People stared at the makeup on his face Laughed at his long black hair, his animal grace The boy in the bright blue jeans Jumped up on the stage Lady Stardust sang his songs Of darkness and disgrace -Lady Stardust by David Bowie - written as a song for Marc
I know that's true, but for years I was convinced Bowie was singing about Alice Cooper. The lyrics describe him to a tee, especially a male singer with a female nom de guerre and long black hair singing songs about "darkness and disgrace."
Haunting song. My brother sent me a demo of this song a few days ago. Both of us Bowiephiles for decades. Hadn't heard it in decades and did NOT know it was about Bolan. Thought it was about Ziggy but the "Long black hair" never fit. THANKS! it all makes sense now.
Bowie was bowled over by Bolan and borrowed a whole lot from their working together. He and Mark were good friends and Bowie helped take care of Mark's wife and child financially for many years after his passing.
The Power Station brought me here...I mean "here," as a fan of T.Rex. It took that Power Station cover to introduce me to The Wizard's music when I was a teenager in the 1980's and I have never looked back. "Ride a White Swan" is utterly inspired...I can't think of anything like it. My first exposure to T.Rex was on a tape called "T. Rextasy, the Best of T.Rex." Which was a really damn good compilation, bookended by the "Children of Rarn" intro and outro. I've never found that compilation anywhere again, and not on CD. So I went after the originals, starting with "Electric Warrior." I'm happy to say I just acquired an original "Electric Warrior" on vinyl. The circle is now complete...started with a tape, then a CD, and now back to vinyl. Bolan is still a legend to me. Funny you mention The Smiths and Bowie...there's a video on youtube of Morrissey and Bowie singing "Cosmic Dancer." Pure magic. Bowie and Bolan were friends and after Marc's death, Bowie actually funded Marc's son Rolan's education. And Bowie kept Marc's flame burning.
100% mate - wasn’t much of a fan of power station (hard headed teen) but they did lead me to TRex- was 5 in ‘71. So unfortunately that blazing hot time in rock was long gone - and so many great talents too😢 by the time it hit my conscienceless. Those amazing recordings live on - for that I am grateful. Cheers!
I discovered T Rex by checking out Electric Warrior from my library about 15 years ago - and that album blew me away. I went on a deep dive to all their albums (which were kinda hard to come by in the states). Just last year I went to a used record store in my small town and found a massive T Rex library with bootlegs, rare recordings, interview records with Bolan. The shop keeper said "we've had this stuff for years - I knew that the one T Rex fan in our town would find it eventually." For me, I love T Rex because of the simplicity. The songs are almost predictable, like a proto-punk rock.
Marc Bolan is right up there with Bon Scott and Keith Moon as someone whose early passing robbed us in totally under appreciated ways. So much of the 80s music began with Marc and this song.
I remember watching the marc bolan tv show " marc " back in 1977/78...signing off with "see you at the same marc time on the same marc channel"......i enjoyed his music in the 70s... all the good ones burn bright but only for a short time....
I LOVE the words of Get it On!! They rhyme and flow so cool. Total hip tune. Marc Bolan and T-Rex had some fantastic music. Electric Warrior is one of my favorite records. It is interesting that Jimmy Page played on Marc's first album. I always thought he was trying to look like Jimmy!
Haha! Get it On is still one of my favorite songs! Saw T-Rex when I was about 13 years old. They were the opening act for Three Dog Night! I have never forgotten that concert! He passed away far too soon as many of the greats have! 💚
I absolutely love this band. He was a perfect front man. Such a sweet voice. And pure energy. Just a perfect all around sound. Underrated in America for sure.
I was raised in Ayrshire Scotland. I remember going to Glasgow with a cousin and some friends to hear music. We saw T-Rex at the old Apollo (I think it may have still been Green's Theatre or had only just been rechristened). Tioraidh an-drasta 🏴 (It's "Cheerio for now" in Scots Gaelic)
I Love Marc and TRex. Nice episode. I am a bit surprised the Beatles' connection was left out, though. I was listening for the mention of Ringo Star and of the time he and his super 8 were part of their entourage. Starr published his resulting film, calling it " Born to Boogie" .
This was eye opening for me. When T-Rex was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame I wondered why. All I knew that I knew of their music was ang a Gong. Great tune, but I always thought it was a one hit wonder. I didn't know how much of their music I in fact did know, but didn't know it was T-Rex. Let alone the movement he launched, the musicians he drew together and influenced through time. Good episode.
I was a 12 year old kid in 71 when i first heard this great tune. I had no idea what the lyrics meant nor did i know who Marc Bolan was but i knew it was a cool song. In those days the closest we got to knowing more about a particular artist was if the DJ added comments and most of the time they didnt. Today with google anything can be found by performing a Google search.
I admit, the first time I heard "Bang A Gong" was in 1985 with the Powerstation version, and I loved it! Only later did I hear the T-Rex original. But I can see how they were ahead of their time and influenced so many glamrock and new wave artists later.
T-Rex definitely deserved to be bigger here in the States. They had some really tasty songs, and Marc Bolan was just a 100% genuine rock star. He burned bright, and was gone much too soon.
@@CasualSpud it was the “power station” but, Palmer had already bailed. So, actor/singer Michael Des Barres took over. He was friends with Don Johnson who asked him if he would like to do a scene on the show with the band. Turned out to be pretty good.
I remember watching Marc Bolans tv show here in the UK called Marc when i was a nipper. He used to have bands on and play his own stuff. Only one series was made before he died. Thanks for the video Prof.
I didn't know about the Chuck Berry connection with "Meanwhile, I was still thinking..." That is one of my favorite parts of the song. I always learn so much here, and I will definitely say that your Dad did the world a favor by instilling the lifelong love of music that you have. Thank you for sharing your work with us. The saying that it's not work if you love what you are doing could be your motto!
Great episode. Marc is and always will be the most beautiful man in Rock History. I saw the stage musical"20th Century Boy" live in Salford at the lowry theatre with a live band - amazing production.
I am addicted to 60’s music and I just discovered your channel and I have to say you nail it all the time…. You should do one on the song “Along Comes Mary” because it is similar to rap rhyming wise
Very interesting comment. Thanks. I'm going to have to think about that. I'm not a real musician so don't know if I'll understand. Lyrics and phrasing always intrigue me so maybe..
i remember marc bolan in a band for a short time before t rex, it was called john's children they had a song written by marc called DESDAMONA, they played it here on australian radio around 1967, i think it was banned by the bbc for some alledged risque' lyrics. i have a copy in my collection somewhere on 45.. his untimely death was another talent lost forever like so many others before & since. keep up your excellent content adam i really enjoy it, cheers mate from down under.
To be honest, I never took to T Rex and the glam rock movement which followed at the time. I was just very mixed up 18 yr old dreading my call up for compulsory military service. So when I hear Bang a Gong today it reminds me of that time and I scroll to the next song on the playlist. Thanks so much for this exposé. I had no idea that so much went into the making of this classic and I will give it a lot more respect the next time it comes up on a playlist.
I was in Jr. High in 1972; never bought a T-Rex album, but I had a 45 of "Bang a Gong". I had pretty much forgotten about that song until just now! Thanks, Professor.
I'm a baby boomer and it wasn't until about a year ago I knew who Marc Bolan was. This despite Bang a Gong being on the very first album I bought with my own money, a compilation called Heavy Metal. Then about a year ago, I spent a couple of hours deep diving after finding out Shattered Dreams was a cover. Reading the wikipedia article on Gloria Jones, the original artist, I found the story of her involvement in Bolan's death and romantic relationship with him. That in turn, led to reading up on Bolan. Fascinating stuff.
I grew up in the 70s, so from 73 in the glam rock era into disco, ska, punk, and early rap. Cant beat the early rap......lol And if l need to chill, l put some 70s music on and my late mothers' favourites like elvis, and soul.
T Rex were a one off, original sound , lyrics and style... Listen to Electric Warrior and Slider albums.. incredible... The production of the two albums mentioned stands up today..... Gone too soon..
steve “Peregrine” Took was no longer with T-rex by the Electric Warrior album. The last one he recorded was Unicorn. From Beard of Stars onward, Mickey Finn was the percussionist. The pictures featured in the video are Mickey.
Rest in Peace, Marc Bolan, he left us far too early. It's ironic that he never learned how to drive, worrying about dying young in a car accident, only to sadly perish in one as a passenger. A lot of their songs had a lot of car imagery.
I've always tried to imagine how his girlfriend must have felt when he told her "You're built like a car." What a great line! When you said they were afraid of being confused with another song titled Get it on, I was thinking of a completely different song than the one you played a clip from. Plenty of songs have the same title as others. Hmm, that might make an interesting theme for a RU-vid playlist.
Bang a Gong is a perennial favorite. But I had never heard the story of the band, or the fact that they were so big in the UK. Thanks for bringing this story Professor.
Another misconception is the car crashing into a sycamore tree, it actually collided with a 3 foot concrete post just in front of the tree. The tree gradually died in the decades that followed because of the thousands of pictures and trinkets nailed and pinned to the tree, gradually poisoning it and had to be cut down. Marc’s creativity knew no bounds, I’d easily put alongside Prince, Bowie and Jeff Lynne in that department. I love your videos, don’t stop, you’re a great narrator and storyteller.
Outstanding episode Professor. You presented some very interesting facts. I am pleased to see Marc and T-Rex get some recognition. Pretty fascinating stuff.
I remember the first time I heard this song I was thinking ‘am I hearing these lyrics correctly’. What is bang-a-Gong. What a crazy lyric, but I loved it. It’s one of those songs that you just gotta move or tap a foot or hand to. I think this song probably started the head-banging in rock 🙌. Even all these years later. Great song. Great video POR.
Many great UK artists that aren't well known here beyond a few songs have rich catalogs. T. Rex is a great example. I'm also a fan of Status Quo and Slade.
This song is still on my playlist. Also, 1971 gave us Long Cool Woman (In a Black Dress), and Never Been to Spain, Ain't No Sunshine, Draggin' the Line, Maggie May, Chick-A-Boom (Don't Ya Jes' Love It) and Led Zeppelin IV. What a great time for music.
T Rex was great on top of the Pop, sounded just like the album, lol. Jeepster was on of their best songs. In the late 1960s my older sister had me wearing all kinds of colors of pants, most included embroidered butterflys and her name with "Loves Me" in a heart. I was her little glam rock toy. She even wore my shoes when I was in 2-4 grade; she was in high school and her and her friends would sneak down to my class and take my gym shoes for her to wear in gym. Surprising she grew up to be the meanest person I knew for years as an adult, just bitter and mean. Power Station was great, Robert Palmer is one of the best in Rock. Why so many rock artist die way to young.
Ever notice that The Power Station flipped the parenthesis and the song title around? From the original “Bang A Gong (Get It On)” to “Get It On (Bang A Gong).” Pretty sneaky.
The original title is Get it On, it was changed for the Americans because Get it On was too suggestive! The Power Station just went with the proper title.
I may not have a hubcap diamond star halo, but I'm roomy & wide, oh yeah... love the glissando on this track. Can't get enough Marc Bolan. Srsly. From My People Were Fair... through Futuristic Dragon. From his topmost curls to the toes of his mary janes. ...You should interview Flo & Eddy sometime!
Another great one! And you finally mentioned GET IT ON by Chase! Now, give us the story of THAT "Bottled Lightning" hit and the tragic plane crash that ended the life of eponymous founder Bill Chase. Sounds like the kind of story that's right up your professorial alley! Let's go!
Although I was pretty young at the time, I remember growing up in London when T-Rex first hit the scene (now live in Australia) and specifically when they dropped Metal Guru because my cousin was beside himself with excitement at the new release! Brilliant and game changing band, they were just massive. Marc Bolan was the Prince of his time!
I was always a big fan of T Rex and before that Johns Children and Tyrannosaurus Rex, loved all Bolans music. I remember a gig with The Damned supporting T Rex, Bolan was always one to champion up and coming new artists, the gig finished with both bands jamming out on stage, great show pity theres no recordings of it. The story behind the wizzard is interesting and adds to the mystic of the man. I agree Bolan was an underated guitar player as his live performances showed.
@ProfessorofRock. You may already know this. In the early days of Tyrannosaurus Rex as a duo (Marc on acoustic guitar and Steven Peregrine Took on congas, tablas, drums etc.) they recorded a single called “Deborah”. The b - side of the 45rpm single is the same song backwards! Even the label was printed “Harobed” to match. Great work on this as usual Prof.
I watched an interview with Marc Bolan and he stated then that he didn’t think he was going to live that long. Watched another clip where he is described as looking at a certain picture of the moon for a long period of time. It went on to say the moon the night he died the moon was in the same phase and position.
I think an older relative had a T Rex album, but I only remembered Get It On from it. Then sometime in the late 80's, Chalk Circle released a song, "20th Century Boy". I really liked it, only to discover it was actually a cover of a T-Rex song. That's what led me to really discovering Marc Bolan and his music.
Images when repeated in the mind will often manifest. . His final single, has the line "Seventy-seven is going to be heaven," which some fans interpret as a premonition because of his death in September 1977. While not about crashes, Bolan did use car imagery in songs to remember the song Lyrics like "You're Built Like a Car" and "Metal Guru" (which mentions a "hubcap diamond star halo").
Steve Peregrine Took was long gone by the time of "Electric Warrior." He was fired from Tyrannosaurus Rex back in 1970, before the "A Beard of Stars" album and replaced by Mickey Finn. It is Finn who appears on the sleeve of the first T Rex album with Bolan.
I‘ve always thought Marc was underrated as a musician, trail blazer and showman. I loved him, still one of those people that make you turn the radio up when you’re driving. 😎I still think Electric Warrior holds a place on a top influential/innovative list.
From Ride a White Swan on, They were one of my Favorites! I WAITED for each album to drop. In college, I had my girl do my hair with mini rollers so I cold have his self-named 'corkscrew hair.' 😂
I’m remembering their great album the Slider, only the coolest of the cool were listening to it in the US, along with Roxy Music…Ballrooms of Mars is just ethereal.
In the US maybe. Like a lot of British music in the 70s and 80s, I think they were too “out there” for a more conservative American main stream. The whole slightly androgynous glam rock thing didn’t really take off (apart from KISS, although I would debate whether they fit in to the genre).
Thank you for T. Rex I have their most well known LP bought it when it first came out and have always loved listening to T. REX even when a lot of people didn’t know or really like them very much in Australia. For some reason the sound and look always resonates with me.
Another consideration is that public schools had not yet been so stripped of funding that students no longer had music as part of the curriculum, so teens of that era would have appreciated the musicianship and composition. I used to drive between San Jose and Gilroy once a week, and T-Rex was always an appreciated offering on the radio. My favorite found hidden gem is Emerson Lake and Palmer's "Pirates."
There was a UK reissue of Electric Warrior which included work tapes of several of the songs. Very fascinating to listen to as a glimpse of Marc’s creative process with Visconti. It also gives you an idea just how loud they were playing in the studio - on “Rip-off” you can hear Marc’s guitar veering into feedback!
Okay so I was born in '60 and AM radio was our life! I had two sisters and the only thing we agreed on was the radio station. Jim Morrison, The Beatles, David Gates, Mamas & the Papas, 3 Dog Night - I loved their voices! But Marc Bolan, well, my little girl heart was gone! I didn't connect the stars in my eyes to anything other than a heartbreaking crush and chills when he'd sigh. It wasn't like today when there's little imagination left for children, it was a more romantic time. His influence is alive and well. Last year a band called Sleep Token blew up with their latest effort Take Me Back to Eden. Vessel, the vocalist, uses his voice like an instrument. I am blanking but one song ends with a deep intake of breath (because he'd talked himself out of it trying to convince her of his love). Sleep Token and T Rex will be linked in my mind always
Ronny Van Zandt said the same, going out at 30. His father told this story during the VHI BtM in the 90s. Some people just know their fate. So my re-unite concert vote goes to Lynard Skyanard. Free Bird and all.
Correction: Steve Took was not the percussionist on Get It On, or ever with T. Rex. Marc and Steve were Tyrannosaurus Rex from 1967 to 69, when Steve was replaced by Mickey Finn, who was percussionist when the name was shortened to T. Rex and until 1975.
@@grahamrogers3345 Tony Visconti used to tell a story that Marc hoped no one would notice the change from Steve to Mickey, as they were similar in stature. I couldn't see that anyone would fail to notice, but in this case it turns out to be right.
I am a fan of T-Rex for more than 30 years since I first heard them. To me Bolan always had that mystique around him. He is the real Ziggy Stardust. Excerpt from an article about Marc Bolan: “He mentioned a car crash, and as the conversation went on, the details became even more prophetic. Napier Bell responded: “In a Rolls-Royce?” to which Bolan replied “No, in a Mini.” This is the exact brand of car he would die in 10 years later.”
I'm a big fan of T. Rex, like one of the super fans. Back in 2019 I was a big part of the online fan groups and I started writing a tribute album to Marc called Marc My Words. I'm determined to finish it someday but its taking me forever. I'm only 26 and I hope I've got a bit more time than Marc had...
Steve Took wasn't on the electric warrior album. Mickey Finn had taken his place long before that. The guy you see playing congas in the video is Finn. Took was out by the time Bolan changed to name from tyranosaurus rex to the shorter T rex.
T-Rex was always a guilty pleasure for me ;-). Definitely kinky, very cool - their rock was not heavy: understated yet sultry. No ambiguity in what they were on about. I remember the news reports of Bolan’s death way back when. I was still young, thought he was fun, crazy. Later, his music would accompany my teenage and early adult years. I never did quite get to bang that gong though.
Power Station's version was my first introduction to the song even though I was born in 1972, and theoretically should have heard the original first. The drums on Power Station's version are amazing along with the guitar playing. It's one of the songs I had on my mix tape of songs I recorded from the radio.
BTW Toby Goldstein just did a rare interview on "why not go" channel. She was a journalist for Creem, and the US publicist for T-Rex, and Slade. She has some good stories. POR might want to track her down
