A behind‑the‑scenes look at the men who built the American rock touring empire — and the artists whose careers depended on them.

A towering glam‑rock advert that distills the swagger and spectacle of T. Rex’s 1973 peak into a single unforgettable image.

A swaggering glam‑rock blast, “20th Century Boy” is celebrated by Melody Maker as a nervy, dance‑floor‑ready anthem powered by Bolan’s howl and a pounding beat.

Melody Maker reports on the star‑studded premiere of Born To Boogie, bringing together Marc Bolan, Ringo Starr, Elton John and other guests for one of the most talked‑about music film events of the year. The article captures the excitement surrounding the launch of the T. Rex concert film at the height of Bolanmania. Publication: Melody Maker Publication Date: December 23, 1972 Country: United Kingdom This Melody Maker feature covers the premiere of Born To Boogie, the T. Rex

Penny Valentine interviews Marc Bolan at a crucial moment in T. Rex’s career, as the singer responds to criticism following a difficult American tour and reflects on fame, credibility, David Bowie, Slade, Michael Jackson and the future direction of his music. Publication: Melody Maker Date: November 1972 (unconfirmed) Country: United Kingdom In this substantial interview by Penny Valentine, with photographs by Mike Putland, Marc Bolan dismisses suggestions that his career is

This Melody Maker live review examines T. Rex's appearance at Los Angeles' Civic Auditorium during the band's 1972 North American tour. While recognising Marc Bolan's star quality and the enthusiasm of dedicated fans, the reviewer suggests that the group still faced challenges in translating the full force of Bolanmania to American audiences. Publication: Melody Maker Date: October 28, 1972 Country: United Kingdom Under the headline "Still Mighty Hard For Marc...", the review

This edition of Melody Maker showcases the week's leading singles chart, with T. Rex holding the number one position through "Children Of The Revolution". Accompanied by a photograph of Marc Bolan and a short editorial note, the page highlights the continuing dominance of T. Rex during one of the group's most successful periods. Publication: Melody Maker Date: September 30, 1972 Country: United Kingdom THE STORY The Melody Maker Pop Singles chart places T. Rex at number one w

This feature examines Marc Bolan's prospects in the United States as T. Rex continued its American campaign during 1972. The article considers whether Bolan's enormous popularity in Britain could be successfully translated to the American market and explores the challenges facing the glam rock star overseas Publication: Melody Maker Date: September 23, 1972 Country: United Kingdom The article, headlined "Will America learn to love Marc Bolan?", focuses on Marc Bolan's efforts

This full-page advertisement promotes T. Rex's album The Slider. Featuring a striking photograph of Marc Bolan and Mickey Finn, the advert highlights the group's latest LP and reinforces the visual identity that had become synonymous with T. Rex during the height of Bolanmania. Publication: Melody Maker Date: August 19, 1972 Country: United Kingdom This dramatic full-page advertisement is devoted entirely to T. Rex and the promotion of The Slider, the group's latest album rel

The July 29, 1972 edition of Melody Maker features a review of T. Rex’s new album The Slider, praising it as an exceptionally good record. Publication: Melody Maker Date: July 29, 1972 Country: United Kingdom Location: UK Section: Albums THE STORY The review highlights the album’s strong songs, Marc Bolan’s songwriting, and the band’s energetic sound. It notes the album’s social and sexual themes and calls it a solid follow-up to their previous work. CONTEXT AND NOTES This po