Why is T-Rex so awesome?

I think Marc Bolan's wafro is a key part. That and he perfectly distilled everything that is a rockstar into his persona.

 

Well he did sing, write everything and play most of the music - I do remember them in the 70s Glam Rock era - where their appeal was mostly to 14-year old girls, who liked experimenting with make-up ...

At the time "Ride a White Swan" was their biggest hit and distinctly MOR - they were on British TV every week with new make-up and clothes - it seemed to be mostly about image...

In the 30 odd years since, I have heard the occasional track that sounded pretty good - but I can't get past the associations of cross-dressing - the Liberace of soft rock....?

 

I love love love love love T Rex! What makes them great is that you can listen to their music a million times and always hear something new in it to entertain your ear. Plus it was just plain good stuff. "Hot Love," "Jeepster," "20th Century Boy," "Ride A White Swan," what's not to like!

BTW, T Rex was never known as Marc Bolan and T Rex until after Marc got killed. That was something some marketing idiot or a disk jockey came up with.

Also BTW, check out their earlier stuff as well, where it was Marc on acoustic and a percussionist named Steven Peregrine-Took. Great English hippie folk music!

 

The lyrics are stoned-out nonsense..?

I like the heavier, rockier things - but a lot of it does border on the "twee" and I guess you are lucky that you didnt grow up with seeing them on TV every week, giving make-up tips to 14 year old girsl!!

 

He died in a car crash that, sadly enough, happened after he cleaned up his act and started getting back on track with his music.

 

matt if you like t-rex you need to check out my band. go to garageband.com and look for tommy rivers. if keith richards had recorded an album with t-rex, this would be it. we sell our cd's through notlame.com. marc bolan was killed in a car crash when his drunk gfriend hit a telephone pole and marc was decapitated. she was basically ostrasised [sp] in england and i think she left.

 

You can still buy calendars of him if you want - what about next year's - camp enough?

 

See, now you're scaring me.

The Bolan vs. Bowie feud used to appear in Circus mag...I still recall one calling the other "Sissy & fey".

 

Well, if I disliked lyrics that were stoned-out nonsense, I'd have to throw out all my Beatles, Stones, Kinks, Bowie, and pretty much everything else English from the 60's and early 70's, except for the Bay City Rollers and the Rubettes.

 

Like they both didn't hang out in fey bars.


On a more uplifting note, check out Bolan's contribution to Billy Cobham's record SPECTRUM....

 

Foghorn-
That was Tommy Bolin...not Marc Bolan.

 

Not a fan.

I feel that they (or should I say "he") glammed it up and sold distilled, sterilized blues.

...took the passion, soul, frustration and pain of a soulful music and turned it into a tea party for Barbie dolls.

IMHO, He's no David Bowie.

 

I love T rex as well as Bowie. I like to consider those two different animals though. Bowie was everywhere and Bolan was the master of his domain.

Electric Warrior, Slider, and Dandy in the Underworld are my favorites.

Dandy being probaly the darkest thing he's ever put out(not that dark though but still) and Slider is the most intellectual . I think theres somethings you guys are missing in the " stupid , stoned out lyrics". For the most part, but since he has you off guard Bolan likes to throw in some interesting things every now and then.

They may have been a pop star in the U.K. but in the U.S. they are gods to their fans.

I suggest those three as well Matt and Also you should check out Mott the Hoople......

 

Mott is like a much meaner , more sarcastic version of T Rex .

I suggest starting with Brain Capers, Mad Shadows, Mott , and All the Young Dudes.