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T. Rex (March 3, 1973) “20th Century Boy” Single Advertisement - Melody Maker

Writer: 1973
1973
Mar 3, 1973
2 min read

Melody Maker features a striking full-page promotional advertisement for T. Rex’s new single “20th Century Boy,” with bold graphic design and imagery of Marc Bolan.

Publication: 

Melody Maker

Date: March 3, 1973

Country: United Kingdom Location: London

Section: Single Promotion / Full-Page Advertisement

THE STORY 

The dramatic advert promotes the upcoming release of “20th Century Boy,” showcasing a powerful visual concept with large 3D-style typography and a silhouette of Marc Bolan with arms outstretched, emphasizing the high-energy glam rock sound of the track.


CONTEXT AND NOTES 

“20th Century Boy” became one of T. Rex’s biggest and most enduring hits. This full-page ad in Melody Maker was part of an aggressive promotional campaign during the peak of T. Rextasy, highlighting the band’s continued dominance in the UK charts.

FEATURE HIGHLIGHTS 

Event: Single promotional advertisement Era: 1973 (T. Rex Glam Rock peak) Tone: Bold, dynamic, iconic Photography: Striking graphic design with high-contrast silhouette of Marc Bolan

WHAT THE CLIPPING SHOWS

  • Large, stylized title “20th Century Boy” in bold 3D lettering

  • Dramatic silhouette image of Marc Bolan with arms raised

  • Prominent “T. REX” branding at the bottom

  • Classic 1970s music weekly full-page advert layout

RELATED MATERIAL

  • January 6, 1973 Record Mirror New Year predictions

  • January 20, 1973 Popswop magazine cover

  • February 1, 1973 Circus Magazine interview

  • February 10, 1973 NME tour announcement

  • February 17, 1973 Disc “Our Best to Date Says Bolan” and fan letter

  • March 3, 1973 Melody Maker “The Godfathers of Rock” feature

For other relevant posts, see the tags at the foot of the page.

SOURCES

  • Melody Maker, March 3, 1973

All magazine scans, newspaper cuttings, scrapbook items, photographs and original text excerpts remain the property of their respective copyright holders. This entry is a transformative, non-commercial archival summary created for historical documentation and educational reference.




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The Bolan Timeline:

The Bolan Timeline:

  • 1971 The Warrior's Reign The arrival of T. Rextasy. Chart success, cultural influence, and the breakthrough.

  • 1972: The Height Of T. Rextasy The phenomenon reaches its peak. Hit records, sold-out concerts, television appearances.

  • 1973: Beyond The Revolution Moving beyond the peak years, Marc continued to evolve creatively while remaining one of Britain's most visible and influential performers.

  • 1974: Zinc Alloy's Dream A year of experimentation, reinvention, and ambitious new directions as Marc sought fresh creative horizons.

  • 1975: Zip Gun Boogie Defined by the release of Bolan's Zip Gun, this period documented Marc's continuing creativity.

  • 1976: The Dragon Takes Flight The Futuristic Dragon era. New ideas, renewed momentum, and the foundations of a remarkable comeback.

  • 1977: The Dandy's Return The celebrated comeback year. New music, television .

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