T. Rex

The Profile

T. Rex were a British band led by Marc Bolan. Evolving from the acoustic-psychedelic Tyrannosaurus Rex, they ignited glam rock with Electric Warrior (1971) and The Slider (1972), spawning UK hysteria dubbed T. Rextasy. The group ended after Bolan’s death in 1977.

Frontman Marc Bolan (30 Sep 1947 – 16 Sep 1977) steered the transition from Tyrannosaurus Rex to T. Rex; major hits include Ride a White Swan, Get It On (Bang a Gong), Telegram Sam, Metal Guru, 20th Century Boy, and Children of the Revolution. Electric Warrior and The Slider were produced during Bolan’s peak period with Tony Visconti; The Slider’s cover photo was shot by Ringo Starr. Bolan died in a 1977 car crash; Gloria Jones was driving.

Eight DeBaser reviews chart T. Rex from the folk-psych shimmer of Unicorn to the glam zenith of Electric Warrior and The Slider. Singles like “Children of the Revolution” loom large, while late-period Futuristic Dragon and Dandy in the Underworld show renewed spark. Reviewers note Bolan’s ‘cosmic’ persona, boogie bite, and pop savoir-faire. His 1977 death closes the book, but the glitter still sticks.