T. Rex

T.Rex的Marc Bolan是华丽摇滚Glam Rock的始祖之一。不仅有相当创新的弹奏方式及音乐编排，更加活跃的则是他音乐下富含哲理的思想。不可讳言的是，即使有相当深度的思想陪衬，Bolan的音乐还是艰涩难懂，主因是他在歌词中大量使用古字及古英文的文法还有许多出自诗歌作品的双关语，即使是英语的native speaker，恐怕也只能听懂大概意思，而无法通盘了解其歌词之意。
此外，最引人注目的，莫过於Bolan总是画上令人模糊性别的浓妆演出，这正是Glam Rock的意含之一，解构社会传统价值观，挑战传统性别意识。不只是同性恋，更是解放青少年的反叛精神，释放青少年在传统束缚底下的情慾。Rolling Stones建立出的男性崇拜摇滚(阳具摇滚)，正被另一波却也是男性来执行的反动全面颠覆。经历六零年代摇滚乐从传统社会中鬆绑的性慾后，七零年代的Glam Rock更追求所谓性别认同。这是一个美丽的时代，曖昧模糊不定，但却也十分短促，因为商业的巨兽早已奈何不住他的食慾，一口将新颖文化吞噬，原本Glam Rock的艺术性被咀嚼得一点也不剩，排泄出来的就只有庸俗化、不具任何意识形态的空洞产业，尤其更具艺术性的次文化，越容易打造成商品包装下的产物，当新一代的青少年空有炫丽的外表而不具当初的文化背景时，Glam Rock就宣告不治了。这似乎是任何次文化所要面临的困境和挑战，可惜好像没有一种次文化能在通过庸俗文化工业的洗礼后还能保有初衷。

Initially a British folk-rock combo called Tyrannosaurus Rex, T. Rex was the primary force in glam rock, thanks to the creative direction of guitarist/vocalist Marc Bolan (born Marc Feld). Bolan created a deliberately trashy form of rock & roll that was proud of its own disposability. T. Rexs music borrowed the underlying sexuality of early rock & roll, adding dirty, simple grooves and fat distorted guitars, as well as an overarching folky/hippie spirituality that always came through the clearest on ballads. While most of his peers concentrated on making cohesive albums, Bolan kept the idea of a three-minute pop single alive in the early 70s. In Britain, he became a superstar, sparking a period of T. Rextacy among the pop audience with a series of Top Ten hits, including four number one singles. Over in America, the group only had one major hit — the Top Ten Bang a Gong (Get It On) — before disappearing from the charts in 1973. T. Rexs popularity in the U.K. didnt begin to waver until 1975, yet they retained a devoted following until Marc Bolans death in 1977. Over the next two decades, Bolan emerged as a cult figure and the music of T. Rex has proven quite influential on hard rock, punk, new wave, and alternative rock.

Following a career as a teenage model, Marc Bolan began performing music professionally in 1965, releasing his first single, The Wizard, on Decca Records. Bolan joined the psychedelic folk-rock combo Johns Children in 1967, appearing on three unsuccessful singles before the group disbanded later that year. Following the breakup, he formed the folk duo Tyrannosaurus Rex with percussionist Steve Peregrine Took. The duo landed a record deal with a subsidiary of EMI in February 1968, recording their debut album with producer Tony Visconti. Debora, the groups first single, peaked at number 34 in May of that year, and their debut album, My People Were Fair and Had Sky in Their Hair...But Now Theyre Content to Wear Stars on Their Brow, reached number 15 shortly afterward. The duo released their second album, Prophets, Seers & Sages, the Angels of the Ages, in November of 1968.

By this time, Tyrannosaurus Rex was building a sizable underground following, which helped Bolans book of poetry, The Warlock of Love, enter the British best-seller charts. In the summer of 1969, the duo released their third album, Unicorn, as well as the single King of the Rumbling Spires, the first Tyrannosaurus Rex song to feature an electric guitar. Following an unsuccessful American tour that fall, Took left the band and was replaced by Mickey Finn. The new duos first single did not chart, yet their first album, 1970s A Beard of Stars, reached number 21.

The turning point in Bolans career came in October of 1970, when he shortened the groups name to T. Rex and released Ride a White Swan, a fuzz-drenched single driven by a rolling backbeat. Ride a White Swan became a major hit in the U.K., climbing all the way to number two. The bands next album, T. Rex, peaked at number 13 and stayed on the charts for six months. Encouraged by the results, Bolan expanded T. Rex to a full band, adding bassist Steve Currie and drummer Bill Legend (born Bill Fifield). The new lineup recorded Hot Love, which spent six weeks at number one in early 1971. That summer, T. Rex released Get It On (retitled Bang a Gong (Get It On) in the U.S.), which became their second straight U.K. number one; the single would go on to be their biggest international hit, reaching number ten in the U.S. in 1972. Electric Warrior, the first album recorded by the full band, was released in the fall of 1971; it was number one for six weeks in Britain and cracked Americas Top 40.

By now, T. Rextacy was in full swing in England, as the band had captured the imaginations of both teenagers and the media with its sequined, heavily made-up appearance; the image of Marc Bolan in a top hat, feather boa, and platform shoes, performing Get It On on the BBC became as famous as his music. At the beginning of 1972, T. Rex signed with EMI, setting up a distribution deal for Bolans own T.Rex Wax Co. record label. Telegram Sam, the groups first EMI single, became their third number one single.

Metal Guru also hit number one, spending four weeks at the top of the chart. The Slider, released in the summer of 1972, shot to number one upon its release, allegedly selling 100,000 copies in four days; the album was also T. Rexs most successful American release, reaching number 17. Appearing in the spring of 1973, Tanx was another Top Five hit for T. Rex; the singles 20th Century Boy and The Groover soon followed it to the upper ranks of the charts. However, those singles would prove to be the bands last two Top Ten hits. In the summer of 1973, rhythm guitarist Jack Green joined the band, as did three backup vocalists, including the American soul singer Gloria Jones; Jones would soon become Bolans girlfriend. At the beginning of 1974, drummer Bill Legend left the group and was replaced by Davy Lutton, as Jones became the groups keyboardist.

In early 1974, the single Teenage Dream was the first record to be released under the name Marc Bolan and T. Rex. The following album, Zinc Alloy and the Hidden Riders of Tomorrow, was the last Bolan recorded with Tony Visconti. Throughout the year, T. Rexs popularity rapidly declined — by the time Zip Gun Boogie was released in November, it could only reach number 41. Finn and Green left the group at the end of the year, while keyboardist Dino Dins joined. The decline of T. Rexs popularity was confirmed when 1975s Bolans Zip Gun failed to chart. Bolan took the rest of the year off, returning in the spring of 1976 with Futuristic Dragon, which peaked at number 50. Released in the summer of 1976, I Love to Boogie, a disco-flavored three-chord thumper, became Bolans last Top 20 hit.

Bolan released Dandy in the Underworld in the spring of 1977; it was a modest hit, peaking at number 26. While The Soul of My Suit reached number 42 on the charts, T. Rexs next two singles failed to chart. Sensing it was time for a change of direction, Bolan began expanding his horizons in August. In addition to contributing a weekly column for Record Mirror, he hosted his own variety television show, Marc. Featuring guest appearances by artists like David Bowie and Generation X, Marc helped restore Bolans hip image. Signing with RCA Records, the guitarist formed a new band with bassist Herbie Flowers and drummer Tony Newman, yet he never was able to record with the group. While driving home from a London club with Bolan, Gloria Jones lost control of her car, smashing into a tree. Marc Bolan, riding in the passengers seat of the car, was killed instantly.

While T. Rexs music was intended to be disposable, it has proven surprisingly influential over the years. Hard rock and heavy metal bands borrowed the groups image, as well as the pounding insistence of their guitars. Punk bands may have discarded the high heels, feather boas, and top hats, yet they adhered to the simple three-chord structures and pop aesthetics that made the band popular.