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T. Rex music biography continued...

who began performing music professionally in 1965, releasing his first single, "The Wizard," on Decca Records. Bolan soon after teamed with percussionist Steve Peregrine Took, to form a folk duo called Tyrannosaurus Rex, which had marginal success. In 1970, Bolan renamed the band T-Rex and recorded "Ride a White Swan," with Mickey Finn replacing Took. It 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. 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, where T. Rextacy was in full bloom, and cracked America's Top 40, making the band and their outrageous costumes household names.



In the early 70s, T. Rex continued to pump out hits, including The Slider, which was the band's most successful American album to date. They would score two more hit singles with "20th Century Boy" and "The Groover" before falling out of the Top Ten. Line-up changes ensued, and the band endured a further slip from musical grace. Bolan began exploring new territory in 1977, starting a weekly column for the Record Mirror British newspaper and hosting a variety show in the UK, boasting guests like David Bowie and Generation X. Bolan had just gotten a new band together and was set to record again, when a car accident took his life a few days before his 30th birthday. Bolan's work continues to influence Britpop, glam rock and punk to this day.