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Bolan: The Rise and Fall of a 20th Century Superstar
Marc Bolan was the very first superstar of the Seventies. As the seductive focus of "T Rex", he revelled in fame and fortune, released a string of classic records, but then lost his way, bingeing on cocaine and booze and apparently heading for obscurity. But the fatal 1977 car crash that cut short his planned comeback as a punk rocker was also to fix him forever as the classic icon of Glam Rock. Today, decades after his death, the legend of Marc Bolan lives on and not just for the image. His music and chameleonic style were to influence many future bands. Mod, Beatnik, Hippie, Glam and Punk Rocker - Bolan's numerous guises offer a fascinating glimpse into the man himself as well as British pop history. This classic biography of a pop obsessive draws from interviews with many friends and colleagues including the late John Peel, brother Harry and band members Mickey Finn and Bill Legend.
- GenresMusicBiographyNonfiction
408 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2003
13 people are currently reading
130 people want to read
About the author
Mark Paytress
31 books8 followersMark Paytress is a journalist, author and broadcaster. A regular contributor to MOJO magazine, his work has also appeared in numerous publications including The Guardian, Radio Times, Q, Rolling Stone, Crawdaddy, Maxim, La Repubblica and Record Collector.
His books include Bolan: The Rise & Fall Of A 20th Century Superstar (Omnibus Press), Break It Up: Patti Smith’s Horses And The Remaking Of Rock’n’Roll (Piatkus), I Was There: The Gigs That Changed The World (Cassell), BowieStyle (Omnibus Press), The Rolling Stones Files (Quadrillion), The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust & The Spiders From Mars (Schirmer), Siouxsie & The Banshees: The Authorised Biography, Vicious: The Art Of Dying Young and critical guides to the work of The Rolling Stones, Radiohead, Nirvana and the Sex Pistols.
Mark has contributed to various television and radio programmes (Night Waves, Front Row), and in winter 2008/09, researched and presented two documentaries for BBC Radio 4, Here’s Kenny (about DJ Kenny Everett) and Stash: The Dandy Aesthete Of Swinging London.
His books include Bolan: The Rise & Fall Of A 20th Century Superstar (Omnibus Press), Break It Up: Patti Smith’s Horses And The Remaking Of Rock’n’Roll (Piatkus), I Was There: The Gigs That Changed The World (Cassell), BowieStyle (Omnibus Press), The Rolling Stones Files (Quadrillion), The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust & The Spiders From Mars (Schirmer), Siouxsie & The Banshees: The Authorised Biography, Vicious: The Art Of Dying Young and critical guides to the work of The Rolling Stones, Radiohead, Nirvana and the Sex Pistols.
Mark has contributed to various television and radio programmes (Night Waves, Front Row), and in winter 2008/09, researched and presented two documentaries for BBC Radio 4, Here’s Kenny (about DJ Kenny Everett) and Stash: The Dandy Aesthete Of Swinging London.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
January 14, 2011
Marc Bolan and T.Rex were very much part of my teen years. Marc Bolan represented a foreign force (from the U.K.) that made one realize that there was something "out" out there. I dug the catchy aspect of his idiotic lyrics, but when sung by him, was pure poetry on (almost) highest level. But then David Bowie came on the scene and totally tore the T.Rex need out of my life. But many years later I have come back to the sound of T.Rex and realize what a remarkable and eccentric talent he was.
Mark Paytress wrote a really good biography on the man, the music world at the time, and why Marc Bolan and T.Rex are important. In the U.K. he ruled the country, but only for two years or so. After that he was struggling to get his crown back. But David Bowie pretty much took the crown and not only that, he was not going to give up the jewel hat. Bowie was at the time (and still is) very much a genius and an exceptional songwriter on top of that. Bolan, had his brilliance and his moment, but couldn't really repeat that moment. But the beauty of Bolan's work is not the grand gesture, but the small paint strokes that he made with respect to his music and records. Especially the Tony Visconti produced recordings. Which are brilliant. Both Visconti and Bolan added textures to rather minimal rocking tracks. But there is also the melodies - and Bolan I think is really strong in that department. And a classic T.Rex track had that Sun records sound, but it sounds like it was recorded on the planet Saturn.
The Bolan story is a sad one. The typical rock n' roll drugs, drink, and dry up of talent. And of course the tragic car accident. But the classic T.Rex (Marc Bolan) record is one to marvel at, because it is a moment or a series of moments that are perfect.
Mark Paytress wrote a really good biography on the man, the music world at the time, and why Marc Bolan and T.Rex are important. In the U.K. he ruled the country, but only for two years or so. After that he was struggling to get his crown back. But David Bowie pretty much took the crown and not only that, he was not going to give up the jewel hat. Bowie was at the time (and still is) very much a genius and an exceptional songwriter on top of that. Bolan, had his brilliance and his moment, but couldn't really repeat that moment. But the beauty of Bolan's work is not the grand gesture, but the small paint strokes that he made with respect to his music and records. Especially the Tony Visconti produced recordings. Which are brilliant. Both Visconti and Bolan added textures to rather minimal rocking tracks. But there is also the melodies - and Bolan I think is really strong in that department. And a classic T.Rex track had that Sun records sound, but it sounds like it was recorded on the planet Saturn.
The Bolan story is a sad one. The typical rock n' roll drugs, drink, and dry up of talent. And of course the tragic car accident. But the classic T.Rex (Marc Bolan) record is one to marvel at, because it is a moment or a series of moments that are perfect.
June 14, 2013
I got this book because I kept bumping into Bolan in connection with some of my favourite artists for many years now, grew fond of some of his songs but had only little knowledge about his life story, apart from his tragic demise. I can tell Paytress did a great job researching, even if my prior knowledge was not deep. He quotes a lot, lets people with different points of view talk etc. The book gave me insight into both Bolan's music and life, his personality. It does not paint Marc in the best light but compared to the number of musician biographies I've read before, this light is not so much a result of a bias as it seems to be the result of trying to be objective.
I personally would have welcomed a deeper dive into Marc's music. I didn't come out of the book wanting to get any of Marc's albums or at least songs that I don't already have. On the other hand Visconti's quote about Marc wanting to be both a star and a musician, but unfortunately mostly just a star kind of explains why the emphasis could not lie on Marc's musical body of work.
All in all a good biography, a good read, definitely could recommend it to people with little prior knowledge of Marc and his life. Don't think it was a bad starting point for me.
I personally would have welcomed a deeper dive into Marc's music. I didn't come out of the book wanting to get any of Marc's albums or at least songs that I don't already have. On the other hand Visconti's quote about Marc wanting to be both a star and a musician, but unfortunately mostly just a star kind of explains why the emphasis could not lie on Marc's musical body of work.
All in all a good biography, a good read, definitely could recommend it to people with little prior knowledge of Marc and his life. Don't think it was a bad starting point for me.
March 19, 2018
A very comprehensive history of Bolan. Doesn't shy away from his shortcomings and flaws, which is welcome. Input from the people in his life provides much needed detail. I loved knowing what was happening behind the scenes of some of my favorite albums.
Paytress does include little subjective comments from time to time, which seems odd (like his description of Cheech and Chong as "unfunny" - not very professional). He's perhaps a bit too charitable with the musical quality of Marc's later work for my taste, but to each their own.
As a whole, though, a thorough look at this superstar.
Paytress does include little subjective comments from time to time, which seems odd (like his description of Cheech and Chong as "unfunny" - not very professional). He's perhaps a bit too charitable with the musical quality of Marc's later work for my taste, but to each their own.
As a whole, though, a thorough look at this superstar.
February 7, 2008
This book was interesting and I learned a lot not just about Marc Bolan and T. Rex, but about the whole 70s British music scene. I guess I wasn't ready to see Marc Bolan for who he really was though. Not knowing much about his personality beforehand, it threw me a bit.
December 13, 2007
Excellent biography brilliantly researched ,honest and portrays Marc asintelligent ambitious and utterly charming 'til he hit the cocaine of course!
December 21, 2017
Fall????
The Electric Warrior's star shines on! His music, videos, poetry, couture, personality, and that face!!!!!! Marc Bolan, The Prettiest Star!
The Electric Warrior's star shines on! His music, videos, poetry, couture, personality, and that face!!!!!! Marc Bolan, The Prettiest Star!
October 22, 2021
Spending this Libra time with this account of Mr. Bolan was enlightening and disheartening at the same time. Some stories about Bolan seem to be a bit predictable or obscured by protective friends, leaving room for doubt in the sources from time to time, but overall, the writer does a great job of contextualizing the UK music scene of the Sixties and Seventies and how Marc Bolan fit into its fabric. Lots of rock critic dissection of his albums I could have done without, but it does reflect the author’s knowledge of guitar based rock music in many of its composition and production aspects. A fine read that was well-written and very informative. I’d highly recommend it if ya wanna dig into some T.Rex!
July 19, 2022
Warts and all book, and there was a lot of warts.
Bolan and his ego also produced a ton of beyond mediocre pish over the years.
That said T. Rex left us with some of the greatest rock-pop ever made and I truly do not give a fuck if most the riffs were stolen, as Bolan, made them better!
Dirty Sweet!
3.5/5
Bolan and his ego also produced a ton of beyond mediocre pish over the years.
That said T. Rex left us with some of the greatest rock-pop ever made and I truly do not give a fuck if most the riffs were stolen, as Bolan, made them better!
Dirty Sweet!
3.5/5
June 19, 2023
An impressive update of an earlier book. Don't let the unappealing cover deter you.
September 5, 2024
This is a must-read book for Bolan's fans and the fans of the British glam rock era. It has loads of interesting details and follows Bolan from his obscure beginnings, to his rise to the top of the charts, his downfall, and his death. I wouldn't call the book a page turner because of the extensive details sometimes bogs down the story. Nonetheless, it is very well researched and written. The author has a clear passion for glam, Marc, and T-Rex, but he isn't shy about criticizing Marc Bolan's life choice, resulting in a balanced story. I'd highly recommend this book if you have more than a passing interest in Marc Bolan, T-Rex, and glam, but it isn't suitable if you want to read a concise and fast-paced music biography.
October 19, 2024
The ultimate Bolan biography for me and definitely not so ar*e-licking as some (most!). Reading the end of this book brought back the sadness and sense of loss us Bolan fans experienced wen he left us x
February 1, 2015
The story of how Mark Feld of Stoke Newington became Marc Bolan of the Ballrooms of Mars. A detailed, honest, informed biography.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews