popme115

Pop Music - weekly French magazine- 21 septembre 1972 - # 115
Thanks to Bernard Pavelek

We were expecting to see and judge on our own the T.Rex phénomenon; We didn't have the chance as the scheduled Musicorama concert that they were due to play was finally cancelled. Anyway, shortly before that, Jacques Barsamian had met Marc Bolan while T.rex were recording their last Lp, The Slider.

You are soon leaving for the USA ?
Yes, we have planned a six weeks tour. It should be great!

Some critics did however write that your last US tour was a fiasco?
You should never read critics. Several of them didn't like our last Lp. We sold a hundred thousand copies within three days, nonetheless. Isn't that success? If not, what do you call success, my friend? People in our business are always ready to criticize us, but the young do trust us. So, I don't care for critics...

What do you think of Wings, Paul Mc Cartney's new band? Some compare it to T.Rex.
Who's comparing Wings and T.Rex?!?...I never saw them. I know that Paul often listens to T.Rex and I'm very friendly with Denny Laine. A lot of the records that are released now have the T.Rex sound. You can't avoid that. The Beatles themselves were much copied when they started.

Can you give me details about the film Ringo starr is doing on you?
It is finished now. Ringo directed and we're both producing. he filmed a T.Rex concert at Wembley, along with 45 minutes of surrealistic scenes. I am totally enthusiast about this film. It is probably the best film ever done Rockwise. The title is 'Born To Boogie' and the release is due for October.

What do you think of David Bowie?
I've known David for years.

Press says that after Marc Bolan it's now David Bowie's turn to be be trendy?
People always talk. david had a minor hit, but he can't be compared to us. Alice Cooper, I think, in the same range is far more popular than David is. I played on two of his records...Anyway, David Bowie can't be compared to T.Rex, was it saleswise, musicwise or successwise... at the moment, there's not a new day coming without a 'new T.Rex'.

What kind of music are you currently listening to?
I don't actually listen to anything special. I lack time for that...I casually hear some music on radio...

Who did influence you?
Actually, no-one. I sometime listen to old bluesmen.

However I often thought that you used cliches from old Rock and Roll numbers and actualize them?
No way! listen to our new album...It is obvious that I might have been inspired that way at a period but that's not the case anymore...I grew up.

I've been told that you'd been hooked by Raimbaud?
He's an extraordinary poet! He knew how to catch humanity's feelings and it's hard achieving better.

What is, among your own songs, your favorite?
It's hard to choose. The latest's always the best, you know...

Do you see yourself rather as a poet or a musician?
It depends : when I'm playing guitar, I'm a rock and roll singer, when I'm writing poetry I'm a poet. Let's say I'm a mix of both.

Is it true, as written by an English tn journalist,that you made Bob Dyaln aware of Jack Kerouac?
I was surprised to read so, myself. Never! I made Jack Kerouac aware of Bob Dylan!

How do you forsee your own future? Who will be Marc Bolan ten years later?
Maybe I'll write concertos...

Are promotion and management important in making a pop star?
Well it depends. If people do a good job, I'll say yes. one always need good advices. As far as I'm concerned I'm well surrounded.

In 'Pop Music', we wrote that you consider yourself as a cross between Bob Dylan and John Lennon.
The one who wrote this misunderstood what I was saying. A bit like them, lyrics are very important to me, and the sound too...

Do you think that, just as Presley and The Beatles before, T.Rex could become a merely commercial thing, with all those T. shirts and posters being sold?
As far as I'm concerned, I do not sell anything. I give T. shirts and posters away, but that's for free. It is obvious taht a lot are being sold but I don't earn nothing from that. As far as I'm concerned T.Rex isn't anything commercial for me.

Interview by Jacques BARSAMIAN

LP REX 65 206
Metal Guru. Mystic Lady. Rock On. The slider. Baby Boomerang. Spaceball Ricochet. Buick Mackane. Telegram Sam. Rabbit Fighter. Ballrooms Of Mars. Chariot Choogle. Main Man.
Marc Bolan (vocals-guitars) ;
Mickey Finn (percussions, congas and vocals) ;
Steve Currie (bass) ;
Bill Legend (drums)
+ Backing vocals : Howard Kaylan and Mark Voolman (ex-Turtles and Mothers Of Invention),

Here comes T.Rex new Lp "The slider", mainly recorded in Le chateau d'Hérouville studios. Some songs are already famous ie " Telegram Sam" and " Metal Guru ". Even if some claimed that T.Rex had to cancel their Olympia concerts due to lack of ticket sales (nothing strange in that when considering the scheduled dates, right at the end of summer holidays), today a part of France is hooked by Marc Bolan's languid voice and magic guitar sound. Just see the " Salut Les Copains" poll and listen to the radio.

This new record truelly witnesses for this uncontested ( even if contested ) phenomenon that T.rex now is, and specially their charismatic leader, their soul ie Marc Bolan.

Obviously a great advantage lies in their strong style : instant identification, that is sign of a true talent. But it can become tiring when it repeats through a whole LP. No half-measure with T.Rex : either you love them, either you hate them. This is mainly true about the music. What about the lyrics?

Lennon's simple verb often meets Dylan's sophistication in choosing the right word. Also the pronunciation sometimes sounds dylanesque (eg. : Baby Boomerang ), sometimes parfois lennonian (eg. : Buick Mackane ). Nothing strange in that Bolan quotes them both in "Ballrooms Of Mars ".

Finally, be aware that the Marc Bolan picture , on the cover sleeve of the album, has been taken by his huge friend : Ringo Starr. For the times they are a changing.