T-Rex: The Tragic Death of Marc Bolan

The tragic death of T-Rex's Marc Bolan

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I cite my sources and they may differ than other people's accounts, so I don't guarantee the actual accuracy of my videos.

Marc Bolan is best known as the frontman of T Rex. In the early 70s, he and the band led a musical movement known as glam rock, which combined heavy hooks with extravagant displays of fashion. T Rex would experience critical and commercial success in their native UK during this time and would also prove extremely influential in America. By 1977, following a brief commercial decline, the band were in the midst of a strong comeback, but Bolan would die in a serious car wreck at 29 years old. While the crash itself was undisputed, it turns out that the circumstances around the crash contrasted with what was first reported. That’s what we’ll discuss in today’s video.
Bolan was born Mark Feld on September 30th, 1947, in the east London borough of Hackney, to an English mother\ Ashkenazi Jewish father. Both parents came from a working-class background, with his mother operating a food stall on Berwick Street Market at the time, while his father was a truck driver. Although that meant that the family sometimes struggled to make ends meet, Bolan nonetheless had a happy childhood with his older brother Harry. Harry would comment on the time his brother’s larger-than-life presence took shape when he was five years old, recalling in the documentary Marc Bolan, The Final Word,
“He would adopt a frontman [persona] like Clark Kent and Superman, and his first one was Mighty Joe Young. He was the big gorilla and nobody could beat him. He [always had] a front, and ‘Marc Bolan’ was [one of them],” he’d say.
The family would relocate to Wimbledon, and it was at this point that Bolan was drawn to music. By age 9, his mother bought him his first guitar, and after a few years of simple strumming, he’d gradually become proficient by teaching himself how to play. According to Bolan, the 1956 film The Girl Can’t Help It, would fuel his ambitions for becoming a rockstar. Realizing that his instrument could supplement as a fashion accessory while he moved around, he’d take a cue from some of his rock n’ roll heroes, saying,
“I remember seeing Eddie Cochran. The way he held his guitar, unmoved, looked good. Little Richard put his foot on the piano, and I thought that was outrageous. I thought Elvis was the man, because he really used to wiggle his bum…and that influenced me incredibly. I was impressed with the fact that he always had a guitar [on him]. That, to me, was the ultimate showman thing, just sort of pushing it behind his back and throwing it around.”
By August 1965, the 18-year-old musician made inroads in the music industry, signing a contract with Decca Records under the moniker Marc Bowland. He’d then adopt a popular folk-rock sound similar to artists like Donovan and Bob Dylan, and materialize it with the help of session musicians, but his first two singles, “The Wizard'' and its follow-up in 1966, “The Third Degree,” failed to make any impact, which resulted in him being dropped from the label. He had also been changing the stylization of his name several times up to this point. In the book Marc Bolan: The Rise and Fall of a 20th Century Superstar, it’s said that the earliest instance involved changing the ‘k’ in his birthname, Mark Feld, to a ‘c’. As for how he’d eventually get to ‘Bolan’, the most common theory is stated by his brother Harry, who’d recall,
“Around this time, Mark was very friendly with the actor James Bolam. They fell out shortly afterwards, and I had a feeling it’s because Mark used his name as an inspiration.”
Actor Riggs O’Hara agreed, adding,
“Mark just changed the ‘m’ to an ‘n’… [and] liked the sound of it. He couldn’t understand why Jimmy was upset. He thought it was absolutely ridiculous that Jimmy thought he was going to be as big as Mark was. Mark always knew that he was going to be famous,” O’Hara would say.
By late 1966, things would start to look up for Bolan, as he’d successfully convinced legendary producer and manager Simon Napier-Bell to record him by himself with just his acoustic guitar. Napier-Bell soon became Bolan’s manager, and using his c

[hardlines]

As a kid I spent a lot of time with Marcs parents, they were the nicest people you could ever wish to meet.

[trinaq]

Rest in peace, Marc. He was just two weeks shy of his 30th birthday when he died. He was one of my mum's favourite singers, pity that he didn't live longer, or enjoy the success of his career.

[robcc]

I loved Marc Bolan as a teen and had posters of him and Trex on my wall. He was gorgeous and extremely talented. Still love their music ❤️ R.I.P. ❤

[ComaDave]

"I danced myself into the tomb"
Thanks for shining a light on Marc.

I was a huge Bolan fan in my mid-teens.
Visited his shrine in Barnes in 1986 and 2013 and his grave at Golders Green in 2015, each time when I was on holiday in the UK from Oz.

[laurastrobel]

Marc never learned to drive because he had a premonition that he would die in a car accident according to some. Ironic since he liked cars and wrote songs about them " Jeepster" . Ringo Starr took the iconic photo that's on the album cover for The Slider. Marc was so cool, it was such a tragedy. Thanks for the video ❤️🌹✨🦢

[Lovegun.]

My mum was a huge fan of T Rex. She passed away last year. Everytime I hear T Rex, I immediately think of her doing her silly little jig to it. Miss you ma. She and Marc were taken far too soon. Love your videos man.

[julieclarke]

Summer time in the 70's, listening to bands such as T Rex singing Hot Love was a teenage dream and an endless summer of love! Thank you for the memories Marc Bolan X

[DukesMusic]

Always loved and was fascinated by Bolan, just a fantastic talent. It was not drugs or cancer or his lifestyle that killed him. It was a tree, a damn tree.

[bloqk]

I recall in the Fall of 1977 working for "Wherehouse Records" [No! That is not a misspell] in California when a guy came in wanting to know if we carried any T-Rex albums. Wherehouse Records didn't have any, as it was a hit-driven retailer when it came to records sales. But I'll never forget the guy told me he was concerned there was going to be 'a run' of people buying up T-Rex albums, just as there was in August when Elvis Presley died, as Marc Bolan had just passed away.
In my youth back then I could have come up with a sarcastic comeback to that, but I didn't. As now an older and more tactful person, I'm glad I didn't.

[regsymes]

One of the genuinely underated performers of rock music and one of its most gifted performers. Made pop music truly exciting and colourful again and helped to pave the way for Mr Bowie and everyone that was to step through the door after them. But bolans shadow and influence was make its presence and influence felt in everything that followed from punk rock to Addam ant boy, George and beyond. Marc Bolan may have left this world behind but in many ways his presence and influence burns brighter than ever

[sharksport]

Marc Almond of Soft Cell was such a fan of Bolan that he changed the spelling of his name. Then went on to make a huge hit covering Gloria Jones song.

[nickdanger]

From a historical perspective, Bolan did well to die young. Judging by his double-chin at age 29, he would have eventually become, physically, a cookie-monster representation of Piers Morgan. But from a musical perspective, he'd lost it by Tanx in '73 - probably due to overuse of drugs. Not to denigrate his contribution to rock history, I am a huge fan. But his death wasn't "tragic." It was instantaneous and he no longer cares what happens to his image. But his image is and always will be - eternally youthful and talented. Good for him, I still love his classics and listen to them regularly.

[jimiplayscobo]

I seen Marc Bolan when they were a duo called Tyrannosaurus Rex. They backed up Humble Pie at the Eastown in Detroit. :-) Peace

[ToneWalt]

My dad took me to see the crash site not long after it happened, It was packed with people.

[philiptownsend]

Long time fan of T Rex and Marc Bolan here. You told me some new facts so thank you.

I remember that T Rex and Elton John were competing for number ones and that TR always kept EJ off the top of the singles charts except for one time - a duet wit Kiki Dee.

[Bye_Good]

LONG LIVE T-REX!! Absolute genius rock God. There’ll never be anyone like him

[derekstocker]

Excellent review of the heart-breaking death of Marc.
His music still has a stand out quality and never sounds dated, well done on this and RIP Marc.

[levcath]

You didn’t mention that he has a son from his relationship with Gloria Jones.

[DavidDatura]

That was a very interesting and informative video. I knew Bolan had died in a car crash. But was not aware of the Rocker’s history up until that point.

[Twisted_RC]

Grew up listening to T.REX because of my mum. Still listening to their songs today. Even building an RC truck as a tribute to him with Marc and T.Rex themed airbrushing art work on it.