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.
Sound Pit
T. Rex Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Stella Gazelle and the distraction I bought her
I wonder why, oh why
Debra Zebra and the disgusting gawk
Malice to Pallas at the all night palace, with Alice
I wonder why I wonder why
Telegram Sam bought some land in Milan,
I wonder why
Thin faced Sally skinned a cat in my alley
Dawn sunstorm minister of doom, in your tomb
I wonder why
Lord I wonder why, I wonder why
The lyrics in T. Rex's "Sound Pit" are characteristic of the band's use of surreal imagery and abstract concepts. It's unclear who Basil Dazzle, Stella Gazelle, Debra Zebra, or Thin faced Sally are, or what their roles are in the dissolving city that the first line mentions. The song is an exploration of a world where things are not as they appear and where the listener must piece together their own interpretation of the lyrics.
The second verse introduces Metal Guru and Telegram Sam, two characters who are frequently referenced in T. Rex songs. The mention of Metal Guru being in the loo with the singer's glue is an allusion to drug use, which was common among artists in the '70s. The line about Telegram Sam buying land in Milan is similarly fleeting and enigmatic, but it suggests that he is a man of some means and stature.
The third verse brings in the character of Thin faced Sally, who has skinned a cat in the alley. This is a disturbing image that adds to the overall sense of unease created by the song's lyrics. Finally, the verse ends with a reference to the "minister of doom" and their "tomb," which could represent a sense of mortality or impending danger.
Line by Line Meaning
Basil Dazzle and her dissolving city
Basil Dazzle with her fading city
Stella Gazelle and the distraction I bought her
Stella Gazelle and the thing I gave her that she focused on instead of me
I wonder why, oh why
I question why these things happened
Debra Zebra and the disgusting gawk
Debra Zebra's unpleasant staring gaze
Malice to Pallas at the all night palace, with Alice
Causing harm to Pallas at a 24-hour location with Alice
I wonder why I wonder why
I ponder the reasons behind these events
Metal Guru's in the loo with my glue, yeah
Metal Guru is in the restroom with my adhesive, yeah
Telegram Sam bought some land in Milan
Telegram Sam purchased property in Milan
I wonder why
I am curious about the reason behind this
Thin faced Sally skinned a cat in my alley
Sally, who has a thin face, removed the skin from a feline in the area behind my residence
Dawn sunstorm minister of doom, in your tomb
The sunrise's tempestuous bad omen is present in your resting place
I wonder why
I ponder the mysteries of life
Lord I wonder why, I wonder why
Goodness, I question why these events occurred
Contributed by Muhammad V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Zinc Alloy
A masterclass of producing something quite sublime from what amounts to two chords . . .
Dimitri Tyler
People forget what a great guitarist he was!
jess hay
@Dimitri Tyler He went on to play with The Pretty Things
Dimitri Tyler
@jess hay SURE he did! In fact Jack Green was touring with him the very first time I ever saw T*REX (Nov 73 - Sydney Hordern Pavillion) And he definitely helped CHUNK UP the Sound even further whilst Marc was doing his lead guitar during his Coked out/Cognac Rex Zeppelin stage. But good point
jess hay
He had some help from Jack Green on this album, but yeah he was
Aznageel
I agree
Andrew Morton
Loved this since the first time I heard it in March 1974. I do wonder what it would sound like with Flo and Eddie on backing vocals instead of Glo and Patty. Or perhaps Bowie’s backing vocalists from Young Americans or Thunderthighs or the brilliant backing vocalists on Bolan’s 20th Century Boy. The Cosmic Choir are out of tune on this one.
bigswifty500
I agree! Flo &Eddie would have been fantastic on this album. Gloria Jones absolutely ruined his sound in my opinion. Guess that's what being hen-pecked does to a rock star....just look at Lennon and McCartney 😆
ingo weinard
his 5. best album after-The Slider-Electric Warrior-Futuristic Dragon -Tanx.....in that order
HEY 4Q2
For me my favourite Bolan albums are...
1. Electric Warrior
2. Tanx
3. The Slider
4. Dandy In The Underworld
5. T. Rex