T.Rex was a primary force in glam rock, thanks to the creative direction of guitarist/vocalist Marc Bolan (born Mark Feld). Bolan created a deliberately trashy form of rock and roll that was proud of its own disposability, which stood in contrast to the low-key whimsical poetry of the earlier duo. T.Rex's music borrowed the underlying sexuality of early rock & roll, adding dirty, simple grooves and fat distorted guitars, as well as an overarching folky/hippie spirituality that always came through the clearest on ballads. While most of his peers concentrated on making cohesive albums, Bolan kept the idea of a three-minute pop single alive in the early 1970s. In Britain, he became a superstar, sparking a period of "T.Rextacy" among the pop audience with a series of Top Ten hits, including four number one singles. Over in America, the group only had one major hit -- the Top Ten "Bang a Gong (Get It On)" -- before disappearing from the charts in 1973. T.Rex's popularity in the U.K. didn't begin to waver until 1975, and they retained a devoted following until Marc Bolan's death in 1977. Over the next three decades, Bolan has emerged as a cult figure and the music of T.Rex has proved quite influential on hard rock, punk, new wave, and alternative rock.
Following a career as a teenage model, Marc Bolan began performing music professionally in 1965, releasing his first single, "The Wizard," on Decca Records. Bolan joined the psychedelic folk-rock combo John's Children in 1967, appearing on three unsuccessful singles before the group disbanded later that year. Following the breakup, he formed the folk duo Tyrannosaurus Rex with percussionist Steve Peregrine Took. The duo landed a record deal with a subsidiary of EMI in February 1968, recording their debut album with producer Tony Visconti. "Debora," the group's first single, peaked at number 34 in May of that year, and their debut album, "My People Were Fair and Had Sky in Their Hair...But Now They're Content to Wear Stars on Their Brow", reached number 15 shortly afterward. The duo released their second album, "Prophets, Seers & Sages, the Angels of the Ages", in November of 1968.
By this time, Tyrannosaurus Rex was building a sizable underground following, which helped Bolan's book of poetry, The Warlock of Love, enter the British best-seller charts. In the summer of 1969, the duo released their third album, "Unicorn", as well as the single "King of the Rumbling Spires," the first Tyrannosaurus Rex song to feature an electric guitar. Following an unsuccessful American tour that fall, Took left or as is often stated by people close to the band, was sacked. He was replaced by Mickey Finn, previously linked to the band Haphash and the coloured coat.(There are a few more artists using the name Mickey Finn, though that is where the connection ends)! The new duo's first single did not chart, yet their first album, 1970's "A Beard of Stars", reached number 21.
The turning point in Bolan's career came in October of 1970, when he shortened the group's name to T.Rex and released "Ride a White Swan," a fuzz-drenched single driven by a rolling backbeat. "Ride a White Swan" became a major hit in the U.K., climbing all the way to number two. The band's next album, T.Rex, peaked at number 13 and stayed on the charts for six months. Encouraged by the results, Bolan expanded T.Rex to a full band, adding bassist Steve Currie and drummer Bill Legend (born Bill Fifield). The new lineup recorded "Hot Love," which spent six weeks at number one in early 1971. That summer, T.Rex released "Get It On" (retitled "Bang a Gong (Get It On)" in the U.S.), which became their second straight U.K. number one; the single would go on to be their biggest international hit, reaching number ten in the U.S. in 1972. "Electric Warrior", the first album recorded by the full band, was released in the fall of 1971; it was number one for six weeks in Britain and cracked America's Top 40.
By now, "T.Rextacy" was in full swing in England, as the band had captured the imaginations of both teenagers and the media with its sequined, heavily made-up appearance; the image of Marc Bolan in a top hat, feather boa, and platform shoes, performing "Get It On" on the BBC became as famous as his music. At the beginning of 1972, T.Rex signed with EMI, setting up a distribution deal for Bolan's own T.Rex Wax Co. record label. "Telegram Sam," the group's first EMI single, became their third number one single.
"Metal Guru" also hit number one, spending four weeks at the top of the chart. The Slider, released in the summer of 1972, shot to number one upon its release, allegedly selling 100,000 copies in four days; the album was also T.Rex's most successful American release, reaching number 17. Appearing in the spring of 1973, Tanx was another Top Five hit for T.Rex; the singles "20th Century Boy" and "The Groover" soon followed it to the upper ranks of the charts. However, those singles would prove to be the band's last two Top Ten hits. In the summer of 1973, rhythm guitarist Jack Green joined the band, as did three backup vocalists, including the American soul singer Gloria Jones; Jones would soon become Bolan's girlfriend. At the beginning of 1974, drummer Bill Legend left the group and was replaced by Davy Lutton, as Jones became the group's keyboardist.
In early 1974, the single "Teenage Dream" was the first record to be released under the name Marc Bolan and T.Rex. The following album, Zinc Alloy and the Hidden Riders of Tomorrow, was the last Bolan recorded with Tony Visconti. Throughout the year, T.Rex's popularity rapidly declined -- by the time "Zip Gun Boogie" was released in November, it could only reach number 41. Finn and Green left the group at the end of the year, while keyboardist Dino Dines joined. The decline of T.Rex's popularity was confirmed when 1975's Bolan's "Zip Gun" failed to chart. Bolan took the rest of the year off, returning in the spring of 1976 with "Futuristic Dragon", which peaked at number 50. Released in the summer of 1976, "I Love to Boogie," a disco-flavored three-chord thumper, became Bolan's last Top 20 hit.
Bolan released "Dandy in the Underworld" in the spring of 1977; it was a modest hit, peaking at number 26. While "The Soul of My Suit" reached number 42 on the charts, T.Rex's next two singles failed to chart. Sensing it was time for a change of direction, Bolan began expanding his horizons in August. In addition to contributing a weekly column for Record Mirror, he hosted his own variety television show, Marc. Featuring guest appearances by artists like David Bowie and Generation X, Marc helped restore Bolan's hip image. Signing with RCA Records, the guitarist formed a new band with bassist Herbie Flowers and drummer Tony Newman, yet he never was able to record with the group. While driving home from a London club with Bolan, Gloria Jones lost control of her car, smashing into a tree. Marc Bolan, riding in the passenger's seat of the car, was killed instantly.
While T.Rex's music was intended to be disposable, it has proven surprisingly influential over the years. Hard rock and heavy metal bands borrowed the group's image, as well as the pounding insistence of their guitars. Punk bands may have discarded the high heels, feather boas, and top hats, yet they adhered to the simple three-chord structures and pop aesthetics that made the band popular, as they still are today 30 years after Marc's death.
Hot George
T. Rex Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But it could be the heat
I'm roasted like a chestnut
By the fire of your feet
Your body is a furnace
Your love is the coal
So won't you tame your man
Hot George
Now Georgie was a female
As females go
She moved fast like a jaguar
Melting all like snow
She was a foxy heater
Rotating like the sun
So won't you tame yor man
Hot George
Pavlovian he said "Lo" [**unsure about this line]
He was a bronzed style punk
He drank up the rainbow
To get his skull drunk
He laid by the mission bell
To keep his guns all creamed
Why don't you understand?
Hot George
Why don't you understand?
Hot George
Why don't you understand?
Hot George
G-g-g-Georgie
G-g-g-Georgie
In the song "Hot George" by T. Rex, the lyrics are addressing a person known as Hot George. The person is described as being potentially crazy, but it could also be because of the intense heat radiating off of them. The singer goes on to describe their physical reactions to Hot George, likening themselves to a roasted chestnut because of the heat generated by the other person's feet. The song then goes on to state that Hot George's body is like a furnace and their love is like the coal that keeps it going.
The second verse of the song clarifies that Hot George is actually a woman who moves quickly, melting everyone around her like snow. Her body is incredibly hot, and she is described as a “foxy heater” who rotates like the sun. The singer implores Hot George to “tame” him, suggesting that their heat and intensity is something that needs to be reined in or controlled. The end of the song includes a repeating chorus of the name “Georgie” over and over again.
Overall, the song seems to be a somewhat psychedelic ode to a powerful, magnetic woman who has an intense effect on those around her. The singer is simultaneously attracted to and overwhelmed by Hot George's heat, likening himself to a tiny chestnut being roasted by the intensity of her energy. It's a strange, surreal song that captures the mystique and allure of someone who shines so bright that they seem almost otherworldly.
Line by Line Meaning
You sound a little crazy
I think you might be a little unhinged
But it could be the heat
Although, it is quite warm here
I'm roasted like a chestnut
I am sweating profusely
By the fire of your feet
Because of the intense heat coming from your feet
Your body is a furnace
Your body is producing a lot of heat
Your love is the coal
Your love is like a burning fuel that keeps my passion going
So won't you tame your man
Please calm me down
Hot George
Georgie is very sexy
Now Georgie was a female
This person, Georgie, was a woman
As females go
In comparison to other women
She moved fast like a jaguar
She was swift like a wild cat
Melting all like snow
She had a melting effect on people
She was a foxy heater
She was a hot and attractive person
Rotating like the sun
She was dynamic and radiant, like the sun
So won't you tame your man
Please calm me down
Hot George
Georgie is very sexy
Pavlovian he said "Lo"
He said something like 'hello' without thinking about it
He was a bronzed style punk
He had a rebellious and nonchalant attitude
He drank up the rainbow
He experimented with various drugs
To get his skull drunk
To get high or intoxicated
He laid by the mission bell
He relaxed by the church bell
To keep his guns all creamed
To keep his muscles relaxed
Why don't you understand?
Why can't you see what I see?
Hot George
Georgie is very sexy
Why don't you understand?
Why can't you see what I see?
Hot George
Georgie is very sexy
Why don't you understand?
Why can't you see what I see?
Hot George
Georgie is very sexy
G-g-g-Georgie
Georgie's name is being repeated for emphasis
G-g-g-Georgie
Georgie's name is being repeated for emphasis
Lyrics © Spirit Music Group
Written by: MARC BOLAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
miss alice
Masterful job cutting this together. Great song too...
tmslab
Hundreds stars for this vid, my friend:)))
moorelvr7
What a gorgeous creature.
ted kay_music
nice!
zbignew bugaj
Bolan Best
moorelvr7
Oh yeah,that was a great job ,I was totally distracted with some of those clips...:D
William Fisher
🖒🖒👌
Bolanicboogie
Thank you MM!
Bolanicboogie
you are too kind!
Bolanicboogie
Thank you darling!!!!xoxo