September 28, 1973 Follow us on Social Media: / themidnightspecialtvshow / themidnightspecialtvshow / themidnightspecialtvshow / tmstvshow Visit The Midnight Special Store: themidnightspecial.myshopify....
Yes I agree but overindulgence in cocaine, and a lack of a sound check and a complete lack of awareness that you sound like shit during your performance. I'll take the studio version thank you.
So true. Why do we expect rock performers to perform their live songs exactly like the recorded versions? These guys are improvising, extemporizing, and loving every minute of their time on stage. Beyond that, I never knew the T-Rex band was so talented - Bolan's amazing guitar solo (which suggests he wasn't that stoned), and the solo spots from bass and lead show what a great outfit this was. I also get vibes of Lennon's Cold Turkey and Ono's Don't Worry Kyoko - Toronto 1969 versions - and why not?
I got to see T. Rex 8 times between 1971-77 and Marc was always put on a great show. He was using cocaine heavily by 1973 and it shows, but he still gave his best on stage. He didn’t need the backup singers and their tambourines drowning him out. The best shows I saw him put on were on his last tour, he had quit cocaine and was taking care of himself, he lost all the weight he’d put on, and his guitar playing was better than ever. You can watch his 1977 television show “Marc” to see what I mean. I still remember hearing on the radio when I woke up on September 16, 1977 that he had been killed a few hours earlier in a car accident at age 29, it was a huge shock.
Trouser Press magazine put Marc Bolan in it's list of the 100 best guitarists of the rock era , prefacing the inclusion by saying it would be disingenuous to put him up there with Clapton and Hendrix,etc, But identified his " immediately recognizable sound" and his ultra-tight lead work in the studio, not so much on stage. I defy anyone to replicate the tone and pitch Marc got out of his Les Paul. In that regard, he has remained pretty much untouchable! T-REX covers by other bands have captured his chunky Chuck Berry chords somewhat, but fall off when the solos kick in. Marc was utterly unique with enough natural star-power to rival the Beatles.
Not that you said it but mentioning his weight and how much he lost reminds me that so many people called him bloated/fat when he wasn't actually that heavy at all and it pisses me off. I truly believe it's because he was feminine and all feminine men get criticism just like women when they gain weight. He was healthier when he gained some. Coke is what made him rail thin. It's just like how everyone praises Bowie when he was so sick looking. Those 70s videos are hard to watch of Bowie. They don't genuinely give a fig about the people they "idolize" if they do nothing but call out weight gain. It wasn't like Marc was obese. Not that I'm claiming that you are but they also focus so much on his death that it's disgustingly morbid.
T-Rex was before my concert going years but heard him on the radio. When I heard the beginning of his vocals I thought, oh he's on drugs."Not top notch vocals here. Still fn fantastic though.
😂😂The backup singers must have been on something because they’re really going wild! I loved T. Rex and many other bands of the 1970s. It was a GOLDEN era for this genre of music. Thank you so much for posting these great treasures!!
When the whip comes down. What an amazing time that was. I sorely miss it. Today's musicians can't even come close to the raw talent that existed in the '60's through 80's. A unique moment in time.
Okay, I feel obliged to add a more intelligent comment. What I love about this video is its unpredictability, rapidly distancing itself from the recorded version, starting with the extraordinary backing vocal refrain, quickly followed by Bolan echoing the refrain, disappearing off stage, reappearing with a tamborine as a slide plectrum, disposing of the tambourine, destroying the guitar, and then exiting with howling feedback, à la Lennon live in Toronto playing Cold Turkey. All the while, the audience must have been wondering where is this going? Everyone who suggests this performance is simply a drug-induced rambling effort should listen to the precision level of musicianship throughout.
I am 95 years old ( or 95 years young as I like to say 😂😂) and I remember finding out about T. rex 🦕 when I went to my local video store 1983 and I seen a T. rex vinyl “Triassic Jurassic Dirastic Fantasic” I reluctantly bought it and it soon became my favourite vinyl record album 🤣. nothing beats my fav dinosaur mark Bolan 🤘
Definitely entertaining, apparently the backup singers couldn't hear their monitors cuz they sounded more like yelling than singing, sound man must have taken a break, lol
Meine ersten Singles waren alle von T-Rex....ich erinnere mich daran,als wäre es gestern gewesen und keine 53 Jahre her...Gott,habe ich die geliebt und rauf und runter gehört..❤️🤘🏻🔥🔥
Christ on a bike! Jesus was in the room for this one. The backing singers... real-life angels. That is the best thing I've heard/watched in a long time.
Funny how Bolan put's away the Les Paul , then pulls out an SG to destroy...Both those guitars would be worth lots of $$ today...Love dem girls shaking it up as the scream..lol
Are you kidding me? I could have listened to just those gals w/o the band. They put everything into it, and let's face facts. They were phenomenally talented and really added to the show.
Bang a gong...Get it on!! 💃 That audience is in high gear! Those backup singers got it going on... high energy! Happy Tuesday... thank you for sharing! 💖
@robinbailey3052 Truthfully, I wouldn't know. I never had to use drugs to get through life. I'm glad I never did. I suspect he may be higher than a kite! He went crazy at the end. That was my only drawback about the whole video the way he threw his guitar around. It's really senseless to me. Have a Wonderful Day! 😊
@@that70sgirl90I was more refering to Gloria Jones the Backup singer. As for the guitar smashing notice he swapped out his les paul before the guitar abuse happened it was all part of the show.
@robinbailey3052 Thank you for correcting me. I knew the song, but I really didn't know too much about him. He's pretty wild, too. Even though it's an act. Both women are in high gear. I have to agree... over the top vocally. I guess that's what happens when you're hopped up on drugs. Thank you for sharing! 💖
I believe it was Marc Bolan that created the great driving guitar riff for the track "Nut Bush" for Ike and Tina Turner. It became a hit after his involvement and I have heard that track played live by Ike and Tina's band before Marcs involvement and it was a nothing song. He certainly was talented!
Never could understand the lyrics, so I finally looked them up. Second verse: Well you're built like a car You've got a hubcap diamond star halo You're built like a car, oh yeah Well you're an untamed youth That's the truth with your cloak full of eagles You're dirty sweet and you're my girl Glad I didn't know them 50 years ago!
Years ago one of the guys on the show's production team talked about how Mark went way beyond the allotted time slot, freaking out the producers who had to cancel the next performers. LOL. Mark was saying, hey, I am here and enjoying my every minute as a rock star
