Marc Bolan (December 23, 1972) – “Rooster's Crane Slams Zep & Rex” News Feature – Sounds.
Sounds reports on criticism aimed at the rising cost of major rock concerts, with Atomic Rooster leader Vincent Crane publicly attacking ticket prices charged for Christmas appearances by T. Rex and Led Zeppelin. The issue also includes news of a proposed T. Rex animated television series and advertisements for the band's Christmas Sundown concerts.
Publication: Sounds
Publication Date: December 23, 1972
Country: United Kingdom
Event Date: December 22–23, 1972 (T. Rex Christmas Sundown Concerts)
This edition of Sounds places T. Rex at the centre of a debate about concert ticket prices during the Christmas concert season. Under the headline “Rooster's Crane Slams Zep & Rex”, Atomic Rooster keyboard player Vincent Crane criticises the cost of tickets being charged for major festive rock shows.
The article specifically references T. Rex's Christmas Sundown performances, arguing that ticket prices had risen significantly compared with the band's earlier policy of keeping admission costs low. A reader's comment elsewhere on the page echoes the complaint, asking what had happened to Marc Bolan's previous commitment to affordable ticket prices.
Alongside the news story are several advertisements promoting T. Rex's Christmas concerts:
Sundown Edmonton – Friday, December 22, 1972
Sundown Brixton – Saturday, December 23, 1972
Performances scheduled at 5:00 pm and 8:30 pm
The page also contains a separate report revealing plans for a proposed T. Rex animated cartoon series. According to the article, Marc Bolan was developing an animated television project featuring the group. The series would utilise story concepts and creative ideas already developed by Bolan, with the intention of producing the project independently before offering it to television companies both in Britain and abroad.
CONTEXT AND NOTES
Published during the final week before Christmas 1972, this page captures T. Rex at the height of Bolanmania. The Christmas Sundown concerts were among the most anticipated events of the festive season and attracted considerable attention from fans and the music press alike.
The proposed cartoon project is particularly interesting, showing Bolan exploring creative opportunities beyond music, film and publishing. Had it progressed, it would have represented one of the earliest British attempts to build an animated television series around a contemporary rock group.
The page also reflects growing discussion within the music industry about rising concert prices as major bands began performing increasingly large and expensive live productions
FEATURE HIGHLIGHTS
Event: T. Rex Christmas Sundown concerts and animated series announcement
Era: 1972 – Peak Bolanmania period
Tone: News-based, promotional and controversial
Photography: News photograph of Vincent Crane together with multiple T. Rex concert advertisements
WHAT THE CLIPPING SHOWS
Headline: “Rooster's Crane Slams Zep & Rex”
Debate over rising concert ticket prices
Advertisements for T. Rex Christmas Sundown concerts
Edmonton Sundown performance on December 22, 1972
Brixton Sundown performances on December 23, 1972
Report on a planned T. Rex animated cartoon series
Reader correspondence discussing Marc Bolan's ticket pricing policy
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