![]() ![]() In response to Bolan's rebuff, Took contributed two songs as well as vocals and percussion to Twink's Think Pink album. Took also began writing his own songs, and wanted the duo to perform them, but Bolan strongly disapproved of his bandmate's efforts, rejecting them for the duo's putative fourth album, in production in Spring/Summer 1969. Took was also attracted to anarchic elements such as Mick Farren/ Deviants and members of the Pink Fairies Rock 'n' Roll and Drinking Club. Took, however, had fully embraced the anti-commercial, drug-taking ethos of the UK Underground scene centred around Ladbroke Grove. Bolan and his girlfriend June Child were living a quiet life, Bolan working on his book of poetry entitled The Warlock of Love and concentrating on his songs and performance skills. However, by mid-1969 there was a rift developing between the two halves of Tyrannosaurus Rex. Their fourth single "King of the Rumbling Spires" issued in July, was a musical departure compared to the previous material: they used a full rock band setup with a drumkit and an entirely electric sound. The band became regulars on Peel Sessions on BBC radio, and toured Britain's student union halls. While Bolan's early solo material was rock and roll-influenced pop music, by now he was writing dramatic and baroque songs with lush melodies and surreal lyrics filled with Greek and Persian mythology as well as poetic creations of his own. Their third single "Pewter Suitor", released in January 1969, failed to chart but their third album Unicorn came within striking distance of the UK Top 10 Albums. Their second album Prophets, Seers & Sages was released a few months later.ĭuring 1968–1969, Tyrannosaurus Rex had become a modest success on radio and on record. remained in the UK Albums chart for nine weeks and peaked at number 15. ![]() ![]() Their debut album My People Were Fair and Had Sky in Their Hair. Another key collaborator was producer Tony Visconti, who went on to produce the band's albums well into their second, glam rock phase. Peel later appeared on record with them, reading stories written by Bolan. BBC Radio One Disc jockey John Peel championed the band early in their recording career. The combination of Bolan's acoustic guitar and distinctive vocal style with Took's bongos and assorted percussion-which often included children's instruments such as the Pixiphone-earned them a devoted following in the thriving hippy underground scene. Inspired by an influential performance by Ravi Shankar whom Bolan had seen while touring West Germany with John's Children, the band adopted a stage manner resembling the performance of traditional Indian music. Subsequently, Bolan retained the band name and the services of Porter, who switched to percussion under the name Steve Peregrin Took, and the two began performing acoustic material as a duo with a repertoire of folk-influenced Bolan-penned songs. After a solitary disastrous performance as a four-piece electric rock band on 22 July at the Electric Garden in London's Covent Garden alongside drummer Steve Porter plus two older musicians: guitarist Ben Cartland and an unknown bassist, the group immediately broke up. Marc Bolan founded Tyrannosaurus Rex in July 1967, following a handful of failed solo singles and a brief career as lead guitarist in psych-rock band John's Children. History Formation and psychedelic folk (July 1967 – mid-1970) The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2020. Rex have continued to influence a variety of subsequent artists. In 1977, Bolan died in a car crash several months after the release of the group's final studio album Dandy in the Underworld, and the group disbanded. Their subsequent releases blended rock with R&B and occasionally even disco. Rex's appeal began to wane, though the band continued releasing albums. Bolstering their style with soul music, funk and gospel, the band released Tanx in 1973 which reached the top 5 in several countries. The 1972 follow-up, The Slider, entered the top 20 in the US. The band's 1971 album Electric Warrior received critical acclaim, reached number 1 in the UK and became a landmark album in glam rock. ![]() Rex encountered a popularity in the UK comparable to that of the Beatles, with a run of eleven top ten singles, four of which reached number one: " Hot Love", " Get It On", " Telegram Sam" and " Metal Guru". This development culminated in 1970 with their first hit single " Ride a White Swan", and the group soon became pioneers of the glam rock movement.įrom 1970 to 1973, T. Though initially associated with the psychedelic folk genre, Bolan began to change the band's style towards electric rock in 1969, and shortened their name to T. Rex (originally Tyrannosaurus Rex) were an English rock band, formed in 1967 by singer-songwriter and guitarist Marc Bolan, who was their leader, frontman and only consistent member. ![]()
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