T-Rex: The Tragic Death of Marc Bolan

The tragic death of T-Rex's Marc Bolan
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#trex #marcbolan
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

[@hardlines2635]

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

[@ANGELAFITZPATRICK-ih8wd]

How did u meet them

[@ageingviking5587]

A coverband guy that visited antiques road show said the same thing about his wife being friends with them . They gave her one of his long suit jackets and the guy wears it during shows.

[@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.

[@jgmdewilde]

👍👍👍💙💙💙my eldest brother also died in a deadly carcrash in december 1992...he was always supporting me when I was in troubles...besides Marc left us too soon...r.i.p.!

[@julieclarke5310]

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

[@davide.b8027]

You're making me jealous

[@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.

[@kiko632]

Sorry for your loss

[@karylhogan5758]

My mother loved him too, I remember when he died, my mother was visibly upset. We both heard the news together from radio..my mother was a cold person , but this shook her, I was surprised..

[@0tt0z]

Sorry about your mom. All the best to you, sir.

[@abrahama2643]

My condolences

[@ouimaisnon9989]

J'espère qu'ils se verront au paradis. Courage!

[@laurastrobel718]

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 ❤️🌹✨🦢

[@Mick_Ts_Chick]

Yeah he just didn't stop to think that you can die as a passenger as much as a driver. They don't call the passenger seat the death seat for nothing. Another great rocker dying way too young. RIP Marc. 💔

[@Davo-007]

" I drive a Rolls Royce because its good for my voice " Classic lyrics by him with the ever so ironic twist.

[@danieleyre8913]

Hmm I remember seeing a documentary where his first wife said that he wasn’t into cars at all, and merely put cars into his lyrics. But whatever…

[@dvdvnr]

Nope, despite what it says on the sleeve of The Slider, it was Tony Visconti who took that photo, not Ringo Starr.

[@dollydagger4306]

Im afraid of cars. Evidently, so was he.

[@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.

[@staceykeeley4219]

When all the kids my age were swooning over the Bay City Rollers and the Osmonds, I was rocking out to T-Rex. Marc's sound was unique and he's a much underrated guitarist.

[@danieleyre8913]

Bolan was no guitar great. But what he was; was a great tunesmith.

[@junkiejackflash]

Idk if I'd say he's an underrated guitarist, but like the other guy said, he's good with tunes and he definitely had a unique style and sound.

[@IMeMineWho]

@@danieleyre8913 And poet.

[@derekstocker6661]

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.

[@cosmolean]

Electric Warrior was one of my first albums and Bang A Gong one of the first songs I learned on guitar so T-Rex will always hold a special place in my heart. RIP T-Rex and Marc Bolan.

[@kennethcrandall5951]

Same here my first LP and Bang a gong first song i learned on guitar i got that chop down pretty dang good now haha

[@margaretadekunle4017]

May his soul rest in peace. He was such a gifted musician. What I love most is the showman ship.,

[@robjones2408]

In 1971, a good friend of mine told me that Marc said he won't make it to thirty. "Electric Warrior" was THE album to own back then, and we didn't give his comment any thought. The Russell Harty 1972 interview seemed that Marc wouldn't be coming back to future shows. Nobody took him seriously. On September 16th, 1977, Marc proved to be tragically spot on. For a short period of time, he was unbeatable. "Solid Gold Easy Action" was the first single I ever bought.

[@jimiplayscobo5877]

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

[@nickdanger8502]

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.

[@brickedupgranny]

im a drummer always will be but i just love marc so much he moves so cool the fact he was so glam to me makes it 10x better really wish i saw him in the 70s. but yet again i wasn’t born yet but really wish i lived through the late 60s and 70s.

[@annwillett7489]

Absolutely loved this beautiful man he went far to soon thank you for the music Marc RIP💕🌸

[@FatherStack]

Marc Bolan was one of my dad's idols and I was even named after him!

[@CptMunta]

Me too! 🤜💥🤛

[@gypsydildopunks7083]

I hope your name is Tyrannosaurus Rex, epic.

[@AhmadSafty96]

@@gypsydildopunks7083 lol

[@rhobot75]

I could never understand The wind at all Was like a ball of love I could never never see The cosmic sea Was like a bumblebee And when I'm sad I slide I have never never kissed A car before It's like a door I have always always Grown my own before All schools are strange And when I'm sad I slide I have never never Nailed a nose before That's how the garden grows I could never understand The wind at all Was like a ball of love And when I'm sad I slide Watch now I'm gonna slide

[@robertraikes9409]

I was in a band as the singer and we covers including Get it On, and The slider , I loved doing those songs and I used to have a chuckle to myself thinking bout Automatic Shoes in Buick Mechaine

[@Jamestele1]

This was very well put together. Thanks for clearing up misinformation.

[@KarmicSalt]

nope....Gloria was drunk...she was drink driving and killed Marc.

[@Jamestele1]

@@KarmicSalt I just read up on the accident, and you are sadly 100 percent correct. I didn't want to believe it.

[@Bye_Good]

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

[@susankirkland3852]

RIP Marc Bolan… we will never know what might have been. It’s is so tragic. Thankful for the huge legacy of music and influence he left us. I will always be thankful ❤🎶 Thanks for video (he didn’t wear tights… tight trousers maybe but not tights!)

[@brandonpage7087]

T-Rex were a HUGE influence to many of the hair metal bands.

[@TempleOvBlackLight]

David Lee Roth seems to think he inspired the 80s look. Lol

[@rinaticson390]

So was SWEET

[@DavidDatura]

Yes!

[@adonaiyah2196]

I actually live near where he died. The bridge has an unexpected curve. Cars could easily slam in the metal railing into a ditch if they dont turn right very slightly. To an American driving at 4am used to driving on the opposite side, it could easily throw that person off. Marc was on the side which would have hit the fencing first and then the tree. Because the bend is further up the road from where the car came to rest i think the crash happened further up from the tree

[@KarmicSalt]

Gloria was DRUNK. After all these years people might want to change the story but she was drink driving and killed him

[@PokeEyeSlapSlap]

@@KarmicSalt she was later cleared, so where’s your proof? Also research about the Car itself instead of making a comment that suits your narrative.

[@raymondroberts8709]

And she was driving very very fast otherwise he wouldn't have died from such severe injuries.....😡😖

[@PokeEyeSlapSlap]

@@raymondroberts8709 Didn’t know you were there either, but I’d research a bit more if I were you about the many accidents around that spot…….

[@leeevans2929]

@@KarmicSalt I’ve often wondered if it was on purpose. He was supposed to get back together with his wife June who he never divorced. Makes you wonder IMO

[@hunreel1973]

In my mind he was one of the most underrated, influential musician songwriter .He never really received the praise and credit that he should have had ..... RIP Marc

[@KarmicSalt]

what? He was HUGE and even had a TV show.

[@AS-wj1du]

@@KarmicSalt but most people don't know him like jimi or jim so maybe he's not as big. He looks a lot like the guitarist from 🔫 and 🌹. Both Jewish

[@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.

[@robcc21]

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. ❤

[@iggy9955]

I was going to the gymnasium in the morning when I saw in the window near squere 5 well. I buy a newspaper and sit on the ancient Roman ruins (Zadar-Croatia.then Yugoslavia) and read. I am cry like baby. Missed for 3 hours and went to school crying

[@bobthebear1246]

It's too bad. It's so sad, but what can you do? 🤷🏻‍♂️ Marc Bolan at least leaves behind a legacy of good music, and for that, he will always be remembered. 🎤 🎸🔥

[@KarmicSalt]

well you can learn to not drink drive. Gloria killed him drink driving

[@sharongoodsell9341]

Children of the Revolution was the song I remember the most huge teen fan from the 70's Aussie 🌈🌈🌈

[@dimebagdave77]

THNX! 'Bout time Bolan got some love 🔥 do Bolin next

[@areamusicale]

Once upon a time there was an electric guitar nailed to the Bolan tree. The legend says that that guitar used to belong to Mark Bolan and I knew the guy who stole and kept in his living room. The guitar seems some small scale rushed DIY guitar, painted by brush. It had written on it "who steals this guitar dies".

[@KarmicSalt]

your friend is a pos

[@theshamanarchist5441]

Did he?

[@artcamp7]

Truly a unique artist gone too soon

[@lorraineross9829]

LOVED🌻❤️🌻❤️THIS MAN & HIS MUSIC 🎶 🎵 ❤️ 🎶🎵❤️🎶🎵 STILL MISSED 😥 😔 😥😔 NOW & FOREVER 😥😥😥🙏🙌✨️🙏🙌✨️🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧

[@fredbalandran3182]

RIP Marc your up there with the great ones

[@DS-qu2rs]

'Life is the same and it always will be, easy as picking foxes from a tree' eerily prophetic.

[@Juno58]

Solid gold easy action 😉

[@danieleyre8913]

It’s also a shame that Bolan was marketed toward adolescent girls, and is now remembered as a “teenybopper” act. Because he was without question very musically talented and creative. And had he not perished: I think he would’ve kept making his brand of music into the 1980s, and possibly would’ve branched into movies like Bowie did.

[@Slo-ryde]

Bolan could not follow up on his success in the US following the Electric warrior album…. The Glam scene quickly became crowded, and Bolan fell out of favor. Bowie survived because of better marketing and catchy tunes!

[@danieleyre8913]

@@Slo-ryde Yes but I don’t see what that has to do with anything I typed about.

[@Slo-ryde]

@@danieleyre8913 I guess you didn’t read the last sentence.

[@danieleyre8913]

@@Slo-ryde You guess wrong.

[@levcath13]

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

[@ChristChickAutistic]

She sang the OG Tainted Love.

[@brendanoprey762]

I cycle past that tree every day. Still adorned with flowers and trinkets to this day.

[@mrkipling2201]

It is. I used to walk past it every day when I was a postman as my round was in that area.

[@KarmicSalt]

The tree is gone now so what do you mean

[@brendanoprey762]

@@KarmicSalt where the tree was and where the shrine now is ya pedantic melon

[@christinemclatchie]

@@brendanoprey762 🤭

[@yorkiegilly4355]

Marc used to rent out his Rolls Royce to other bands for photo shoots etc . and on the night he died it wasn"t returned on time ,so he went home in the Mini and by all accounts was driven everywhere fast by his girlfriend usually without seat belts ?. A accident waiting to happen in the middle of the night on a bad road .

[@williamdon3442]

I just really discovered this band a few days ago. I’m totally hooked

[@allanvanuga9196]

Great video.

[@robertraikes9409]

With lyrics like "Automatic Shoes " that have intrigued me all my life 😊❤

[@kiko632]

R.I.P Marc Bolan

[@christophermerlot3366]

Television Man is crazy, saying we're juvenile delinquent wrecks...

[@jefferysteen1041]

The man was a legend!So glad they put him in the rock hall of fame

[@pamelahinchee8012]

I Love His Music...Tragic that he left us too soon. Only the Good Die Young, they say.

[@KarmicSalt]

no, his wife was drink driving and killed him.

[@rjlchristie]

Do you ever pause to draw breath? The non stop delivery is reminiscent of telemarketing spiel. Tiring to listen to.

[@sandraweilbrenner67]

I am 60 and I loved Marc.

[@mitchyyy18]

I LOOOVE your channel. Ty my friend.

[@ChrisOsborne-pr1iy]

keep a little Marc in your heart❣❣❣

[@unquietriot8019]

I had read an account years ago that Marc was long-convinced he was going to die in a car accident. The story said it was one of the reasons Gloria had been driving - because he never learned to drive. Several of his songs, though, glamorize (and sexualize) cars. RIP, man, and thank you for the groovy tunes.

[@TheMichal1956]

....vtedy som zboznoval....Jeepster....R.I.P. Marc

[@janejohnstone5795]

Sad....bit crazy...liked their music...had his own style...quite handsome...have his LP...very hippy music..

[@nicholasvalentine2428]

Interesting and informative. Thanks.

[@MikeMike-hx3gm]

In 1972 me and my mates on a Friday Night would go to the Hammersmith Palais. They teased me about Mt attire. I bought a satin jacket a la Marc Bolan. And got the 👍

[@christinemclatchie]

I bet you did 👌

[@aprillroberts]

Thank you ❤

[@jamessilva7991]

Why do cars just leave the road ? I don't understand it.

[@andrewkaiser7203]

4:48 Their songs placed "respectably" at #1 and #2.... Yeah, that's pretty respectable I'd say.

[@stephenbarningham330]

Tie a purple mini round the old oak tree! I remember someone singing that back in the 80's and i never knew what it meant,till recently!

[@patrickneylan]

Awful video: rushed commentary with almost none of the pictures matching the commentary. The epitome of amateurish.

[@kimthomas8717]

He was a musical Genius ❤️

[@mreeping]

Can you cover Donovan? Soooo many great songs and I really feel like he's underrated

[@martinwarner1178]

No such thing as an accident....who was driving? bet she had loads more "accidents" Peace be unto you.

[@barbarastepien-foad4519]

Effectively Gloria killed him.... What a thing to have to live with and explain to their child....

[@cherrynicholson7699]

I stil got our photo together love u Marc Bolan 🎤♥️💋🍒xx

[@hotwheel6663]

Get it On!

[@jimsmithnyny8905]

I met his son at the Gaslight karaoke bar Santa Monica CA, 2009 TO 2010

[@GrimMetropolis]

Later daze Bolan looked rough. That stuff is a hell ov ah rug. Bang

[@ChainsGoldMask]

❤️ t rex

[@PinkyJujubean]

70s glam rock was so awesome and beautiful. T Rex was the most awesome and beautiful of them all.

[@MultiPetercool]

“Man, I need TV when I got T-Rex”

[@jchow5966]

Great band

[@MrRoute6600]

RIP

[@alisonmccourt9180]

Didn’t Gloria and her brother leave the scene of the crash because she had been drinking

[@Juno58]

I don't believe. Gloria herself was heavily injured.

[@Mrz-sb1hw]

My big brother talked about marc bolland but I was too young to understand.

[@pjh2599]

Any chance of you doing an English version of this?

[@manuela-6998]

Grande Marc 🎇🎇🎸🎶🎶🎶🎶

[@phillipanderson7398]

what European country did Marc's Ashkenazi father's family come from ?

[@theshamanarchist5441]

Poland, Lithuania or Hungary most likely?

[@1badjesus]

luv channel's images to emphasize emotion & actions: "mom had (*british) food stall" = *tacos.

[@sallyclay1974]

Dont drink and drive! Rehab time!

[@maverick4177]

Wrap a purple mini round an old Oak tree is a great song 👍🏻

[@markw6586]

Missed out on the 27 club by 2 years.

[@theshamanarchist5441]

Better late than never.

[@pauldavies8638]

I was gutted when I read the newspaper that morning

[@charliekathis1925]

Mark boland from what I remember he was more well known in England than the US

[@mariagatisson8867]

He was English

[@countalucard4226]

I saw T Rex at the Fillmore East.

[@pensans1]

His girl friend took a jet out of London the next day to avoid arrest.

[@leeevans2929]

I read he was going to get back together with his wife June whom he never divorced

[@annwhite2346]

Gloria was still in hospital with serious injuries the next day.

[@loftyskies72]

This is so stupid. Gloria was in the hospital for several weeks after the accident. There was an inquest which she attended after she was released. It was determined to be an accident Witnesses said she was not drunk. If anything she probably fell asleep at the wheel. She had just returned from California that day or the day before. No further charges were filed and Gloria returned home to California with their son to heal with her family, which also included a son from a previous marriage. Marc had said they spent a lot of time there so she could be with him. I will never understand why people think she should have stayed in England. She had nothing there. After a tragedy like that I know I would want to be surrounded by loved ones.

[@karengayehammat4199]

From what I've seen on film English roads are made for horses not wide enough for two cars to pass each other safely

[@samantha392]

Gloria was his downfall 😢

[@garypoulton7311]

A joke from back in the day: Marc Bolan was on the radio the other day, and the steering wheel, and the dashboard.

[@QPRTokyo]

Bolan was T.Rex . Not a front man.

[@ArleneMulligan-zf7yh]

When marc died i blamed marsha for killing him,very cruel of me.😢

[@abocas]

"His father was a jew"..... is that a nationality?

[@kevinjoseph517]

I heard marc at fillmore east 1970----TANX was the begiing of the end..weak album yet Mark had lots of singles out takes etc that could have been on TANX. he became very obnoxious, ask visconti.

[@Juno58]

Tanx was a weak album??? Never!

[@mackb909]

"Born to an English mother and Jewish father..." So are you saying Marc's father wasn't "true" English because he was Jewish?

[@theshamanarchist5441]

You can't really be English AND an Ashkenazi khazar too, ya know? But he could be considered British though.

[@dorianlindberg1662]

OK, what is up with the taco making video in North London?! Was that a thing back in the 40's/50's there back then? Is there a secret that I have never heard about? Either way, that was a terrible tragedy. RIP Marc Bolan. Please always check your tires before taking off everyone.

[@DosBear]

Basically a One Hit Wonder Band with 'Get it On', back in 1971.

[@marcosruiz1709]

one hit wonder? They had 11 hits in the UK top 10, 4 of them number 1, their album "electric warrior" was number 1 for 8 weeks, they had another 2 number 1 albums. They were by no means a one hit wonder, maybe in America.

[@christinemclatchie]

DosBear Were you a teen when T rex was known?

[@DosBear]

@@marcosruiz1709 I just took a listen to all their greatest hits and I stand by my original belief that they were a one hit wonder with "GET IT ON". I absolutelty do not gauge a hit by how it does in the UK, that's for sure. Yes, I'm speaking from Canada.

[@DosBear]

@@christinemclatchie 6 in 67 when they started the band. The song Get it on was popular at our Junior high school dances. And can't think of another T Rex song that was.

[@marcosruiz1709]

@@christinemclatchie In the UK they were the most famous band of the early 70s. "Electric Warrior" was number 1 for 8 weeks. They may not have enjoyed the same success worldwide, but in the UK they are legends and they were huge.

[@johnhancock8556]

I think i am the only one to like them more when they were a psychedelic folk rock group (Tyrannosaurus Rex) than Glam rock (T-Rex).

[@MeaHeaR]

ÕMĞ I waz Born in Hackney too LOL

[@Willy_Milano]

0:50 Bolan's parents had a street taco stall? If you say so.

[@Lessontobe]

Where did his mother come from?

[@cliffbungalow9373]

People stared at the makeup on his face