the band and LP that gave the world Glam Rock: 1971’s Electric Warrior, the second album by T. Rex.
Marc Bolan, T-Rex's charismatic front man played a pivotal role in early 70’s British rock. Forming the folk-rock duo/band Tyrannosaurus Rex, Bolan would embrace the shortened moniker “T. Rex” at the dawn of the 1970’s, as well as a more flamboyant look, attitude, and sound, essentially ushering in the Glam Rock era. Bolan and T. Rex became huge in the UK, even rivaling the Beatles in popularity.
Considered by many to be the first true Glam Rock record, Electric Warrior is the culmination of everything Bolan wanted to accomplish with T. Rex. and is lauded as one of the most iconic and influential albums of all time.
No recommendation on this episode.
THINGS WE DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE
In 1962, at age 15, still going by Marc Feld, Bolan was was featured in the men’s fashion magazine Town along with an article touting him the as the “face of London’s emerging Mod Scene".”
Pictured (L to R): Peter Sugar, Michael Simmonds and Mark Feld.
By 1965, Bolan had become enamored with Bob Dylan, so much so that he even dressed the part.
In 1965, Bolan’s first manager, Allen Warren, gets him a recording session where he recorded a version of Bob Dylan’s “Blowin’ in the Wind” under the name Toby Tyler. The name didn’t last. By the next recording session, he was going by Marc Bolan.
Bolan recorded “The Wizard” as a single for Decca in September of 1965.
Above is some of the labels promotional material explaining the origin of the song (no doubt inspired by Bolan’s own imaginative tales).
After a couple of failed solo singles, Bolan joined the band John’s Children as a songwriter, guitarist, and backing vocalist.
Pictured (L to R): Andy Ellison, John Hewitt, Chris Townson, and Marc Bolan.
Just before his 20th birthday, Bolan formed the band Tyrannosaurus Rex. Originally a five piece, after a particularity disastrous live performance, the band was whittled down to an acoustic duo with 17 year old drummer Steve Peregrin Took (real name was Stephen Ross Porter) the only person remaining.
Tyrannosaurus Rex found an early champion in Radio One DJ, John Peel. Peel gave Bolan his earliest radio exposure by playing his early solo singles in heavy rotation and driving them to their gigs.
When Bolan went full on electric, Peel essentially dusoned Bolan, calling him a Judas and accusing him of betrayed his fans and what he stood for (poetry and beauty) by selling out for Rock and Roll.
Tony Visconti (left) signed Tyrannosaurus Rex and produced all four of their studio albums and continued to do the same for T. Rex for most of their career. Visconti was the perfect producer for Bolan, helping him realize his vision, even as that vision changed.
Bolan called it quits with Steve Peregrin Took prior to last album by Tyrannosaurus Rex, A Beard of Stars. Micky Finn joins on guitar and becomes an integral part of the transformation to T. Rex. Realizing he needs a band to perform the more complicated songs live, Bolan also hires Steve Currie on Bass and Bill Legend on drums.
T. Rex Pictured (L to R): Steve Currie, Mickey Finn, Marc Bolan, and Bill Legend.
The song “Hot Love,” released in February 1971, becomes the Bolan’s firts number 1 hit in the UK. It earned him an appearance on Top of The Pops at the end of February. His second appearance to perform the song (watch below) is legendary.
His manager’s wife added two spots of glitter under Bolan’s eyes before he went on stage, and with his corkscrew hair, cheekbones daubed with glitter, and his satin outfit, that performance is cited as the birth of the Glam Rock era in the UK.
Even with Glam Rock’s popularity declining towards the latter half of the 1970’s, Bolan was still a draw and he was given his own television show, Marc, where he showcased up and coming bands, and also “performed” his own tunes (essentially miming to the tracks).
Bowie was invited to perform “Heroes” for the series' penultimate show. He and Bolan would also perform “Sleeping Next To You” together to close out the show together.
Sadly, Bolan tragically died in a car accident only 9 days later.
