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Personalities | T. Rex | Seventies | Rock

(Vocal/instrumental group, 1967–77)

The first glam rock band evolved from acoustic duo Tyrannosaurus Rex, formed by Marc Bolan (guitar, vocals) and multi-instrumentalist Steve Peregrine-Took. Mickey Finn (bongos) replaced Took in 1969 as Bolan began to deploy electric instruments. Shortening the name to T. Rex heralded a chart breakthrough in October 1970 with the single ‘Ride A White Swan’.

Steve Currie (bass) and Bill Legend (drums) were added and T. Rex achieved a further 10 Top 10 singles, including four No. 1s, as Bolan became a teen idol. The formula of speeded-up Chuck Berry riffs and Bolan’s unfathomable yet hip lyrics was starting to wear thin by 1973 when T. Rex were losing ground not only to glam rivals Slade, but also to pin-up boy David Cassidy. Bolan’s popularity slipped away until a new generation hailed him as one of punk’s forefathers. Bolan died in a car accident in September 1977.

Source: The Definitive Illustrated Encyclopedia of Rock, general editor Michael Heatley

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