Marc Bolan

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Marc Bolan, born Mark Feld in 1947 in Hackney in east London, was an English guitarist, singer, songwriter and poet. He was the youngest son of a salesman of beauty products and a woman who ran a stall in the Soho market. In the late 1960s he became known as the founder of Tyrannosaurus Rex, a psychedelic folk group that released four acclaimed albums, with Debora as a minor hit.

Music and breakthrough

Bolan began as an acoustic singer and switched to electric music. The first single of the new group T. Rex, Ride a White Swan, reached number two in England. From 1970 to 1973 T. Rex was as popular in England as The Beatles, with eleven singles in the top ten, four of them at number one: Hot Love, Get It On, Telegram Sam and Metal Guru. The album Electric Warrior from 1971, with only songs by Bolan, became a milestone of glam rock. In March 1971 he appeared with glitter on his face on Top of the Pops with Hot Love, a moment regarded as the beginning of glam rock. From 1973 he mixed rock with funk, soul, gospel, disco and rhythm and blues.

Influence

Bolan was killed in a car accident in Barnes in 1977. His influence extends from glam to punk and Britpop. In 2020 he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of T. Rex.

Listening

Discography

Studio albums

• 1998Marc: Songs From the Granada TV Series (soundtrack)