Charm 30 by dwornboy

CHARM

THE WORLD’S ONLY INDEPENDENT MARC BOLAN & T.REX FANZINE

N A L O B C MAR £ 4 .9 9

charms d l e f k r a m a thousand

011 Summer 2

CELEBRATE SUMMER!

Oh, the answer to the question was of course that Marc named his band Tyrannosurus Rex after reading the Ray Bradbury book, ‘The Thunder Lizard’. Although the actual title is A Sound Of Thunder. Marc got it wrong in the interview we published last issue! For those on the net they can read the story by going to http://bit.ly/czZf2 Published in 1952 it was made into a movie in 2005 and also a video game for Game Boy Advance!

A SOUND OF BLACK Congratulations to Alan Nash from Maidenhead in the UK. He was the happy winner of the James Marshall Black CD & T.shirt competition in Charm 29. Check out our review of James’s magical CD on page 29.

There is some debate as to whether or not Marc did perform concerts in Ireland. If he did then T.Rex would have played Cork (1/3/71), Belfast (2/3/71) and Dublin (3/3/71) Dates sourced from ʻA Chronologyʼ by Cliff McLenehan Gypsy girl, oh twisty girl Your hands all dangled with flowers Tangled torn so stately born For a throne in the (hill) halls in Ireland

T.REX in IRELAND When I was in Dublin last year I saw a pop-art painting of Marc in a trendy cocktail bar and it got me thinking about Bolan's popularity in Ireland, a country T.Rex never gigged in after Bloody Sunday in January 1972 due to the troubles at the time. There is no question Bolan was big over there due to Bono of U2 and Gavin Friday often siting Marc as a major influence but now we have the Irish charts and how Marc's songs did in fact chart over the Irish Sea. Hot Love was number one twice in Ireland in 1971. First for a week beginning 3rd April, and again for another week beginning 1st May. Bolan and the boys bookended 'When We Were Young' by Pat Lynch which was number one for a week and ʻRose Gardenʼ by Lynn Anderson which topped the charts for two weeks before T.Rex regained the position. 12th August that same year saw Get It On top the Irish charts for a fortnight and then on 12th Februray 1972 Telegram Sam reached the top of the hit parade for one week and then the week beginning 19th June saw Metal Guru at the top for another glorious seven days! So far the same songs got to number one as in the UK but on October 5th 1972 different to Britain Children of the Revolution got to the top spot staying there for two weeks starting October 5th. Sadly we have no info as to where the other T.Rex songs placed, only the number ones are known at this time. Perhaps some of our Irish readers know and will let us know!

Marcʼs publicist and media guru Dubliner BP Fallon who also worked with U2 quizzed the Irish stadium rockers about what got them into music in the Zoo TV Tour Programme 1992... LARRY: When I saw T.Rex and Slade and saw drummers I said I wanna be able to do that. BONO: Realising I fancied Marc Bolan and he wasn't a girl and I thought this rock'n'roll was quite a potion if it can do that to me 'cos I'm very heterosexual.

Marc never reached 30 and the last couple of months

Charm 30 Summer 2011

•••••••••••••••• Creator/Designer/Editor Gavin Ross Art Editor Stuart Macfarlane News Editor Energy English ATMFC ON THE WEB http://members.lycos.co.uk/atmfc facebook.com/pages/Atmfc-The-MarcBolan-Magazine/145582222133287 A Thousand Mark Feld Charms is a completely independent publication that has no connection whatsoever with the featured artists nor any of their business organisations A Thunder Lizard Press Production Cosmic Eye Enterprises Two Gainford Avenue MIDDLESBROUGH TS5 7RF United Kingdom This fanzine can be played on mono reproduces provided either a compatible or stereo cartridge wired for mono is fitted. Recent equipment may already be fitted with a suitable cartridge. If in doubt consult your dealer.

Tanx to Keith Buchanan Nigel Pickup Susie Kahlich Jorg Gunther Steve Luff James Marshall Black Bolan Yahoo Groups

it’s been as if ATMFC would never see 30 either! I won’t bore you with the details but this mag should have been issued at least two months ago but with printer problem after printer problem I was on the verge of giving the whole thing up! So apologies for the delay but we’re back and running now and hopefully the wait for Charm 31 won’t be as long. Also I had planned on a new comic strip called Alice In The Underworld but due to my working on two other non Bolan graphic novels that has had to be delayed. It’s another on the back burner that will have to wait! It’s sad but a fact that there probably will never be a new Bolan fanzine published ever again. I’m not talking about the end of ATMFC but with the internet now, people start websites and facebook pages to show their love of Marc, publishing a mag is a lot tougher and there have been times when I have felt like giving it all up - but no. ATMFC is here to stay. Rumblings made a brief comeback but I’m in the dark as to when issue two will be published. Hopefully it will be back once again soon. Everyone tells me that Lady Gaga is a huge Bolan fan. Great - but I often wonder if she mentions Marc just to sound cool. After all, she once mentioned that she would love to travel back to 1979 to see Marc in concert (see Charm 27) and in the recent V Magazine piece (below) she wrote Marc with a ‘k’ (Mark Bolan). Whatever, I suppose it’s good that Marc’s name is mentioned by probably the hottest act around today. We’d only complain if he’d been forgotten. It’s an exciting time to be a Bolan fan what with the new musical finally set to open in Ipswich in September and Rolan releasing a new album via itunes soon, not to mention the proposed Marc Bolan movie which this issue we have an exclusive interview with the woman behind that project Susie Kahlich. We really are living in the times and ‘textures of Earth's distant future’ as Marc sang about in Nijinsky Hind. Gavin Ross August 2011

"I would dream of being a rock star who dressed like Marc Bolan, walked like Jerry Hall, and had the panache of Ginger from Casino and the mystery of Isabella Blow." Lady GaGa - From her column in V Magazine 2011

any shocked Bolan fans informed us of the news published below of the tragic death of Chemaine Chevlene in January. It widely reported nationally on TV, radio and the printed press. Our thoughts go out to her family and friends

suits biohazard in s w re d Fire c aratus ha thing app a re b d n a to the eir way in to force th Richmond in Lower y rt e p ro p and ws, doors o d in W . Road sealed up had been ts n e v ir a al gas t the leth to preven escaping.

RIDING ON THE HIGHWAYS TO THE GATEWAYS TO THE SOUTH (AMERICA!)

Brazilian Bolan fan and ATMFC reader Tereza Harrison tells us that a shop in Rio

de Janeiro called ‘My Philosophy’ similar to ‘Top Shop’ are selling a beige colour Marc Bolan t-shirt depicting The Slider pic cover. At another branch of the same boutique she found another Marc t-shirt! This one was bright red with the back cover of The Slider. She bought both and said she was “really lucky and happy to find them here in Rio”. She also informs us that in “The Beatles Experience” graphic novel published by Rock ´n´ Roll Comics, Marc is depicted talking to Ringo Starr on the phone!

MARC ON TV

A round up of recent T-Rex TV highlights

In the USA on 18th December there was an HBO documentary called ‘Wishful Drinking’ about the lady who played Princess Leia in Star Wars, Carrie Fisher. She mentioned going to school in England in the 70's and Get It On was played. On 6th Oct, Sky Arts 1 showed Born To Boogie followed the next day by London Rock which famously showed an interview with Marc from 1970. Midge Peebles of tribute band Hot Love was featured on Scottish TV's ‘The Hours’ on September 5th. Boy George was on ITV’s Loose Women on October 8th. He said he wished either Bowie or Marc Bolan had visited his school

in the same way Johnny Depp did to some school kids in London dressed as Jack Sparrow. I Love To Boogie was used on the ITV Saturday night dating show Take Me Out (March 12th). Children Of The Revolution was used on the BBC 1 daytime property show, Homes Under The Hammer (March 21st). The introduction of the BBC 1's London New Year Show and firework display featured 20th Century Boy. The XBox360 game Fable 3 featured Children Of The Revolutuion in it’s TV ad pre Christmas 2010.

BBC Four went

In December the frozen food supermarket Iceland used the riff to 20th Century Boy in their TV adverts. Aussie actor Jason Donovan mimed guitar to it with girls dancing to the overture from Offenbach's 'Orpheus In The Underworld' !! A documentary on BBC 4 (21st Feb) about Thin Lizzy featured an interview with Visconti and rare concert shots of the band at a venue that had a poster of Bolan on the wall behind them! Another documentary on the same channel about DJ Anne Nightingale was on June 3rd. Despite her wrongly stating that David Bowie started Glam Rock she did say that she was good mates with Marc and that she liked his music.

Christmas 72 show where they performed Metal Guru and also David Hamilton in 1976 wearing an I Love To Boogie badge. Author

Marc mad showing T.Rex on TOTP performing Get It On 4 times in a week!. First off was ‘Sex & The Sitcom’ on 29th March with clips of Marc in between Robin Day and intellectuals talking about sex and the permissive society. Then on April 2nd on BBC 4‘s Top Of The Pops night the performance was shown on’ TOTP The True Story’ with Noddy Holder saying he got to know Marc really well and that ‘he was fantastic’ and Eric Hall said Marc loved performing and being different. On the same night the clip was shown on ‘Big Hits; TOTP 1964-1975’ and ‘TOTP: The Story Of 1976’. The latter show also featured Noel Edmonds dressed as an elf introducing T.Rex on the

Lavina Greenlaw said when she was 10 she couldn’t understand Marc Bolan, he was too complicated and Glam Rock was too old for her. She wanted a simple idea of a boy and became a Bay City Rollers Fan! In her 2010 book ‘The Importance of Music to Girls’, a memoir of her years between the early ’60s to the early ‘80s she writes about when The Jam appeared on ‘Marc’. “While Bolan lounged on a fluffy pink throne, the Jam posed rigidly – black suits, white shirts, black ties, black-and-white shoes – in front of a plain black background. Clean-shaven, short-haired, and with emphatic estuary accents, the Jam played “All Around the World,” and here was a speeded-up, pared-down sound that I knew could take me farther and faster than any boy in his car. Bolan cooed and drawled but the Jam shouted: “All around the world I’ve been looking for new…” I was looking for new and it lay in such collisions and detonations and two-minute songs, and in a new kind of colour.”

A history of Marc Bolan’s Les Paul guitar b

r g

By September 1971 the original neck appears to have been replaced with a normal Standard neck with trapezoid inlays but with the inlay on the 21st fret missing and with a black finish on the back. This was the neck that was on the guitar in the film 'Born To Boogie'

started life as a Sunburst '59 Les Paul Standard. At some point it had a bigsby vibrato fitted (possibly when it left the factory?) which was later removed - evidence of the bigsby holes can be seen in photos. It’s not documented if it had been refinished in Gretsch orange before OR after Marc bought it in spring 1970. Still with the normal Standard neck with trapezoid inlays. The guitar was first used on the 1970 'T.Rex' album

Neck # 3 – since June 1972 The next exchange came in mid '72 with a Standard neck with weird square block inlays. Been used during the UK Summer Tour 1972. This could have possibly been of a Japanese copy??

Neck # 4 – since August 1972 Over the years it had at least 3 replacement necks. Neck # 2 – since Oct 1971

By August '72 the final neck off a Les Paul Custom had been fitted (a usual custom neck with square block inlays

starting on the 1st fret & the 'diamond' inlays on the headstock and with a black finish on the back). This neck stayed on the guitar until it was stolen in late '76 or early '77. Miller Anderson reported Marc gave him a white Les Paul Standard as a gift just prior the 'Christmas Supersonic' filmed at Drury Lane Theatre 19th December 1976 where he used it and that guitar was stolen right after the concert. It's likely that Marc's Les Paul had been stolen at the same event. Definately that footage showed both guitars for the very last time. What happened to the guitar after that is the source of a lot of speculation but the common consensus is that it was restored as a sunburst and had a standard neck put back on it. Here is a pic which claims to be the restored Bolan Les Paul.

Note the bigsby holes and dark streaks around the knobs which match Marc's guitar. The bridge p/up has been replaced by a double white. Why anyone would want to change such an iconic guitar is beyond me but I suppose just after his death it would have been worth more as a restored sunburst rather than Marc's modified guitar. Also it was a hot guitar and I guess no dealer would want to be seen selling Marc’s beloved, stolen Les Paul.

Replica by Gibson 2011 "British rock and roll legend Marc Bolan is being remembered in a series of tribute Les Pauls from Gibson Custom Shop. Bolan was instrumental in the glam rock movement of the ’70s and rose to fame with his band T Rex, but was tragically killed in a car crash just before his 30th birthday. This Les Paul had lived a hard life, believed to have had 4 different necks, and refinished as well. The guitar has since disappeared forever, and only rumors and photos exist to suggest what it actually was, although it is widely believed to be a ’50s Les Paul Standard body with a ’70s Custom neck.”

The Gibson tribute version was shown at NAMM 2011, in both VOS and Aged (pictured) trim. The 2-piece maple top is center seamed, and is kind of an “unburst” Gibson is calling Bolan Chablis. The Custom Bucker pickups have no covers, and sure enough that’s a ’70s neck, complete with volute. It’s a cool Frankenstein Les Paul that looks great in person, we can’t wait to see the production versions."

Black Gibson Les Paul Custom' #1 For a short period Marc owned a second Les Paul ... This one maybe (?) had a short life as it can be seen only in some 1971 pictures and on one TOTP performance doing 'Get It On'

Black Gibson Les Paul Custom' # 2

After the orange Les Paul had gone, he uses this black Les Paul Custom on German TV 13th January 1977 - this one is a strange one as it has triangle inlays. Dino Dines remembered just him, Marc and Miller Anderson did some impromptu European TV gigs to promote the current single 'Laser Love' - it's likely all the gear including that guitar was supplied by the studio, even the drummer ;-)

1956 TV yellow Gibson Les Paul Special In opposite to the Standard & Custom, the (early) 'Special' usually has a different Scratch Plate, single Pickups & no Bridge Tuner, while the small dot inlays are more simelar to 'Fender' guitars. Bolan used this one infrequently after some TV appearances during 1971/72

Goldtop Gibson Les Paul Standard

Thanks to Jorg for letting us publish this article via his page on facebook.

This wasn't owned by Bolan, he borrowed it from Mike Leckebusch's studio equipment recording for German 'Beat Club' on 1st October 1971.

GUITAR & BASS FEATURE BOLAN The June 2011 issue of ‘Guitar & Bass’ Magazine featured a four page article by T.Rextasy’s Danielz about Marc's Les Paul, and also about the new BolanSignature guitar that Gibson have recently issued. • Also the March issue of Guitar Player in America had a 10 page feature titled ‘10 Things you gotta do to play like Marc Bolan’ which analyses Marc’s guitar playing in the most complimentary of fashions saying his style of playing was a victory of experimentation, instinct and pure joy which as a result he will be remembered far longer than more musically blessed guitarists.

Wine red Gibson Les Paul Standard. After his original orange guitar had been stolen, Marc bought this 'wine red Les Paul The ‘new’ one Standard' in early 1977, using it as his new main guitar until his untimely death. (Don't be confused as on many pics it looks like a black one).

As mentioned above Gibson Guitars brought out a custom guitar in honour of Marc earlier this year, a fan who bought one is ATMFC reader Keith Buchanan from Ipswich who wrote the piece below.

AT AN OLD 18 The electric boogie sound of T.Rex was 50s inspired with a 70s feel. An apt description that could also describe the new Marc Bolan signature guitar made by Gibson I’m glad Marc finally gets the recognition he finally deserves. I was 18 when I bought my first Gibson now many years later I’ve just purchased the ultimate Gibson Les Paul. The day I picked it up from the shop it was like being a teenager again. When you consider the history of Marc’s original vintage guitar , the neck on the new signature guitar was always going to divide opinion. Some believe it should have had a Standard neck, because it’s replicating a late 50s Gibson Les Paul and I think

that the period correct neck and wood should be used throughout. I understand that point of view however the vast majority of the public remembers the Les Paul Marc played had a custom neck by virtue of the fact it was the one he kept on the guitar the longest. At least by Gibson fitting the custom neck at their factory, I know the join has been set correctly and not some substandard neck replacement job. The top of the signature model is very interesting. When the light catches the surface the colour changes hue. Known as Bolan chablis it ranges from semi opaque faded orange right through to a natural bodied finish. The pick ups are as said to be as close to the original PAF as you can get with that wonderful

attractive zebra on the neck, they sound great. In years to come these guitars will be highly sought after. There’s only a limited run of 450 worldwide. The serial numbers all begin with BOLAN then the number of the guitar. I wouldn’t trade mine for anything. Well... except perhaps with the person who’s got the serial number BOLAN 47, a number that’s close to my heart for many reasons. It reminds me of a time where in the innocence of youth when I could lose myself in some Bolan mythology. By Keith Buchanan

B I G

B A N G

G O N G

The South Korean hip hop group Big Bang appeared in a

TV ad recently for a lager called ‘Hite Beer’. Supposedly, the boys chugged down 12000 CC of beer while taping the commercial. It caused quite a controversy as most of their fans are not old enough to drink. Imagine Bolan in 1972 on TV advertising Watneys Red Barrel singing Thunderwing, with the line “I’ve been thinking about drinking something”. Cut to a London pub where Marc and Mickey are chugging down said liquid refreshment and the mum’s of thousands of Jackie readers would have been up in arms too I shouldn’t wonder! Anyway Big Bang redeemed themselves in our eyes with one of the band members wearing a Marc T.shirt in the TV commercial. Though oddly sun glasses were digitally added to Marc’s face in the video! Big Bang are one of the biggest groups in Asia winning the awards for 'Best Pop Video' and 'Best New Artist" from the MTV Video Music Awards in Japan 2010.

MEMORIES

FATEFUL

NIGHT

book by pianist and singer Vicky Aram called ‘Coal Mines: Confessions and Dance Halls’ was published on January 19th. Of interest to us as she was the singer at Morton's club in Berkeley Square on that fateful night in September ‘77. She recounts that night for the first time saying how Gloria’s brother Richard Jones first approached her about joining Marc and Gloria for a drink, and how Richard suggested they go back together as Marc and Gloria wanted to record her. She went with Richard and followed Gloria’s mini only to discover the crashed car. Richard took Marc & Gloria out of the mini as Vicky was worried it might explode. He tended them by the road as Vicky phoned for an ambulance. She wished now that she had driven all three of them home and not just Richard who would also have been in the mini had they not met Vicky that night. Strange for me too as Vicky’s mum was from Middlesbrough. Let us not forget Richard either who died 10 years ago this year on April 13th, 2001 aged just 54.

Due for release on June 20th

NEW

DVD?

was a new DVD on the Wienerworld label called Rare and Unseen. It’s said to include a lost and now restored TV interviews from the past and rare film of Marc talking. Also advertised as including items genuinely unseen and never

before seen on DVD including film from the ITN archive. Bowie, The Beatles and Cliff Richard are among the other acts in the Rare & Unseen DVD series. Hopefully this Bolan DVD will be released soon and it will contain unseen footage. Time will tell.

LUNACY is LEGEND

LONDON BOY

On 20th November Bill Legend appeared at the Birmingham Yamaha School of Music where for two hours he spoke about about his life and his time in T Rex. ATMFC reader Jen Young was in attendance. She tells us Bill said it was his own decision to leave T.Rex after the tour of Australia and Japan in 1973 and that he was fed up and missed his family so got his passport off manager Tony Howard (who’s son Felix starred with Madonna in one of her videos in the 1980’s and was one of the ‘children of the future’ in the dedication on Dandy In The Underworld) and he came home before the rest of the band. Though according to T.Rex road manager Mickey Marmalade Marc asked Tony Howard to sack Bill due to Marc losing confidence in Bill's performance. Marc was convinced that Bill's hearing was impaired due to the fact that his drum monitor had to be placed very close to his ear. Mick O'Halloran always had to place the monitor at a particular place every gig As ever the band only learned of Bill's departure after he had left as with Mickey in 1975. On the night Bill also played live drums with a band on Get it On and Jeepster. His last drum kit was on display in St Paul's Gallery in Birmingham, along with signed prints of the Electric Warrior sleeve and signed limited editon drawings by Bill of Marc.

On November 19th Gary Crowley’s BBC Radio London show was dedicated to Marc as being a famous Londoner. A lady phoned in telling of the time when she was 10 and her dad owned a pub. He sent her next door to the studio where T.Rex were recording to get Marc’s autograph. He signed it on a £1-00 note and the next day she spent it on sweets!! An old pal of Marc’s who was with him in the Mod days phoned in and was

also featured in the legendary ‘Town’ magazine article. Another caller was at the Born To Boogie movie premiere in 1972 and now owned a love letter Marc wrote to his first girlfriend Terry Whipman, which he read out. I’m sure Bolan wouldn’t be happy knowing something so personal is now in the public domain. • To celebrate the London Olympics Radio London did an outside broadcast from Hackney on May 20th on Robert Elms afternoon show. As Marc was from the area they played four T.Rex tracks chosen by listeners who phoned in. Ballrooms Of Mars, Metal Guru, Dreamy Lady and Life’s A Gas.

Later on January 7th Bill was at an art gallery in Aberdeen, to do the same.

Cartoon from 1800ʼs featuring a 20th Century Boy

A CREAMED CAGE AT THE MOVIES Laser Love is featured in the new movie ‘Drive Angry’ starring Nicolas Cage. It’s the second time the song has been heard in a film, the first back in 1976 in the Richard Beckinsale vehicle, ‘Last Summer’. Actor Nicolas Cage is actually named after the Marvel comics character Luke Cage whom Marc once described as ‘pretty cool’. In a 1976 interview with future Pet Shop Boy and then editor of Marvel UK, Neil Tennant, Bolan said he liked his super-heroes to be able to walk into discotheques just as they are and that he liked the way Luke Cage wore a headband! Nice to know Marc and Nicolas Cage are both fans of the same character! Nicolas changed his name because he’s the nephew of director Francis Ford Coppola, and didn't want any special treatment. A film of Luke Cage is in production and should be released in the next 18 months.

SOUTHERN SOUL Last September Gloria Jones appeared at the Ponderosa Stomp in New Orleans, USA. It’s a soul festival and the theme last year was "unsung heroes", artists who still are musically active and deserve our attention. Gloria didn’t sing but told her story of moving from a religious family in Cincinnati to being Marc's lover/musical collaborator. She didn’t mention the car crash but had a funny comment about how she and Marc dealt with any possible racial tensions arising from their affair. With Bolan’s outrageous dress sense she recalled consoling her nervous father. "I said, ‘Dad, you don't have to worry. When we walk through an airport, people think it's two girls." Interviewer, Los Angeles Times critic Ann Powers, played a snippet of her 1973 Motown album, Share My Love. It was described as a lost gem - an "unsung" masterpiece. (For more Gloria see page 18 and the classic rare Bolan and The Blackbirds article from 74.) Marc in Demand Still at the movies and a cover of Jeepster by Greg Miller is in the new thriller Corruption Gov. However the original version of 20th Century Boy is in the new film ‘Somewhere’. Telegram Sam & Metal Guru are both in the new Halle Berry film ‘Frankie & Alice’.

A CLOSER LOOK AT...LASER LOVE A series in which we feature a T.Rex song in more detail

TOP 10 WHEN LASER LOVE REACHED 41. 1. Pussycat - Mississippi, 2. ABBA - Dancing Queen, 3. Rod Stewart - Sailing, 4.Sherbet - Howzat, 5.Demis Roussos - When Forever Has Gone, 6.Rick Dees And His Cast Of Idiots - Disco Duck, 7. Real Thing - Can't Get By Without You, 8. Tina Charles - Dance Little Lady Dance, 9.Elvis - Girl Of My Best Friend, 10.The Ritchie Family - The Best Disco In Town

Laser Love doesn't sound like anything else Marc recorded. It wouldn’t fit on either LP it bridged, Dragon and Dandy. It really was a one off, a song for ‘Doctor Punk’ as Record Mirror described him to promote in his own inimitable way decorkscrewed and heavily made up to looking like Phil Oakey 5 years before The Human League would bother the charts and New Wave was all the rave. The Marcus Bolantino Marc created to promote I Love To Boogie was

why it wasn't a big hit. A splendid follow up to I Love To Boogie, Bolan was back in vogue after a

Three years earlier on Tenement Lady Marc sung about a ‘Laser Lipped Lover’ maybe this was the same woman mixing his drinks for him? Though Marc had moved on from his love being hot to his girls being that of a laser persuasion who’s affections could kill with a heart attack. Probably because it stalled outside the top 40 Marc would never revisit this musical sound again which is a shame with the followup

“Laser Love is different for me. It’s like my ’66 sound. I was trying to get a sort of Animals effect.” M a r c B o l a n S e p t e m b e r 19 76 spawning into a prototype Blitz Kid, it makes one wonder just what the Marc of 1981 would have looked like, probably by then he would been more 1991 than ’81. Always ahead of the game. Even when T.Rex appeared on TOTP to promote the single Marc appeared looking out of time and also on the show was Paul Nicholas who’s track ‘Dancing With The Captain’ was a new entry at 49 (see page 16 for more Bolan/Nicholas). Laser Love has so much energy, opening with fine hand claps and breathy vocals and the trademark Bolan war cry it amazes me still

summer of Boogie and maybe because Laser Love sounded so different new fans didn't know what to make of it. Great song still and it’s appearance in ‘Drive Angry ‘this year, where I guess 99.9% of movie goers would have never heard the track before does show how fresh it still sounds today. With it’s catchy riff the 2009 film ‘White Out’ also featured the song in it’s soundtrack and Talk Sport Radio used it last year in their sports news roundup.

Title: Laser Love First appeared in chart:2.10.76 (47) Last seen in chart: 23.10.76 (43) Length of time in chart: 4 weeks Highest position in chart: 41

single a sparkled up version of a previously blues sounding number Soul Of my Suit.

MARC & ANIMALS â&#x20AC;&#x153;laughed at his long black hair, his animal grace"

14/15

•••• BOLAN - SCENE & FOUND •••• way. He used to wear tons, and I mean tons of make up. Took him hours to get it all on. It was an artform for him. but he was a really, really nice man. Of course he was gregarious, he played that star role to the full and, no doubt, he really loved himself, but underneath al that he was actually a really nice, caring, intelligent guy. We’d have many dinner parties with him and he’d always be theorising on great heavy subjects, pontificating on this and that. Yes, he always had a lot to say, and maybe it was part of his showing off. But that was the whole point of Marc wasn’t it? That was the point to Glam. To show off. Marc was it...perfect, always absolutely perfect. Noddy Holder’s version of Glam was the exact opposite of Bolan’s. He never believed in the star thing, for him Glam meant wearing a daft hat and silly suit, it was just an added extra that groups did at the time but for Marc it was the opposite. His Glam was more like glamour. The whole thing. It wasn’t a joke to Marc. That was how he really was.”

video of Marc’s last live appearance on TV is available to see on the internet video sharing site ‘Youtube’. It’s from Sally James’s last ever Saturday Scene before she left for Tiswas. Also in the studio were Roger Taylor of Queen, Linda Lewis, DJ Alan Freeman and Paul Nicolas. Filmed on 3rd September 1977, Marc says to camera, “I love Sally James” and that she is going to be the biggest thing since “Barbara whats-her-name from A Star Is - whatever” ! (Barbara Streisand - A Star Is Born).

On her website she says, “I loved Marc, he was a gentleman, great performer and was wonderful with fans. We became quite good mates and it is sad to recall I was with him at his home a few days before he tragically died. I do have some pics with Marc and I’ll try and get them online.

Marc appeared 13 times on Saturday Scene a show that was broadcast live and most now officially lost. This one was taped by a Paul Nicolas fan with Bolan dressed in his Marc Show gold top and leopard skin trousers. Marc and Sally often socialised together and in the 1998 book, ‘Wham Bam Thank You Glam’ Sally said, “My husband and I became very friendly with Marc Bolan in the later years. He was the epitome of Glam...absolutely . No one else came close. He looked so beautiful, all the time. I did quite a bit of modeling with him and it was always great fun. That possibly summed the era up, in a way, because here was Marc, all dolled up like a peacock...literally and I’d be stood in plain denim. Like role reversal in a

Sally now runs a business selling school uniforms in Cobham, Surrey, using her married name of Sally Smith but still pops up on TV now and again.

Marc was featured in a

20th Century Boy features in the four page article in Russell Brand movie, ‘Get Him To November 2010’s UnCut Te Greek’ where Brand plays an magazine . It was a out-of-control rock star called review of the legendary Aldous Snow . Fact fans might T.Rex Empire Pool recall Brand’s girlfriend’s Katy concert in March 1972. Perry’s last CD was titled Teenage Also that month Record Dream - see Charm 29. Collector featured the 200 Rarest • Meanwhile Laser Love is featured in the new Records of all time where Marc made Nicholas Cage movie, ‘Drive Angry’ (see page 11). six appearances in the top 100 alone.

Santana have

covered Get It On. With guest vocalist Gavin Rossdale it appears on their Rossdale with 80’s CD Guitar popstar Marylin Heaven: Santana Performs The Greatest Guitar Classics Of All Time. It was released last year on September 20th and Santana with Rossdale sang it live on USA TV at the American Music Awards in November. Oddly the writing credit on the CD is given to Marc Feld.

Edsel reissued the five post 1972

albums as a box set last October. Despite the unflattering choice of cover photo the collection is a fine addition to the T.Rex stable. As is the 8 CD box set Unchained: Unreleased Recordings 1972 - 1977 that reissues the Unchained series from the 1990’s.

Published by Cherry Red Books,

Children Of The Revolution by Dave Thompson. explores the history of Glam. It’s the definitive A to Z guide to the period, and chronicles every band and artist both in its heyday and during its conception and later years.

Diamond Star Halo

is the name of a new book by Tiffany Murray. The book tells the story of Halo Llewellyn – Diamond Star Halo Llewellyn, who learned to walk to Get It On ” For the first two years of my life I was ‘Baby’ then mum decided on ‘Halo’. ‘Diamond Star Halo’ to be exact, because she loved Marc Bolan and T Rex, and because I learned to walk to Get It On and Mum said I was dirty sweet and I was her girl.” The author has promoted the book touring the UK reading extracts whilst her band called Diamond Star Halo plays songs by T.Rex, Gram Parsons, the Rolling Stones and others.

Tony Visconti’s ex wife Mary

Hopkin chose Get It On as one of her ‘Tracks Of My Years’ on Ken Bruce’s BBC Radio 2 show on November 15th. She said she was in the studio at the recording session. In New York on September 4th at Don Hills Club they had a Bolan night where a tribute band performed Electric Warrior live in entirety. The dress code was top hats, glitter, tails coat, permed locks, satin suits, feather boas, hot pants, peacock punk, and dandy in the underworld! 17

Bolan And The Blackbirds Record Mirror - 23 March 1974

anything for her either because she can write her own songs.’ adds Marc. ‘It's a very nice album, although I'm sure I could produce a better one for her.’ These two American black chicks have been providing Marc with back up vocals for the past 18 months - they were with him on his recent tour of this country and also sing on the new album, Zinc Alloy and the Hidden Riders of Tomorrow. So just who are they that the superstar should think so highly of them?

Did you hear the one about Ringo Starr

going back to his home with Marc Bolan and Ringo's kid, Zak, said: ‘Daddy, doesn't your friend look like Marc Bolan.’ ‘It is Marc Bolan,’ answered Ringo. Whereupon Zak turned to Marc and asked: ‘Was Daddy ever as big as you?’ ‘No’ smiled Marc. At that, Ringo got a little narked, telling Marc to enlighten Zak as to just how famous his father was.

Gloria has an impressive background. She's written songs for people like the Four Tops, Gladys Knight and The Pips, produced for top Motown artists, been in a gospel group with Billy Preston, backed Joe Cocker on a European tour, and had major parts in stage musicals like ‘Catch My Soul’ and ‘Hair’.

The story mightn't sound all that amusing on paper, but the way Marc told it it was funny. He was taking a break at the time from working on a solo album by one of his two regular backup singers, Pat Hall, at a London recording studio. ‘I've written all the tracks and it's my first production.’ said Marc enthusiastically in between munching a cheeseburger and sipping a glass of Mateus Rose wine. ‘Take a listen to some of it.’

‘It all started when I was about 15 and still at school. I used to sneak out of church and do some session singing, as a way of getting money under the table,’ recalled Gloria as we settled down in an adjoining lounge with a bottle of wine, leaving Marc to get on with the work in hand.’

Marc turned to one of the engineers who set up the tape and we all listened tentatively as one of the tracks, When I Was A Child, came through the enormous speakers. Marc's other backup girl, Gloria Jones, who lends her voice to this album, and Pat were soon moving their limbs to the music which I thought sounded very Bolanish.

‘Once I got into it, I really loved it, although at the time, I wanted to be a great actress. I first saw Marc some years back when I was in plays in L.A. and doing song writing more as a hobby. Marc was as Tyrannosaurus Rex and I really loved his music.’

‘I don't think it sounds remotely like me,’ retorted Marc who sings and plays guitar on the album. ‘I wrote most of the tracks the last time I was in the States with Pat in mind.’

Gloria's involvement in session singing steadily grew as did her reputation. So much so that when Joe Cocker requested some back-up singers to go with him on a European tour, it was Gloria the record company contacted to ask if she could hire the necessary girls. ‘They said they wanted four, so I hired myself and three others 'cos I wanted to see Europe,’ she laughs. ‘Pat and I started working together after I just ran into her

It's only right to mention at this stage that Gloria has just had a solo album, Share My Love, released. Because Marc was in Japan at the time she was getting it together, he's played no part in its production. ‘I've not written

her and found we both liked doing the same things. We began to back Marc after he asked for two singers to tour the States with him and it worked really good so we ended up doing all the TV shows and so on with him ever since. You know Pat is a real fantastic singer with a five octave range. I've found it such a reward working on her album. These sessions especially with Marc are more of the freedom type sessions, the ones which produce hits. When you have too much discipline, it just doesn't work. We've got discipline here but you're able to do what you feel. I'm really pleased with my album, although the next one I do, I'd like to do live in a studio and see just what comes up. If you listen to all those rock 'n' roll records of the fifties and early sixties when they only had four tracks to work with, well that old sound is what I'd like to recapture."

everything's going very fast which has really surprised me but that's 'cos I've got a good writer, a good producer, and there's good vibes.’ Is Pat worried that it might be Bolan's name which sells the album? “I don't think that'll happen. It takes the whole thing to make a hit record,’ came the reply. The girls who were flying back to the States the next day said that as far as future plans they both simply wanted to sing rock 'n' roll and carry on working with their favourite star, Mr. Bolan. ‘I'm a great one for family unity so I don't quite know if I'll set up home here,’ added Pat. As Marc was taking another break, we ambled back in the studio where the superstar was reading a book at the control panel. A lot of criticism has been leveled at Marc recently about his popularity dwindling, especially with Teenage Dream not going really high in the charts. Although Marc is reticent to give interviews, he did have something to say to us about this. ‘As far as my popularity being on the down,’ he fired, 'I wasn't surprised Teenage Dream didn't make it to the top as it's a very wordy type of song. I've a new single coming out in a few weeks, but I'm not saying any more than that. As for the tour, it was more hysterical than ever, it was a responsibility - the kids got hurt and I got hurt. The reason why I did the tour having said I would never play England again was simply because I'd done five world tours and I missed not playing in this country. There's supposed to be some other gigs coming up this year.’

I asked Gloria just what it is like working alongside Bolan. ‘He's very dedicated. We have a great respect for him and he has respect for us. You know he's very hard working and always writing,’ she answered. ‘We understand why some people don't know if he's real because sometimes we don't see him until he goes on stage. When Marc decided to tour England recently he got in touch with us and asked us if we could do it with him if we were free. When we worked with him in the States, the excitement with T.Rex was really something, but then we came over here and wow! Marc's at a peak now, he's so hot. The fans here really worship him and respect and appreciate him. They're an older crowd in America. Here we would be going round in a Rolls with Marc and sometimes we'd find girls had let the tyres down so they could see him. When we were on the road, he would take us to a place for fish,chips and mushy peas and say, this is England girls.’

And what of the immediate future? ‘Well, Pat's album now has to be mixed and then I hope to get a Canadian disc-jockey friend of mine in the studios.’ I asked Marc what was there he'd still like to accomplish in life having now established himself as a top pop star the world over and made a fortune.

At that, Pat wandered in. I've done so much session singing that I'd go into the next day if I had to recall the names. Getting into Marc's music has really inspired me. D'you know I literally had to beg him to play on a few numbers on the album, he's so modest. I love the material he's written. We've been working on the album for a couple of months now,

‘I would like to direct a film, but not act as I did as a kid. I won't pack up until I get bored artistically. And now if you don't mind, I want you out as I've got work to do.’

VIDEO DRAMA An interview with Susie KaHLich about the Marc Bolan movie...

ATMFC: Will the movie be Marc's life story?

However, the truth at this point is that he’s too old. Even with a lot of make-up, I’m just not sure he would be the best choice to play Marc. On the other hand, if Mr. Depp contacted us and wanted to play the role, I would hand it over without blinking an eye – he is Johnny Depp, after all! We’re looking at known actors as well as unknowns. Our goal is find someone who can truly capture the spirit of Marc – it’s not just enough to look like him. Marc was a beautiful man and his physical beauty certainly helped him in his career, but I don’t believe that was the key to Marc’s success. It’s something he had inside of himself that shone through, and that’s what we’re looking for in whoever plays Marc.

SUSIE: The film is more Marc’s creative life story told in a non-linear way, through flashbacks and flash-forwards, centered around the ’72 concert at Wembley. ATMFC: Do you have a working title and do you think will that also be the final title? SUSIE: The title for the film is Twentieth Century Boy. It is difficult to say whether that will be the final title as there is something called “chain of title” that must be done for every film, meaning the title is essentially “vetted” to be sure no one else is using it in quite the same way.

ATMFC: We all know dozens of films are planned but only a few go into full production. What are the chances this film will ever be made and seen on UK cinemas - or will it be a straight to DVD / TV movie?

ATMFC: From what they've read many fans are worried the movie won't portray Marc in a positive way. How can you reassure them this won't be the case?

SUSIE: If there’s one thing I learned from Marc’s life, it’s to hold onto your dream and don’t compromise. That’s what “keep a little Marc in your heart” means to me, actually. And that’s what I’m doing with this film. It’s been a while since this film was first announced, and I’m sure it feels like it’s never going to happen, but it’s important to remember that films take a long time to get off the ground. Longer than most people realize, actually. It’s true that only a few films that are planned go into production – it’s a miracle, sometimes, that any film ever gets made! I’ve had conversations with various production companies, financiers, distributors and even directors who talk about the film being an “indie” release or going straight to DVD or only being broadcast on television. No! That’s not my vision. My vision is to see this film on the big screen in wide release -- opening in the UK first, of course -and I’m doing everything in my power to make that happen. It ain’t easy, though!

SUSIE: The promise I made to Gloria, Rolan and Harry is that the film will not focus on the tawdry aspect of Marc’s life – we all know that part of the story anyway. It’s not really that different from any other rock star’s story, to be honest. Of course, it would be disingenuous to gloss over that stuff entirely, so while it doesn’t shy away from some of the more negative episodes in Marc’s life, it doesn’t dwell on them either. Instead, the film focuses on what made Marc different: what creative aspects of his character propelled the music and the on-stage persona, and made him so loved by fans. ATMFC: Johnny Depp is the fans fave to play Marc. Would the budget allow for such a household name or are you looking at unknowns to star in the film? SUSIE: Johnny Depp would be great and I was holding out hope for him for a long time too.

We T.Rex fans know how relevant the film is and that it will be a huge success, but the trick is convincing financiers and distributors how vast and dedicated of a fan base Marc has, and what an important influence his music was and continues to be. I know that seeing how excited the fans are will be an important part of convincing them to get behind this film.

ATMFC: How closely are Rolan & Gloria involved? SUSIE: Rolan, Gloria and Harry have all been unwavering in their support, and have all shared private, heretofore unknown stories and memories with me about Marc, corrected a few facts and gave me some keen and very personal insights into Marc’s personality. Their input and enthusiasm for this film have been invaluable. This is the only film project that has their full support, involvement and endorsement. It’s up to me to show my immense gratitude by making sure the film gets made!

ATMFC: Will the story encompass scenes in both the UK and USA? SUSIE: The majority of the story is in the UK, but yes, there are scenes in the US as well. I think it’s an important part of Marc’s legacy to take a look at why T.Rex never really conquered the USA – it’s a tragedy that T.Rex gets so quickly dismissed as being non-relevant because they “never made it in the US,” without realistically looking at the why of it.

ATMFC: Have you consulted Bill Legend or Tony Visconti? SUSIE: Apart from checking with Rolan and Gloria on various points, I did not. This was something I actually thought a lot about before I started writing—while I was still doing research—and very consciously made the decision not to consult anyone at all. I chose this path because I felt that, in many ways, it was actually the most democratic. Everyone’s memory is recalled through the prism of their own experience, and what’s important to one person may not be particularly important to another… or to the overall story I’m telling. Of course, public records and documents were consulted in my research as I wanted to get plain facts right, but in the interest of not becoming overwhelmed with personal memories and stories, I stuck to my own interpretation based on my research.

ATMFC: Will the film be on the later part of Marc's life or will it involve events in the 1960's? SUSIE: The film includes scenes from all periods of Marc’s life, but focuses on the late 60s / early 70s. ATMFC: Some critics accuse Marc of being a caricature of a rock star. What guarantee can you have that the film won't portray Marc in this way? SUSIE: Who says that?! Tell them I’m waiting for them in the alley out back… We are endeavoring engage truly talented people and not compromise the vision of the script. Again, I’m also very beholden to Marc’s family—they’re a pretty good guarantee!

ATMFC: What is your favourite film of all time? SUSIE: I don’t have a favorite film of all time – there are too many films I love too much to be able to choose. It’s a Sophie’s Choice! Although Sophie’s Choice is not one of my favourite films.

ATMFC: Will it depict the real Mark Feld, or the one he created - the poster on the wall 'Marc Bolan"? SUSIE: It plays with both identities and part of the myths and legends Marc wove around himself.

ATMFC: What is your favourite film about a Music star?

Hilary and Jackie, actually. I know: not very rock & roll, but it really captured the complicated relationship artists often have to their own art and the “normal” world.

film to my friends at BulletProof Film in Chicago, and we formed a partnership to develop it into production. Effectively, I now act as producer as well as the writer of the script.

ATMFC: Do you have a favourite Bolan song or album?

ATMFC: Will Rolan or Gloria make Hitchcock like cameos?

SUSIE: This changes according to my mood. I think Tanx has been underrated by music critics for a long time – there’s some really innovative stuff on there! Some days, I wake up with something like Misty Mist in my head, and I love the jazzy harmony on that, so I’ll be all about early Bolan and Tyrannosaurus Rex for a week or so. Other days, I just want a soundtrack to the bounce my step, so it’s Electric Warrior or the The Slider, and other days still I’m thinking Zinc. Meanwhile, I started singing Unicorn to my 18-month old twin nieces at Christmas, and now they sing it back to me! Well, all they say is “deedle deedle deedle” to the melody, but I know they’re really telling me that I was born to be their unicorn.

SUSIE: This I do not know. They are welcome to and I would love it, but it’s really up to them. ATMFC: Are you aware of the stage play 20th Century Boy in production? SUSIE: I am aware of it, but am not in contact with the production or involved with it in any way. ATMFC: Is there anything else you want to tell us about the movie? SUSIE: A lot of people have sent me personal recollections and stories and memories about Marc, Gloria, T.Rex in general, and how their lives were affected. I want to say thank you to everyone who has shared such beautiful moments of their life with me. It’s a real testament to the power of the music as well as the man himself how much love still flows today around, through, for and with Marc Bolan.

ATMFC: It was reported in 2009 that filming is to begin in 2010. Did it? SUSIE: Unfortunately, no. That was a lovely dream, but I’m afraid a bit unrealistic.

The purpose of this film is to give Marc his due in the pantheon of rock & roll, introduce T.Rex to a new generation and remind older generations of the role T.Rex played in the evolution of rock. If the film can achieve those things, I will be over the moon. But the film, ultimately, is for the fans, you guys who have never abandoned Marc or his music; who have never forgotten how it made you feel the first time, the 20th time, just yesterday; who all keep a little Marc in your hearts.

ATMFC: Is Andrew Jones still involved, and who is he for those that don't know? SUSIE: Andrew Jones is a writer/director/ producer and head of Masterplan Films UK, a Welsh production company. Masterplan originally optioned my script in 2009 and were hoping to put it into production in 2010. Due to scheduling conflicts with some of their other projects, we felt it was best to go our separate ways and allow Masterplan to focus on their projects and me to focus on mine. I took the 22

And finally a couple of questions from Stephen Luff of MegaRex productions... STEPHEN: As you are a screen play writer and have already had success with other plays how do you move on to the next project after putting so much of your life into one for so long and do you think parts of each one stays with you, and what do you think will stay with you from the Bolan movie? SUSIE: Writing the screenplay for the Bolan film took a lot of out of me. It challenged my own abilities in a way I didn’t think I would experience for another 10 years or so, so it was extra hard… but I’m also extra proud of it. After I finished the script, I was pretty exhausted, creatively, and didn’t really write anything else for a long time. But eventually, I realized that my imagination, creative drive and my heart is big enough to be polyamorous: I can still love the Bolan film while working on something new. I devote a lot of time to packaging the overall project to make sure Twentieth Century Boy gets made, but I’ve been able to begin and work on other scripts and plays in the meantime.

The Bolan project is different. It’s my passion project, as these things are called in the film industry, and I think it will always stay with me – at the very least, by simple fact that I continue to listen to T.Rex!

The American writer Eudora Welty said you have to love all your characters, even the evil ones. I take that a bit farther and say you have to love all your work. That said, while I love all my work while I’m working on it, once it’s finished, it’s finished and I kind of forget all about it. Once in a while someone quotes something I wrote back to me, and then winds up disappointed when I have to ask them to explain to me what the hell they’re talking about. Maybe I just have the memory of a goldfish or something.

STEPHEN: Have they already decided on how the music of Marc will be used in the movie, say in any live show scene will they be using Marc music or recreating? SUSIE: I wrote several songs directly into the script – I think there’s about 20 original compositions included. As for using prerecorded music or recreating it, we don’t know at this point: it depends on the musical talent of the actors and what best suits the film.

Susie Kahlich was Born in Chicago USA in 1968 to German father and Swedish American mother. She attended the Eugene Lang College of the New School for Social Research in New York City, but left after first year to pursue creative writing and explore the 1980s Lower East Side art and music scene, doing sound for bands and hanging out with drag queens, artists, Anti-Folk musicians and rockers. Held a series of odd jobs at such places as CBGB's, Outlaw Biker Magazine, and St. Peter's Church while publishing short stories and prose in underground literary magazines throughout the late 1980s and early 1990s. Got her start in film translating the narrative script from French into English for the documentary "Peru: Between the Hammer and the Anvil," which went on to win 2nd place at the AFI 12th Annual Visions of US Home Video Film Festival. Shortly thereafter moved to Los Angeles to pursue screen writing.

★ American musician Richard Barone has covered the 1971 track, Girl - It's on his CD ‘Glow’ which is produced by Visconti and released on September 14 2010. ★ Rob Lowe's new autobiography, ‘I Only Tell My Friends’ mentions that the first time he met fellow actor Matt Dillon on the set of ‘The Outsiders’ in 1983 he was walking thru the lobby with a boombox playing ‘some obscure T.Rex song’. ★ Adam Ant has been singing Get It On live this year in warm up gigs for his comeback tour. He even teamed up with Boy George to sing it at The Jazz cafe in London on March 31st. Even singing it with Angie Bowie at another gig.

★ Marc’s publicist BP Fallon and Gloria Jones met for the first time since Marc’s death on April 21st at the Flamin’ Groovies show in New York. The last time BP and Gloria saw

MARC BOLAN - 20th CENTURY BOY 8 September 2011 - 1 October 2011

The world première of this new musical will at the New Wolsey Theatre in Ipswich this autumn. Itʼs described a musical story, inspired by the Life, the Loves, the Music and the Mythical events in Marcʼs life and sprinkled with the stardust of his songs. Itʼs being put together by Brian Dunham and Nicky Graham of Wizard Artists. Check out YouTube for some tasters. The Box Office 01473 295 900 www.wolseytheatre.co.uk or email tickets@wolseytheatre.co.uk

The Flamin’ Groovies was with Marc in London on July 4th 1976 at The Roundhouse when they were supported by the the Ramones. ★The Ballrooms Of Mars was on a free CD given away with May’s Mojo mag titled ‘The Roots Of The Ramones’. The mag itself had a picture of Marc with The Ramones. ★ 24 year old Liverpudlian Miles Jane has been reffered to as sounding like Marc by many reviewers on his track My Fantasy which also features Noel Gallagher. It’s on his new CD, ‘Colour Of The Trap’. ★ Last T.Rexmas Music Tel Boy

released a cover of, Christmas Bop in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support. ★ Three songs by T.Rex are included in the new Lego Rock Band Game. Cosmic Dancer (with louder backing vocals, Jeepster and Children of the Revolution. ★ On February 9th in London’s Cafe De Paris (venue of Marc’s 60th birthday bash) Tony Visconti won the Joe Meek Award for Innovation in Production at the Music Producers Guild yearly awards. He beat Bjork and Trevor Horn to the honour. ★ Marc’s backing singer Sister Pat Hall is alive and well and has some songs on the

internet video sharing web site You Tube. Search for pattihallmusic. ★ A track called Everlasting Light by The Black Keys sounds like a cross between The Slider and Mambo Sun. It is on their Grammy award winning album Brothers. ★ In March a stock copy of The Wizard sold on ebay for a massive £868. ★ Lindemans Australian wine co. are running ads on Smooth raidio featuring Marc as both the wine and Tyrannosaurus Rex started in 1968. 20th Century Boy being played over the advert with each ad giving a mini bio of Marc and his music.

O B S E R V A T I O N S by Stuart MacFarlane

MARC BOLAN Two Penny Prince Double CD

stuff coming out so until Thunderwing get it together again this will have to do. Awful cover too, there’s plenty of colour photos of Marc out there without colourising a monochrome one. Imagine if someone had

Audio CD (6 Sep 2010) Number of Discs: 2 Label: Easy Action Recordings ASIN: B003Z0FY9E

Worth getting for disc 2, which is mainly where you get the most bang for your buck with unreleased T Rex

colourised the cover of The Slider? Unthinkable! Nice title though.

JAMES MARSHALL BLACK Tyrant Lizard King The Words & Music Of Marc Bolan

album sessions (One Inch Rock, Children of Rarn, & The Wizard). The stuff on disc one you can live without as it is mainly from TV shows etc. apart from a fab Oh Baby which has Marc singing lead instead of Visconti as on the Dib Cochran & The Earwigs release from 1970. The running order is all over the place too and sound wise it isn’t too hot but it’s Bolan and there ain’t too much “new”

Audio CD (Oct 2010) Number of Discs: 1

Tyrant Lizard King is an album of Marc Bolan compositions performed and recorded by James Marshall Black that features a lovely choice of songs ranging from Tyrannosurus Rex numbers to songs Bolan himself never

Chris Norman (singer with Smokie from

released right up to covers from 1977. The quieter numbers are my faves, such as Afghan Woman and 20th Century Baby. Even as a big fan myself I wasn’t too familiar with one of the tracks James covered, You Move Like A Dog but I rediscovered it and dig it all the more, a bit like when Sean Lennon covered Love Charm. Telegram Sam rocks greatly, sounds like a lot of fun to record and Soul Of My Suit is really fantastic, like Marc would have recorded it if he had lived and done an album of his old stuff today! All the songs are in chronological order in which Marc wrote them so logically it ends with Dandy In The Underworld a fabulous track any day of the week and James doesn’t let us down with a rousing version belting out the lyrics with a passion as if he means it unlike a lot of covers I’ve heard over the years. Turn the page for how to purchase your copy.

covers band who call themselves T-Rex, who judging by their website and are also big in Germany, constantly gigging there. But let’s not blame Chris Norman for that!

1975-1982) has covered Get It On. It’s the first track on his new CD ‘Time Traveller that has only been released in Denmark and Germany where Chris is still popular. Another ex Smokie member Alan Silson of course is in the renegade

T.Who? Why is the pretend Marc Bolan at the back?

JAM

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Never miss an issue of the world’s only independent Marc Bolan fanzine All prices are for 3 issues and include P&P, UK - £15/Europe €22/North America & ROW $30 UK - Cheque/P.O made payable to GS Ross to the editorial address OVERSEAS - Sorry but cash only from abroad or on the net via pay-pal gavinross@ntlworld.com

Dene Vernon Man Of Mystery

in The Thing From Below by Gavin Ross (art) & Terry Hooper (story)

BOLAN INSPIRED POETRY 'Bolanistic Poetry' is a website of poems written either about Marc or in his style. Danielz of T.Rextasy once said there should be a place where they are all gathered together so here they are.

A Graphic Novel £10 inc P&P cheques or POs payable to GS Ross

http://bolanisticpoetry.blogspot.com

Send to...Gavin Ross 2 Gainford Avenue MIDDLESBROUGH TS5 7RF

NEW CD The Music Of Marc Bolan

TYRANT LIZARD KING

THE GROOVE LOUNGE

A weekly Marc Bolan radio show LIVE - Every Wed 9-11pm GMT Listen again....

by James Marshall Black Cheque payable to James Page Send to...

www.thegroover.net/new ALL THINGS ACEMEGAREX The Sound Of Marc Bolan A weekly Marc Bolan radio show LIVE Tuesday 7-10pm GMT Listen again.... http://acemegarexlg73.blogspot.com/

Ace MegaRex Promotions 126, Marlowe Road Worthing West Sussex BN14 8EZ UK £3.50 including postage for UK Rest of Europe £5.50 Rest of World £6.50 see review on page 25

These photos of Marc by Michael Putland were on display in London during April and May at ‘Snap Gallery’ which featured Putland’s photos from the 1970s and 80‘s All photos were combined as sets of three images three individual frames as a single artwork.

SOUL OF MARC’S SUIT

R A D I O

S T A R S

Running until 8th January 2012 in London’s Camden Town Jewish Museum is an exhibition of Jewish entertainers. On display is Marc’s gold lame suit. London Jewish Museum Raymond Burton House, 129-131 Albert St, London NW1 7NB

Yours truly was recently featured picking his fave Bolan

tracks on the Canadian radio station LG73. Hosted by ATMFC reader Stephen Luff it can be heard online at acemegarexlg73.blogspot.com along with his other Bolan broadcasts for the station including James Marshall Black and Baby Scream! Check it out.

Black And White Incident

The legendary band John’s Children who reformed In the 90's

with Morrissey's guitar man and Bolan fan Boz Boorer have been appearing sporadically and now have a new album out titled Black And White. It’s released on June 6th on the Acid Jazz label. After the untimely death of their drummer Chris Townson, three years ago, Andy Ellison has toured with the Finnish John's Children, Mikko, Kassu and Ville........collectively knows as The Finns.

THUNDER LIZARD PRESS 2011