T. Rex band: Encyclopedia II - T. Rex band - T. Rex

T. Rex band - T. Rex

The next album, entitled simply T. Rex continued the process of simplification by shortening the name and completed the move to electric guitars. (Legend has it the Tony Visconti got fed up with writing the name out in full on studio chitties and tapes and began to abbreviate it. When Bolan first noticed he was supposedly furious, but later claimed it was his own idea.) The sound was altogether 'poppier' and the first single, Ride a White Swan, reached number two in the UK chart in late 1970.

"Ride a White Swan" was quickly followed by a second single, "Hot Love". A full band was hastily formed and began to tour to increasing audiences, with teenage girls (teeny boppers) replacing the hippies of old. Chelita Secunda (wife of Tony Secunda, manager to The Move and for a brief period T. Rex) added two spots of glitter under Bolan's eyes before an appearance on Top of the Pops, controversially viewed as the official birth of glam rock (Some attribute its beginnings to Alice Cooper, who would dress in torn women's clothing as part of his stage act.) After Bolan's glittery display, however, glam rock would sweep the United Kingdom and many parts of Europe during 1971/1972, producing acts of varying worth. (See: glam rock.)

The second T. Rex album, Electric Warrior released in September 1971, added bassist Steve Currie and drummer Bill Legend. Considered by many to be their best album, it brought great success to the group and namesake. Publicist BP Fallon coined the term "T. Rextasy" as a parallel to "Beatlemania,": it accurately described the atmosphere that quickly surrounded the band. A couple of years of regular chart success followed, with hit singles such as "Metal Guru" and "Telegram Sam" pouring off what came to resemble a production line.

Electric Warrior produced T. Rex's best-known song, (titled in the U.K.) "Get It On", which hit number one on the British charts, while becoming a Top Ten hit in the U.S. January 1972, where the song was retitled "Bang A Gong (Get It On)" to avoid confusion with another song called "Get It On", also released in 1971, by the group Chase.

In March 18, 1972, T. Rex played two shows at the Empire Pool, Wembley, which were filmed by Ringo Starr and his film crew for Apple films. A large part of the second show was used on Marc Bolan's own rock film 'Born To Boogie', while bits and pieces of the first show can be seen throughout the credits at the end of the film. Along Marc Bolan & T. Rex and Ringo Starr 'Born To Boogie' also featured Elton John, who jammed with the friends a rockin' studio versions of 'Children Of The Revolution' and 'Tutti Frutti'. 'Born To Boogie' was premiered at the Oscar One cinema in London December 1972, Marc Bolan, Ringo Starr and Elton John were in attendance. The film received negative reviews from the critics, while it was loved by the fans.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "T. Rex", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki