Elly Roberts reviews
T-Rex: T-Rex on TV
Distributed by
Demon Vision
- Cat.no: DEMONDVD007
- Released: June 2006
- Format: DVD 9
- Rating: 10/10
- Running time: 176 minutes
- Region: All, PAL
- Fullscreen: 4:3
- Sound: Dolby Digital 2.0
- Classification: E (Exempt)
- Languages: English
- Subtitles: English
- Retail price: £17.99
- Extras:
None
The rise of Maida Vale’s elfin glam-rocker Marc Bolan is fascinating, but ultimately a tragic one.,
From ‘underground’ festival icon with Stephen Ross Porter aka Steve Peregrin
Took, in Tyrannosaurus Rex, he created the ultimate musical monster T-REX,
with new partner Mickey Finn. Eventually, the duo became a quartet. Some of
the press said he’d ‘sold out’.
As an impressionable 15 year old, he filled the void, as The Beatles finally
let it be. Devastated by the demise of my beloved Fab Four, he came as a
breath of fresh air. With his corkscrew hair and glittered eyes, Bolan, born
Mark Feld was the first androgynous pop star, who thrust himself upon us with
a classic mythological pop song, Ride A White Swan in October 1970,
though he had charted with previously Tyrannosaurus.
I was smitten. I bought the singles, and the bedroom posters, so I’d bought
into Glam Rock.
Then on March 18 1972 I went to see my hero at Wembley Arena. He was
magnificent. He even surprised his critics: Melody Maker splashed with ‘Bolan
Mania Hits New Peak’. NME’s version was ‘Bolan’s Triumph’.
Beatlemania had suddenly vanished – it was now time for T-Rextasy, and I was
part of it.
Even ex-Beatle drummer Ringo Starr recognised the new phenomenon, filming the
gig, released as Born To Boogie. For three glorious years, 1970 to
1973, he reigned supreme with 11 top ten singles, four of which were number
ones – Hot Love, Get It On, Telegram Sam and Metal Guru.
The release of Truck On Tyke was effectively the beginning of the end
for ‘The Slider’.
For the next four years he never entered the top ten. Even after his death,
his singles and albums have charted up to 2002.
This 3-hour 4-part DVD captures the key moments, with interviews by son Rolan
Bolan, ex-girlfriend Soul singer Gloria Jones (Tainted Love), producer
Tony Visconti, Mickey Finn, Morrissey, Holly Johnson, stylist Chelita Secunda
who effectively created the Glam Rock image, and Bolan himself.
BBC Top Of The Pops, French and German tv footage (complete with Bolan’s
infamously bad miming) make up an excellent section of personal memories, and
the famous Music In The Round ‘ Rock Of Ages’ filmed 8 December 1971 at the
Cockpit Theatre London, again I saw first time around.
Probably, his most revealing interview ever, was with Russell Harty which is
a definite highlight at an all too short 34 minutes.
Bolan’s failure to crack the United States was a major career blow, along
with the fact that he failed to evolve like his friend and Glam Rock
stablemate David Bowie. He did try to embrace Soul music when he’d teamed
with Gloria Jones, but the ‘New Age Of Bolan’ ended his career.
His death in a car crash on September 16 1977 was tragic and untimely.
Long live T-Rex. I was there through the whole thrilling journey.
Review & concert pics copyright © Elly Roberts, 2004-2010.
