T. Rex Artistfacts

T. Rex song list

T. Rex Artistfacts

1967-1977
Marc BolanVocals, guitar
Steve Peregrin TookPercussion1967-1969
Mickey FinnPercussion1969-1975
Steve CurrieBass1970-1976
Bill LegendDrums1971-1974
T. Rex singer/guitarist Marc Bolan (born Mark Feld) was a model before finding rock n' roll stardom. After he dropped out of school at age 14 to pursue acting, his striking looks and style sense earned him an appearance in a 1962 photo story for Town magazine covering the new Mod scene.
On quite a few of T. Rex's classic recordings ("Hot Love," "Metal Guru," "Main Man," etc.), back-up vocals are provided by Howard Kaylan and Mark Volman, who are best known as "Flo & Eddie," and were members of both the Turtles and the Mothers of Invention.
Along with the likes of Led Zeppelin, the Rolling Stones, Elton John, and Rod Stewart, Marc Bolan fled his homeland of England for a spell during the early 1970s, to avoid being hit hard with taxes. Bolan resided in Monaco during this time.
Ringo Starr is credited as the photographer for the front and back cover of T. Rex's Slider album. Starr also directed the T. Rex documentary film, Born to Boogie.
During the early '70s, T. Rex was so popular back home in England that Marc Bolan was awarded his own record label, T. Rex Wax Co., of which the first release was the hit single, "Telegram Sam," on January 21, 1972.
Marc Bolan and David Bowie were longtime pals, and in 1974, the T. Rex leader disclosed in an interview with Melody Maker that he was planning to make a film with the Thin White Duke - with Bolan directing and Bowie writing the script. This project (which was to be science fiction-based) never came to fruition.
The only surviving member of what is T. Rex's best-known line-up (from 1971-1974) is drummer Bill Legend. Marc Bolan died on September 16, 1977 in an auto accident, bassist Steve Currie also died in an auto accident on April 28, 1981, and percussionist Mickey Finn died from liver and kidney problems on January 11, 2003. Additionally, early percussionist Steve Peregrin Took died due to asphyxiation on October 27, 1980.
Marc Bolan died when a purple Mini driven by his girlfriend Gloria Jones crashed at Queens Ride, southwest London, less than a mile from his home.

Jones, who was badly injured in the crash, had joined T-Rex as a backup singer and keyboard player in 1974. She is best known for recording the original version of Soft Cell's "Tainted Love."

Comments: 5

Deidre from AustraliaHe was such a beautiful, talented man. There will never be another Marc Bolan. I absolutely adore him.
Kim from England Marc Bolan had his own tv show in the 77 in the uk called Marc it was 6 shows long and the final episode was aired posthumously on 28th Sept 77.

Elton John was in one of Marc's music videos.

Marc Bolan has been given the title of god father father of pink and father of glam rock and in 2019 became a rock and roll hall of Famer.
Cam from EnglandMarc Bolan rocks
John Fletcher from Toronto CanadaMany of Bolan's lyrics refer to cars, for example:

20th Century Boy
"Fly like a plane, drive like a car …"

Jeepster
"Just like a car, you're pleasing to behold, I'll call you Jaguar if I may be so bold …"

Bang a Gong
"You're built like a car, you've got a hub cap diamond star halo"

But Bolan never learned to drive (see Wikipedia), and was a passenger in his own car when it crashed and he was killed.
Jaylan Beaudouine from Battery CityAlthough the photography for The Slider was credited as Ringo Starr, it was actually Tony Visconti. He said himself that Marc had "forgotten" and coincidentally told whoever was responsible for that side of things that Ringo, who happened to be a big name Marc was associated with, had taken it instead. Strange coincidence there Marc ;)

see more comments

More Songfacts:

Let The Day BeginThe Call

Al Gore chose an inspiring but obscure campaign song when he ran for president in 2000: "Let The Day Begin" by The Call.

BloodstreamEd Sheeran

Ed Sheeran's "Bloodstream" was written after an experience taking MDMA during a wedding celebration in Ibiza; it's basically about all the feelings that he got from that time.

AlrightJanet Jackson

Janet Jackson's "Alright" video features Cab Calloway and Cyd Charisse, stars of musicals she loved as a kid.

ForeverChris Brown

"Forever" by Chris Brown was written for a Wrigley's Doublemint Gum commercial. The full song contains the gum's tagline: "Double your pleasure, double your fun."

This LoveMaroon 5

Adam Levine of Maroon 5 made it obvious who their song "This Love" was about when he named the album "Songs About Jane."

The Girl Is MineMichael Jackson

The first single from the Thriller album was "The Girl Is Mine," chosen over "Billie Jean" and "Beat It" because it was a duet with Paul McCartney and thus guaranteed airplay.