How revolting, like he didnt matter There will be unanswered questions indefinitely, and it is a shame that todays younger generation arent exposed or more exposed to T-Rex Marc Bolan music. It was a long time ago. Members of the Fire Brigade from Richmond and Wandsworth who actually were in attendance told me that they arrived but had no part to play and there was no cutting of the vehicle . He was right. We didnt meet again. Louder is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. I havent been into cars for years. Marc Bolan was my inspiration at a young age, I did see him live twice. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Friday January 30th, 1970 - T-Rex singer Marc Bolan and June Ellen Child got married at the Kensington Registry Office. Fans from all over the globe have flocked to the tree in southwest London where the glam rock legend died 35 years ago today. What Chris didnt know was that he had been in at the death of one of the most flamboyant figures in British pop music of the second half of the 20th century. Bowie, Rod Stewart and Steve Harley were among the musicians who attended Bolans funeral September 20th at Golders Green Crematorium. If Paul McCartney had died and John Lennon had lived, what wouldve happened then? But with his days as the teen-scream Guru Of Glitter well behind him, with the great ship T.Rextasy lost off the misty coast of Albany, he needed the press. BBC Four - Marc Bolan: Cosmic Dancer It was 40 years ago on 16 September that Marc Bolan died in a car crash in southwest London at the appallingly young age of 29. We dont need sensationalism right now, she states plainly. Despite owning his famous white Rolls-Royce (among many other ostentatious vehicles) he never learned how to master an automobile. She was going to be charged with DD, but Richard got here out of UK, so she could be charged, hence lots of Bolan fans, blamed her for, the loss of Marc. Im afraid it is. Alright, so I went through a period of time when I didnt want to say anything in the papers, but I think every artist goes through that". He was so talented and beautiful, I love Marc with all my heart. BP Fallon visited the crash site in Barnes personally. I know of two in collections and I have his telecaster bought from Christies , I also have a burns flyte bass he gifted and the slab body bass he bought for steve Currie to use on ride a white swan. Bolans June 1976 single, I Love To Boogie, was more of a simplistic chant than a cast-iron classic. so how easy was he lifted out ? he was taken out of the car by someone, and actually a passing motorist provided the blanket. Bang on. What is also worth a mention is that that the site is on a bend with really nasty adverse camber which would not help the car to stay on the road. Bolan never finalized a will and his estate was left in a mess. For the first time, an eyewitness to the devastation of the car crash that killed the rock star tells her story to a national newspaper. Thats what I like, thats what Ive always wanted to do. Im afraid it is, he admitted. 1964 (pre Marc Bolan) I was 18 he was 16/17 If, people want racism to go away, then it needs to be taken seriously, not thrown around like calling everyone who disagrees with you one. Im still the groover honey !! Gloria Jones: Hed be doing his own music, hed be doing film, hed be enjoying time with his son, and wed possibly be living in Malibu. (dont get me wrong the 80s were full of musical talent). Build your family tree online . Then theres the matter of lying to the police, the courts, and everyone else. Please allow ads and let sponsors fund your surfing. I remember gulping down about three shots of something just to handle the news. And in spite of tours and heavy promotion, Bolan never made the breakthrough into the American market. You just called him a racist. news journalist, retired, Your email address will not be published. All the same, I listened intently, half in awe of the man, half in bemusement at his agitated blathering. It was a Jewish ceremony. . But Even sober people can (and often do) crash their automobile when driving at the early hours of the morning down dark, poorly-lit roads, even when they havent been partying all night. T. Rex leader and glam rock icon Marc Bolan died in a car crash on Sept. 16, 1977. This is not just about one moment in the past; its about decades of deceit; decades of wasting everyones time with pathetic lies ; a former public official or the brother of a music personality either defaming their public office, or associating-by-their-relationto them another performers, (their sisters), career, in boring, maudlin tales of woe. But when you think about some of Marcs phraseology Tyrannosaurus Rex eater of cars. Hubcap diamond star halo. Seventy-seven is going to be heaven. [The latter being a line from Bolans final single, Celebrate Summer.] A woman, who had been driving, was standing by a vehicle that had hit a tree and crushed the passenger, said Chris. Im a lunatic.. I still think that, regardless of what anybody writes in the papers, its good to have the space, he continued. Welcome to Bolan world, the light of love shines on ! He was the lead singer of rock band T. Rex. Marc Bolan Death On September 16, 1977, Marc was on his way home from a club in Berkeley Square with Gloria Jones. I dont believe this either. He gave up writing proper poetry once he realised he could be on every girls bedroom wall with Ride A White Swan onward. Posted by AJ @ 18:00. You think, what would Jimi Hendrix have done if hed lived? The tree the Mini had run into. T. Rex's Marc Bolan: This one sounds like a crackpot conspiracy, but it's actually completely true. Any proof? Bath Following them in a separate car, Ms Aram was at the scene seconds after the impact. . Early life [ edit] Plaque marking Bolan's childhood home, 25 Stoke Newington Common, Hackney. Surely we must know, by now, that Bolan was equal to Bowie is his owning off the pre punk seventies! Although T. Rex produced eleven British Top-Ten singles and generated fan hysteria reminiscent of the days of the Beatles, the group never achieved equal popularity in the U.S. Only one single, 1971s Bang a Gong (Get It On), was a U.S. hit. marc bolan anniversary, marc bolan death, marc 40 years anniversary, marc bolan memory, bolans boogie. Where previously he had been thought to have been crushed to death in the car, a new book reveals he suffered a horrific head injury from an eye bolt in the fence. I was suspicious of his story when I first read it years ago. Often the men were prettier than the women. And he was very excited as you would be. Tony Visconti: 'What I saw in Marc Bolan was raw talent. It caused outrage., While its true that the hits never totally dried up for Marc Bolan, theres little doubt his creative muse fizzled rather than sizzled in his latter years. yes a 1973 mini clubman had seat belts fitted , and it was top of the range 1275gt Send us a tip using our anonymous form. So were my friends, the next day I told them about the incident. He thrived on it., Marc was grateful to have a second chance, says Tony Visconti. When I started out with Tyrannosaurus Rex the press were always very good to me no one ever understood me, but it was quite nice, they helped to give me exposure. I found myself chatting her up. For you to say its unfortunate that she didnt also die and take pleasure in her being ripped-off from Marcs inheritance is just appalling and you should be ashamed of yourself. They had a baby, and this year, Marc Bolan began to make a come-back. Marc Bolan's death has its own tale. One of these must be true. T. Rex popularity began to fall off in the mid-Seventies, but Bolan had recently made a comeback of sorts he had just filmed the first two shows for a new British TV series. What was left of the purple Mini. I would be surprised if Gloria had been stone cold sober..but she wasnt charged with any offense. David Bowie and Rod Stewart were in attendance, as were Steve Harley and members of The Damned. Trouble is it is not the true or full story.To read the true story look up Vicky Aram who was there that night as a guest of Marc and Gloria. He started to evolve toward the end of his life, but it was too late. Thanks for reading this. No other vehicle was involved. Together with Steve Peregrine Took, who played assorted percussion to Bolans acoustic guitar and vocals, he formed the psychedelic folk-rock due Tyrannosaurus Rex in late 1967 and the following year played two dates in Worcestershire. She had a very clear-minded American outlook in that respect. The crash site has become a shrine to his memory with fans making pilgrimages to leave flowers and tributes and is maintained by the T.Rex Action Group. She was the type to have one drink, then call it quits and not have any more, because she wanted to stay in control of her faculties., The spotlight fell on the Mini, which had recently been serviced. To see him on stage playing his guitar, laughing and singing now that was rocknroll, yknow? At least, that was the plan. In an. Their first album, Beard of Stars, was a dramatic success, but again, limited to the cult market. The tragic death of an English superstar who never quite made it in the U.S. T. Rex Guitarist Marc Bolan Dies in Car Accident, See BTS Jung Kook Debut New Single Dreamers at FIFA World Cup Opening Ceremony, Drake & 21 Savage, Selena Gomez and All the Songs You Need to Know This Week, Christian Leave Asks Why Not? on Bedroom Pop Singers New Single, The National Stay Up Late to Perform 'Tropic Morning News' on Fallon, David Lindley, Multi-Instrumentalist Who Shaped the Sound of Soft Rock, Dead at 78, How Deem Spencer Learned to be Vulnerable on His New Album adultSW!M, Suki Waterhouse Won't Take Romance for Granted on New Single 'To Love', Travis Barker Says His Finger Ligament Surgery Was a 'Success' After Postponing Blink-182 Tour. Its a tragic loss. I came up with something stock. deathly afraid of driving, fearing a young death, the original version of Ed Cobbs Tainted Love, crash site has become a shrine to his memory, Oliver Reed as a prototype Alex from A Clockwork Orange in These are the Damned, I Have No Desire To Be Nico: Post-Punks Muse Of Manchester, Linder Sterling. During his career span, he worked on several albums which included the likes of Smashed Blocked!, My People Were Fair and Had Sky in . How can one person, then, from what Im given to understand, publically lie and not be held to account ? released a flop of a record for Decca called The Wizard. Marc Bolan and Gloria Jones at Rod Stewarts party at Mortons on the night that he died. Displaying john_cooper's root gallery. He and Gloria were driving in their Mini 127GT, after spending time at Mortons Club and Restaurant in Berkeley Square, London. Agree with Steve. Im really glad I didnt die today because I wouldnt have made the main story. When Marc died I think it was the same day as Maria Callas he got the main story, thank goodness. We use ads to keep our content free for you. Showing Editorial results for marc bolan. Its all writ. He was, in fact, killed when his Mini hit a steel-reinforced fence post. While the music itself was standard, hard driving pop/rock, the performers clothes were something else. Marc you beautiful man. What a load of tosh. I think he would have stretched out into other fields. 1. in respectful memory of marc bolan musician, writer and poet. Britpop was full of Bolan and Slash from Guns n Roses has spent decades dressed like him. Because that was the plan. Back then in 1977, I was 18 and me and some of my music enthusiast friends were big fans of Marc Bolan and T. Rex. I spoke with the journalist who took the interview in 2008 and to be honest he wasnt convinced at the time, but there was a Bolan Anniversary on the horizon so they ran it. He had that tease, he had that sexuality, and he had a real sense of fun. I don't think Richard thought Marc was dead, but I knew he was. She was gorgeous. We were working on this rock opera called The Children Of Rarn, and I was dying to get back to him and do that one properly. Nina Hagens Nunsexmonkrock: Greatest (and weirdest) unsung masterpiece of the postpunk era? His earlier work was a joy to behold A Beard Of Stars [Tyrannosaurus Rexs 1970 album] is a classic, its in my Top 20 of all time. Once the fantasist has been revealed, only then can the healing and the forgiveness begin. Marc Bolans funeral took place on Tuesday, September 20, 1977 at Golders Green Crematorium. My names Marc. Assuming we are all on This site as fans of Marc , best we dont claw over Gloria , she has worked on a giving charity project , and she claims to be very poor when Marc passed away . Nobody could have foreseen that., Estranged wife June Bolan (ne Child) went to pay her respects to Marcs dead body. The little girls soon started to scream for the singers whose music was aimed specifically at them the Osmonds, David Cassidy. I adored him and his crazy madness.. This article originally appeared in Classic Rock #111. He is of Russian, Polish and American descent. T.Rex records worked so well because they were celebratory and a bit cheeky at the same time., But a failure to reinvent himself as successfully as Bowie cost Bolan dear. And there was booze. He made it look so easy. Hair tinted with wispy gold and blue hues, he sported large square spectacles, presenting a somewhat bizarre cross between Cliff Richard conservativeness and Elton John outlandishness. Or why not treat yourself? marc was actually thrown into the backseat, and new evidence suggests that a metal spike entered his eye. Required fields are marked *. Thanks for all your research. His pitfall was always: Lets just do one more for the kids., Captain Sensible: Crikey. then the courts decided they were going to prosecute her for manslaughter. I couldnt gather my thoughts. BA1 1UA. Something is not right here. My father was a fireman at Richmond station and Chiswick and he attended the scene of marc bolans death. He was my mate. I think I got close to it when I wrote the line cloak full of eagles. Ed Cobb wrote it. Words & Music. This is the first album in 30 years for the band, darkly amusing, awkward yet oddly graceful return of the ostensibly dead, not always pleasant, but in a funny way, it's quite compelling. She told me his face looked so beautiful and he had one little mark over his eyebrow, says Tony Visconti. , Also how could Gloria be standing next to the car? Bless you Marc and thank you for simply being you . And tights. Gloria and Marc - whose son Rolan was 20-months-old at the time - had been returning to their Richmond home after a night out in London's Mayfair around 4am when their purple mini crashed. My PA back in London said: The journalists want a quote from you. I went: A quote? But Television-Man had said we were crazy, said we were juvenile delinquent wrecks Aw man, I needed TV when I had T-Rex? ", Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies. We had a little semi-detached in Croydon. About the time Hackney-born Marc Bolan was enjoying his first major hit, Ride a White Swan, in early 1971, Chris Watts from Shepherd's Bush joined London Fire Brigade, passing out top of his intake. He used to write wonderful stories, but I dont know what happened to them. Many years ago I though Johnny Depp would have made a good Marc then time passed and my hopeful baton went to Orlando Bloom more time passed and it looked like Aneurin Barnard (as he was in The White Queen) would have been amazing maybe the best (hes a great singer, too). I could imagine Marc saying: For fucks sake, there he goes, hes standing right where I died, by the tree, and hes chatting up a bird. People may lose their physical continuity but it doesnt mean you have to lose them., In contrast to BP Fallons somewhat spiritual outlook, Steve Harley refutes any claim that Bolan had a death wish. I think he would have written a film. The eulogy was beautiful, and then this funereal music started up on the organ. Hello. Ilkka Suni, Joutseno, Finland Marc Bolan was killed instantly. You Scare Me to Death! August 29 1971. He would seize any opportunity to further his own career. R.i.p. The couple had a son together in September 1975, called Rolan Bolan. And America never really went for glitter, the spangles on the trousers and the facial cosmetics that dominated British stages in those years. Dont believe a word of this Marc was not cut out of the wreckage he was lifted out by Glorias brother Richard and layd down on a blanket as he then tried hopeless cpr on marcs lifeless body. so sad when some one goes before their time..if only if only if only. He had fallen a long way. The time of the crash was 5am, just as dawn was breaking. Marc was firing on all cylinders, Sensible recalls. Marc Bolan remains one of the most iconic figureheads in the history of British music despite losing his life in tragic circumstances, painfully too early as the T. Rex man passed away following a car crash on 16th September 1977, just two weeks prior to his 30th birthday. and then she became a TV producer. Marc Bolan & T. Rex Origin London, England Genres Glam rock rock and roll hard rock psychedelic folk(early) Years active 1967-1977 Labels Regal Zonophone Fly EMI Casablanca Reprise Relativity Records Spinoffs X-T. Rex Mickey Finn's T-Rex Spinoff of John's Children Past members Marc Bolan Steve Peregrin Took Mickey Finn Steve Currie Bill Legend What T. Rex conquered in their decade long . When Tyrannosaurus Rex morphed into T.Rex, mystic aura and attentive audience (small) was replaced by wild sexuality and riotous audience (large). I literally could barely even peek at the publicity stills for that Sky Arts Urban Myths show, they were so grim looked more like George of The Jungle crossed with Donovan and the bloke who played Bowie looked a complete pudding as well. Featured in Pagans and Pilgrims - Britain's Holiest Places on BBC4 Photo: Roger RM ER67A0 - Tree into which car carrying Marc Bolan collided, resulting in his death on 16th September 1977. Marc Bolan anniversary Essential T-Shirt. He was never going to burn out, Sid and Nancy style. He was still in his seat and apparently dead. If I knew I was telling the truth, especially about a fatal occurrence, and somebody, not by direct accusation but by countering my accurate description of events, (thereby injuring untold numbers of hearts forever), I should make it a duty in life to arrange a public meeting with them to stop it ,once and for all. Ms Warner, 53, said: "A lot of people don't realise there was a fence between the tree and the road, because the fence was removed. He installed a caretaker and three years later sold it for about 70,000 without hardly ever visiting. The scale of the task ahead was rammed home when, on May 3, 1976, Marc and Gloria Jones went to see David Bowie play Wembleys Empire Pool. He was best known as the lead singer of the rock band T. Rex. i have watched a TON of interviews with her, and you would think there was a third person in the car driving. It was an accident and a tragedy, these happen. There was a rabbi reading a eulogy, and Marcs coffin was in the middle of these twin tracks, like on a railroad. They said his name was Mark Feld, but you might know him better as Marc Bolan. Although many of his songs refer to cars, Marc Bolan himself was deathly afraid of driving, fearing a young death. Rolan Bolans godfather David Bowiewho would quietly provide for Gloria and Rolan and paid for his educationarrives at the service. Before such a meeting takes place, a publican could be thought of as trying to draw-in customers to regale them with gleefully-recounted prosy retellings of his merely accidental presence one night at a miserable event, of which even the misery wasnt of his own making ; which pitifully exposes how the ravenous hunger for a little recognition is so desired by the unloved, by the floundering, anonymous millions, aware as many might be that they shall at best find nothing more than temporary, misattributed-glory, by attaching their names to those whose talents, efforts or persona, not their lazy idling dreams, earned for themselves what the limpet trys to attach itself. Brendon was a Londoner and was shocked by the news. Then came the rivalry, but their camaraderie never really diminished. Radio 1 DJ John Peel who brought Tyrannosaurus Rex to public attention ferried Bolan and Took up to Kidderminster for an allnighter on Easter Sunday, April 14, 1968, following an appearance on his Top Gear show in London. Thats the problem with me, you see. I wonder what would have happened if I had gone back but of course I can never know. Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab). How can this man lie about such tragic? Always keeps little Marc in your heart . She pulled him back to normality. The music of Marc Bolan and T. Rex is being honored with a massive, star-studded tribute album. It was amazing, because Bolan had just had his first big hit single. she has said in interviews that they had been driving for 45 minutes, but the bar was only a mile from where they lived. In truth, Bolan had gone through a very problematic period of time. She was a kids TV presenter she used to work with a puppet called Ollie Beak, remember him? Free delivery for many products! The images here are courtesy of a new website devoted to nostalgia, Flashbak and the Press Association. All of what he says is complete nonsense. Vicky Aram, 77, a former nightclub singer, was invited back from a party by Bolan, his girlfriend Gloria Jones and Jones's brother Richard to discuss musical projects. Photo date: Monday, January 18, 2021. Bless him. Steve Took dropped out in 1969, to be replaced by Micky Finn, whom Bolan met in a health food restaurant. Not sure my Dyslexia helps, what I establish as an apprentice mechanic In London in the 1970s , was profound , Racism Hed got rid of his drug habit, hed gone through his arrogant stage, he was almost humble. Marc's macabre prophecy: A new documentary reveals how T. Rex star Marc Bolan had a death wish to die in a Mini. The glam rocker would go on cocaine and booze binges and eventually dedicated much of his time to his new love, American singer, Gloria Jones, per Louder. Also in 1975, he found time to play on the self-titled debut by Canadian Led Zeppelin clones Moxy. Betty Davis was born Betty Mabry on July 26, 1945 in Durham, N.C., grew up in Pittsburgh, and began writing songs at age 12. Penny..would you email me pleasethanks Bari. His mind seemed to be travelling in a million different directions at the same time. the wheel nuts were loose, pressures wrong, slow puncture , gloria went to repair, but dont think mechanic liked her , any way the car hit concrete post and was propelled into , tying a fox in a tree, as Marc had predicted.. Did they even have seatbelts in that year and model? She is still in hospital, with a broken jaw and serious facial injuries. Marc was the son of Phyllis Winifred (Atkins) and Simeon "Sid" Feld, a lorry driver. So very sad. Marc Bolan's latest news, photos, videos, movies, albums, or awards info from Yahoo . It cant last, he told me in 1972, when the hit parade was studded with his records. At the time of Marcs death I wasnt a huge fan, but now I really appreciate his work. The pair headed to their house in Upper Richmond Road West, East Sheen. Neither of the people involved had been wearing a seat belt. Marc Bolan, June and Alice Ormsby-Gore having fun at Eric Claptons house in Surrey in 1970. In retrospective, back then Marc Bolan dying was just as shocking as the death of David Bowie, and some others of the brightest rock stardome. So we could blame the car , the tyre shop Gloria went to , the rain , Marcs himself declared his early death , and some lyrics in his songs match the accident . High quality Marc Bolan-inspired gifts and merchandise. Eddie Cochrane became one of the first of the rock legends whose fame rests as much upon the manner of his death a car crash as upon the matter of his music. The Flying V came up for sale as did the one he gave to ringo star , ringo sold it , and the late Bowie has one . Marc was back on form. Did I detect some slight nervousness, a little apprehension behind those lenses? That same year, his father Marc Bolan returned to the UK from tax exile in the US and . Your email address will not be published. Steve Harley takes up to story: Muriel Young kick-started it all. And maybe acting, too., Steve Harley: The world was a mirror to him. I was living with my mum and dad. I cant think, I dont have anything to say. Within a few days their home was looted by thieves. Sign up below to get the latest from Classic Rock, plus exclusive special offers, direct to your inbox! It was his first real hit, and Bolans elfin face and wispily Afro hair style suddenly hit the front pages, dominated the music magazines and almost single-handedly created the teeny-bop phenomenon. The book Marc Bolan: A Tale Untold will now be published in the New Year. Once the gravity of the situation became apparent, the messy details of Bolan's death, and anyone else's, soon arose as a conversation about inheritance was raised between . I heard the sad news on medium-wave radio, and I was just shocked. Hello. Gloria Jones was driving the Mini 1275GT early yesterday morning when it crashed into a tree on Barnes Common. He saw every little appearance on the small screen as making him more famous in Sainsburys.