The career of Marc Bolan, perhaps more than anyone else's, illustrates the evolution of the rock scene from “hippie” to “glitter.”
In the late 60s Bolan and his band, then known as Tyrannosaurus Rex, were releasing albums with titles like My People Were Fair and had Sky in Their Hair...But Now They're Content to Wear Stars on Their Brows and Beard of Stars. They exemplified the dreamy lyrics and acoustic sounds favoured by folkies and hippies. Personnel changes and changes in the music scene saw Bolan's band shorten its name to T. Rex and alter its sound to a more direct, rebellious affair.
Bolan is widely credited with creating the glam rock scene, partly because he did, in fact, give himself a beard of stars by dabbing bits of glitter make-up on his face prior to going on stage. This practise was soon seized upon by performers and fans alike and the crazy fashion that would come to define the genre was off and running.
T. Rex achieved huge success with songs like “Get It On,” “Children of the Revolution,” and “20th Century Boy.” Lyrically and musically, these works exhorted fans to celebrate the philosophical essence of rock and roll whilst celebrating the magical unfolding of a future defined by technological advances.
Near the end of his life, Bolan toured the UK with punk band The Damned 'to entice a young audience who did not remember his heyday.' This occurrence helped establish a line between the genres of glam and punk.
Bolan died in 1977 in a car crash near his home in southwest London.
In the late 60s Bolan and his band, then known as Tyrannosaurus Rex, were releasing albums with titles like My People Were Fair and had Sky in Their Hair...But Now They're Content to Wear Stars on Their Brows and Beard of Stars. They exemplified the dreamy lyrics and acoustic sounds favoured by folkies and hippies. Personnel changes and changes in the music scene saw Bolan's band shorten its name to T. Rex and alter its sound to a more direct, rebellious affair.
Bolan is widely credited with creating the glam rock scene, partly because he did, in fact, give himself a beard of stars by dabbing bits of glitter make-up on his face prior to going on stage. This practise was soon seized upon by performers and fans alike and the crazy fashion that would come to define the genre was off and running.
T. Rex achieved huge success with songs like “Get It On,” “Children of the Revolution,” and “20th Century Boy.” Lyrically and musically, these works exhorted fans to celebrate the philosophical essence of rock and roll whilst celebrating the magical unfolding of a future defined by technological advances.
Near the end of his life, Bolan toured the UK with punk band The Damned 'to entice a young audience who did not remember his heyday.' This occurrence helped establish a line between the genres of glam and punk.
Bolan died in 1977 in a car crash near his home in southwest London.