Intro (Edit)

T. Rex was a glam band from England. They achieved their peak of success as a glam rock band in the 1970’s. The band disbanded in 1977 after guitarist, singer, and songwriter, Marc Bolan, died in a car accident.

Marc Bolan founded the band in 1967 as Tyrannosaurus Rex. The band started out as a folk-rock band playing gigs in their local area. During this time the band gained a local, underground following. They kept gaining success as they played more gigs and got radio airplay.

The band released their debut album in 1968. The album, My People Were Fair And Had Sky In Their Hair…But Now They’re Content To Wear Stars On Their Brows, was influenced by local psychedelic contemporaries.

The band’s next album, Prophets, Seers & Sages – The Angels of the Ages. It was released as a double album with their first album, My People Were Fair And Had Sky In Their Hair…But Now They’re Content To Wear Stars On Their Brows, once they had success later on in their careers.

Unicorn, the band’s next album, was their first taste of success. It was released in 1969 and peaked at number 12 in the U.K. music charts.

Tyrannosaurus Rex’s last album as a folk-rock band was called, A Beard of Stars, which was released in 1970. It is the first album with new percussionist, Mickey Finn. It album was the first album with Bolan using electric instruments.

After Marc began experimenting with electric guitars, he gradually began to plant the seeds for the origins of glam rock.

The band’s breakthrough was the song, King of The Rumbling Spires. After that, the band called themselves T. Rex. The idea to shorten the name was from Tony Visconti, the producer, who was sick of writing the full band name of Tyrannosaurus Rex on the recordings.

The album, T. Rex, was released in 1970. The album contained electric remakes of earlier Tyrannosaurus Rex songs as with some new material. This album was a stepping stone for the band as it sent them in a direction of consistent success for the next three years.

In 1971, the band released their second album as T. Rex. Electric Warrior peaked at number 32 in the U.S. and was number 1 for many weeks in the U.K. charts. It was also the biggest album in 1971 in the U.K.  Rolling Stone magazine ranked it number 160 in the list of 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.

The singles that propelled the album were, Get It On, Girl, and Cosmic Dancer. The song, Get It On, had a different title in the U.S., it was called, Bang A Gong (Get It On).

The band’s next album, The Slider, was released in 1972. Despite it being the band’s 7th studio album, it is only the second glam rock release from the band. The album peaked at number 4 on the U.K. charts and number 17 on the U.K. charts. The singles from the album were, Telegram Sam, and Metal Guru.

Click to edit INTRO

History (Edit)

In 1973, the band releseased the album, Tanx. The album was a hit in the UK, and in Europe in general, but wasn’t as successful as its predecessor in the U.S. In the U.S., the album peaked at number 102. Critics said the album had a ‘darker’ feel to it. It was a step away from the glam rock sound that got the band fame.

Zinc Alloy and The Hidden Riders of Tomorrow – A Creamed Cage In August, was the bands next album. The album was released in 1974. During this time the band’s success was declining because Bolan wanted to achieve fame in the U.S. market and his desire the widen the band’s sound. This album also had a darker feel to it as its predecessor did as well. The single, Whatever Happened To The Teenage Deam, peaked at number 13 in the U.K. charts.

The band’s next release was a U.S. compilation album, Light of Love. It contained songs from Zinc Alloy and The Hidden Riders of Tomorrow and the bands next release, Bolan’s Zip Gun. The album did not chart. Once this happened, Bolan gave up his desire to enter the U.S. markets and focused on the U.K. markets again. Once this happened, his career resurged in the U.K.

T-Rex released, Bolan’s Zip Gun, in 1975. The album did not chart. The album had two singles, Light of Love, and Zip Gun Boogie. Although the single, Light of Love, peaked at number 22.

Futuristic Dragon was released in 1976. The album had two singles, New York City, and Dreamy Lady. They charted number 15 and number 30, respectively on the U.K. singles charts. The album peaked at number 50, in the U.K. charts as well.

After charting for the first time since 1974, Marc was eager to record his next album. In 1977, the band would release, Dandy In The Underworld. The album peaked at number 26 in the U.K. The two singles from the album did not chart, I Love To Boogie, and The Soul of My Suit. Many regarded this as T. Rex’s comeback album, but sadly this would be the band’s last album.

Marc Bolan and Gloria Jones, his girlfriend, were drinking at the Speakeasy on September 15, 1977. While driving home early in the morning of September 16th, Jones crashed Bolan’s car into a tree, less than a mile from their home. Jones was severly injured, but Bolan was killed in the crash.

In 1977, Mickey Finn ‘reformed’ the band as, Mickey Finn’s T-Rex. The line-up included, Mickey Funn, Paul Fenton, Rob Benson and Alan Silson.

When Mickey Finn died in 2003, the remaining members continued as, T. Rex (A Celebration of Marc and Mickey). Since then, they have went back to the name, Mickey Finn’s T-Rex, with the blessings of Mickey’s family.

Click to edit HISTORY

Update (Edit)

None

Click to edit UPDATE