T. Rex

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Formed 1970. Disbanded 1978.

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Biography

T. Rex were a British rock band, formed in 1967 by singer/songwriter and guitarist Marc Bolan. The band formed as Tyrannosaurus Rex, releasing four underground folk albums under the name. Tony Visconti (their producer for several albums) claimed in a documentary on the band that he had taken to using the abbreviated term "T. Rex" as a shorthand, something that initially irritated Bolan, who gradually came around to the idea and officially shortened the band's name to "T. Rex" at roughly the same time they started having big hits (shortly after going electric).

In the 1970s, the band had reached success with glam rock hits like "Jeepster", "Get It On", "Ride a White Swan", "20th Century Boy", "Children of the Revolution", "Hot Love", "Telegram Sam", and "Metal Guru".

After earning success in the early and mid-1970s, the band broke up after Bolan was killed in a 1977 car accident.

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BBC Reviews

  1. The Slider: 40th Anniversary Box Set 2012

    Review of The Slider: 40th Anniversary Box Set

    Reviewed by David Quantick

    Bolan’s brilliance came through clearly on T. Rex’s seventh LP.

  2. Electric Warrior: 40th Anniversary Edition 2012

    Review of Electric Warrior: 40th Anniversary Edition

    Reviewed by Martin Aston

    Presented with loads of extras, but the original 11 tracks are all anyone truly needs.

  3. 20th Century Superstar 2006

    Review of 20th Century Superstar

    Reviewed by Chris Jones

    Bolan, for all of his mercenary fame-seeking and shameless bandwagon-jumping was a...

  4. Electric Warrior (SACD) 2003

    Review of Electric Warrior (SACD)

    Reviewed by Chris Jones

    An album that's always going to sound box fresh: 5.1 surround sound just adds a little...

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