T. Rex

T. Rex, British rock band, a pioneer of glam rock in the 1970s. T. Rex originally was known for its acoustic, psychedelic, folk-influenced sound. From 1970, however, with reconceptualization of its direction and the addition of electronic instruments, the band broke into the glam rock scene. T. Rex went on to achieve significant success, with three number one albums and 11 singles in the top 10 in the United Kingdom, including the chart-topping hits “Get It On” (1971), “Telegram Sam” (1972), and “Metal Guru” (1972). “Bang a Gong (Get It On)” reached number 10 in the United States.

Formation and early albums

In 1967 guitarist Marc Bolan, who had been the front man for rock band John’s Children, created Tyrannosaurus Rex. Bolan previously had released several singles as a solo artist but recruited percussionist Steve Peregrin Took for Tyrannosaurus Rex. The two performed as an acoustic folk rock duo and became popular in England’s underground music scene, with Took’s bongo playing and Bolan’s psychedelic, high-energy sound. Their debut album, My People Were Fair and Had Sky in Their Hair…But Now They’re Content to Wear Stars on Their Brows, released in 1968, was a critical success.

Bolan and Took next released Prophets, Seers & Sages: The Angels of the Ages (1968) and Unicorn (1969), which was their most successful album, reaching number 12 on the U.K. Albums Chart. Despite their increasing success, however, Bolan and Took were growing apart. While planning their fourth album, Bolan rejected the idea of including songs written by Took. He also disapproved of Took’s drug and alcohol use and eventually fired Took from the band, replacing him with percussionist Mickey Finn. The new duo released A Beard of Stars (1970) as Tyrannosaurus Rex. The album reflected Bolan’s transition toward an electric sound.

Glam rock success

In 1970 Bolan changed the name of the band to T. Rex, and the group released the single “Ride a White Swan”, which featured a sound more focused on electric guitar than their previous songs. The following year, the single “Hot Love” reached number one on the U.K. singles chart. This success was followed by two performances on the British television show Top of the Pops, in the second of which Bolan added glitter to a satin sailor costume that he had worn in the first appearance. These performances are often considered to have marked the beginning of glam rock. Featuring performers wearing outlandish costumes, makeup (frequently with glitter), and platform shoes, glam rock reached the height of its popularity in the early to mid-1970s.

In September 1971 T. Rex, with Bolan as front man and principal songwriter, Finn on bongo and conga drums and backup vocals, Steve Currie on bass, and Bill Legend on drums, released Electric Warrior, widely held to be the first glam rock album. Produced by Tony Visconti, who was known for his work with David Bowie, the album contained the hit “Get It On,” a glam rock classic that was the band’s first and only top 10 hit in the United States (under the title “Bang a Gong (Get It On)”). The album was praised by critics for the arena-ready pop hooks, guitar riffs, and over-the-top style and lyrics.

The band continued its success with the album The Slider, released in 1972 and featuring the singles “Telegram Sam” and “Metal Guru,” The album was recorded outside Paris, France, at the suggestion of friend Elton John, to avoid British tax laws. The Slider was a hit for the band in the United States, where it reached the top 20 on the Billboard 200 chart. In 1972, capitalizing on the group’s popularity, T. Rex released the film Born to Boogie, which was directed by Ringo Starr and featured concert footage as well as staged portions, such as Bolan jamming with Starr and John at the Beatles’ Apple Corps studios in London.

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The album Tanx (1973) contained new ballads and experimental soul and blues music, as well as backing female vocals. The album was generally well received by critics and was popular in the United Kingdom, climbing to number four on the charts. About the same time, the band released the single “20th Century Boy,” which reached number three on the U.K. charts. Zinc Alloy and the Hidden Riders of Tomorrow (1974), which continued Bolan’s move toward soul music, did not receive wide acclaim. By that point, Bolan was struggling with drug and alcohol use. The album was the last featuring the classic T. Rex lineup, as Legend had left the band in 1973, following the album’s recording. Bolan had also moved to the United States in 1973, living there for several years to escape high tax rates in England.

Final years and legacy

The next two T. Rex albums, Bolan’s Zip Gun (1975) and Futuristic Dragon (1976), contain songs influenced by soul and disco. Neither album was well received at the time, and after recording Bolan’s Zip Gun, Finn left the band. The band’s final album, Dandy in the Underworld (1977), was hailed as a comeback for a slimmed-down Bolan and T. Rex. “I Love to Boogie,” a single from the album, was a hit in the United Kingdom. Bolan had returned to his arena-ready, guitar-oriented pop rock anthems. In the spring of 1977 the band, inspired by the positive reviews of Dandy in the Underworld, toured the United Kingdom with punk band The Damned.

In the early morning hours on September 16, 1977, Bolan’s girlfriend Gloria Jones was driving the couple home after a night out in London when she crashed Bolan’s car into a tree. Bolan died immediately from injuries sustained in the accident; Jones was severely injured. Not long thereafter, T. Rex disbanded.

T. Rex influenced many artists, including Paul Weller of the Jam, Robert Smith of the Cure, the British rock group Joy Division/New Order, and Morrissey and Johnny Marr of the Smiths. In 2020 the classic T. Rex lineup, with Bolan, Finn, Currie, and Legend, was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.