1968: The Stars Start To Shine

The November 9, 1968 edition of Record Mirror features Derek Boltwood’s review of Tyrannosaurus Rex’s debut album, praising its poetic, otherworldly quality and highlighting tracks such as “Salamanda Palaganda.”  “Poetry and Music,” Record Mirror, November 9  1968 — Derek Boltwood’s analysis of Marc Bolan’s lyrical and spiritual vision. Publication: Record Mirror Date: November 9, 1968 Country: United Kingdom Location: London Section: Album Review THE STORY Derek Boltwood des

The April 25, 1968 edition of the Runcorn Weekly News includes a short review of Tyrannosaurus Rex’s debut single “Debora,” praising the duo’s distinctive and original style of music. Publication: Runcorn Weekly News Date: April 25, 1968 Country: United Kingdom Location: Runcorn Section: Music / Singles Review THE STORY The review highlights Tyrannosaurus Rex’s unique sound and notes that their debut disc “Debora,” written by Marc Bolan, is available on the Regal Zonophone la

Publication: Worcester News Date: April 19 1968 Country: United Kingdom Section / Page: Page 7 Format: Small News Piece / Artist Profile The Story Behind It By April 1968, Tyrannosaurus Rex had become fixtures of London’s underground clubs, performing cross‑legged sets of hypnotic acoustic music. This Worcester News piece introduces them to regional readers as the latest avant‑garde discovery championed by John Peel, whose Perfumed Garden and Top Gear programmes had already m

The April 19, 1968 edition of the Manchester Evening News features a review and profile of Tyrannosaurus Rex, noting their unusual name and describing their debut single “Debora” while highlighting their first public appearance at Hyde Park. Publication: Manchester Evening News Date: April 19, 1968 Country: United Kingdom Location: Manchester Section: Music Review / Pop Column THE STORY The piece explains the meaning of the band’s name (“King of the Lizards”) and introduces M

The April 19, 1968 edition of the Widnes Weekly News profiles the rising underground duo Tyrannosaurus Rex (Marc Bolan and Steve Took), highlighting their unusual name and distinctive music style. Publication: Widnes Weekly News Date: April 19, 1968 Country: United Kingdom Location: Widnes Section: Music Feature THE STORY The article explains the origin of the band’s name (referencing the prehistoric reptile) and describes their unique acoustic sound. It covers their recent s

In the spring of 1968, Tyrannosaurus Rex released their debut single “Deborah” / “Child Star,” marking the official arrival of Marc Bolan’s new acoustic duo project with Steve Peregrin Took. This ethereal, folk-tinged 7" single on Regal Zonophone introduced the world to Bolan’s unique blend of mystical poetry, bongo-driven rhythms, and whimsical wordplay — a sound far removed from the beat-group era but already hinting at the magic that would later fuel T. Rex’s glam explosio

A prehistoric name, a mystical sound, and the early support of John Peel — the foundations of the Bolan legend were already in motion.

The April 19, 1968 edition of the Worcester News features a striking photo and profile of Tyrannosaurus Rex, positioning them as an essential act for anyone claiming to be even slightly avant-garde in the pop world, while highlighting their debut single “Debora” on Regal Zonophone. Publication: Worcester News Date: April 19, 1968 Country: United Kingdom Location: Worcester Section: Music Feature THE STORY The piece includes a prominent black & white photograph of Marc Bolan s

This broadcast represents one of the earliest professional captures of the embryonic Tyrannosaurus Rex sound, preserving the intimate, cross-legged club atmosphere that defined their underground reputation in 1968. Venue: BBC Radio 1 – Top Gear Date: Recorded March 11, 1968 Broadcast March 24 & May 5, 1968 Country: United Kingdom Format: Six-Track Session with Spoken Chat Overview A rare surviving BBC session capturing Marc Bolan and Steve Peregrin Took at their earliest and

In early 1968, Tony Visconti walked into Middle Earth and saw a duo unlike anything he had encountered in London’s psychedelic underground. Marc Bolan and Steve Peregrin Took sat cross‑legged on the floor, weaving strange, hypnotic songs over hand‑drummed rhythms. That night, Visconti approached Bolan, offered his card, and unknowingly set the stage for one of the most important producer‑artist relationships of the era