T.REX ON TV - T.Rex DVD Review

Illustration: Elly Roberts

DVD Review

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.

Elly Roberts