Marc Bolan / T. Rex (December 31, 1972) – “No More One-Night Stands For Starr, He’s A Businessman Now” Feature - The San Francisco ExaminerHEADLINE PARAGRAPH
This Rex Reed feature centres on Ringo Starr’s activities beyond The Beatles, but contains an important section on Marc Bolan and T. Rex. Starr discusses producing Born To Boogie, describes his friendship with Bolan, and explains why the T. Rex star represented a return to genuine show-business glamour.
Publication: The San Francisco Examiner
Date: December 31, 1972
Country: United States
Written by Rex Reed, the article examines Ringo Starr’s move into film production and business following The Beatles. Within that wider story, Marc Bolan receives substantial attention through Starr’s discussion of his new rock documentary, Born To Boogie.
The article states that Apple Films, with Starr as managing director, had produced Born To Boogie, described as a documentary constructed around a Marc Bolan concert together with recording sessions.
Starr describes Bolan as representing a different generation and explains that the documentary grew from their friendship. Starr recalls initially approaching Bolan about another film project that did not proceed, but says the pair became friendly and eventually developed the idea for Born To Boogie.
The feature also provides a direct connection between Starr and T. Rex’s contemporary music. Starr says that Starr played with T. Rex and Elton John on Marc Bolan’s new single, “Children Of The Revolution”, and describes the experience as helping strengthen their friendship.
Starr speaks particularly warmly about Bolan’s approach to celebrity. The article reports Starr’s view that Bolan represented “a return to show business glamour.” Starr contrasts Bolan’s flamboyant lifestyle with Starr’s own preference for staying at home, pointing to Bolan’s parties and extravagant image as part of the appeal surrounding the T. Rex star.
Bolan is also placed alongside David Bowie as part of a new generation of rock personalities. Starr suggests that contemporary stars such as Bolan and Bowie had brought back a sense of movie-star spectacle and theatricality that Starr believed had been missing from rock.
CONTEXT AND NOTES
Although the principal subject of the article is Ringo Starr, the feature provides an important contemporary account of Starr’s friendship and creative association with Marc Bolan.
The discussion of Born To Boogie is particularly significant within the clipping. Starr describes the project as a rock documentary based around Marc Bolan, combining concert material with recording sessions and reflecting the friendship that developed between Starr and Bolan.
The article also captures how Bolan’s image was perceived at the end of 1972. Through Starr’s comments, Bolan emerges as a performer who had restored glamour, flamboyance and a larger-than-life personality to rock music.
FEATURE HIGHLIGHTS
Event: Ringo Starr discusses Marc Bolan and Born To Boogie
Era: 1972 Bolanmania era
Tone: Personal, admiring and reflective
Photography: Large photograph of Ringo Starr accompanying the feature
WHAT THE CLIPPING SHOWS
• Ringo Starr discussing the production of Born To Boogie
• Starr describing a friendship that developed with Marc Bolan
• Reference to Starr performing with T. Rex and Elton John on “Children Of The Revolution”
• Bolan described as representing a return to show-business glamour
• Marc Bolan and David Bowie discussed as part of a new generation of rock personalities
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