@thatjewisme: Marc Bolan, born Mark Feld in Hackney, East London in 1947, would become one of Britain’s most dazzling rock icons. The son of Simeon, a cosmetics salesman of and Phyllis, a London market trader, raised in a Jewish family, Bolan grew up in Stoke Newington before moving to Wimbledon. From an early age, he was captivated by rock and roll, Gene Vincent, Eddie Cochran, Chuck Berry. By nine, he had his first guitar. At school he formed bands, once even playing with a young Helen Shapiro. But Bolan’s rebellious streak got him expelled at fifteen, and he set out chasing stardom. By the mid-60s he was recording under different names before settling on Marc Bolan. He joined John’s Children, then formed Tyrannosaurus Rex, a psychedelic folk duo beloved by DJ John Peel. But in 1970, Bolan plugged in, shortened the name to T. Rex, and unleashed a new sound. With hits like Ride a White Swan, Hot Love, and Get It On, Bolan became the glitter-dusted face of glam rock. His androgynous style, feather boas, and shimmering stage presence influenced not just music but fashion — inspiring everyone from David Bowie to Freddie Mercury, who famously had Zandra Rhodes design Queen’s stage costumes after seeing Bolan in her outfits. By the early seventies, T. Rex were unstoppable, scoring number ones with Metal Guru and Telegram Sam, while Bolan’s charisma made him a hero to future generations of musicians. Johnny Marr of The Smiths called Bolan his first guitar idol. U2’s The Edge said watching him was like “falling under a spell.” In 1975 Gloria Jones and Marc Bolan became parents to their son Rolan Bolan. I now have the song 20th century Boy I wanna be your toy going round in my head Though his chart dominance faded mid-decade, Bolan reinvented himself, embracing funk and soul, and by 1977 he was back — hosting his own TV show Marc and connecting with the new punk generation. But tragedy struck. On September 16th, 1977, just two weeks before his 30th birthday, Marc Bolan was killed in a car crash in London. Yet his influence never dimmed. Punk, new wave, Britpop, indie and alternative rock all bear traces of his magic. Oasis borrowed his riffs, Morrissey and Bowie covered his songs, and 20th Century Boy roared back into the charts through film and fashion. In 2020, Bolan was finally inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Marc Bolan — the pixie prince of glam, a poet with a guitar, and a spellbinder who made rock and roll sparkle.

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Thursday 11 September 2025 00:28:48 GMT