Marc – Episode 1 (August 24, 1977) – Granada Television, Manchester
The first episode of Marc, the ITV pop‑music series hosted by Marc Bolan, was broadcast on 24 August 1977. Produced by Muriel Young and directed by Nicholas Ferguson, the show featured T. Rex performing alongside emerging punk and pop acts. Bolan’s critical rehabilitation was in full swing by the summer of 1977, spurred by the punk and new‑wave boom. Having completed a successful spring tour supported by The Damned, Bolan appeared revitalised and eager to connect with a younger audience.
Setlist :
• Sing Me a Song – Marc Bolan with T. Rex
• All Around the World – The Jam
• I Love to Boogie – Marc Bolan with T. Rex
• Cool Wind from the North – Stephanie de Sykes
• Celebrate Summer – Marc Bolan with T. Rex
• You Got What It Takes – Showaddywaddy
• Jeepster – Marc Bolan with T. Rex
Promotional stills from the broadcast show Bolan performing in leopard‑print attire.
The episode reflected his renewed energy and connection to the punk generation, with Record Mirror columns published that summer defending punk’s freshness and vitality.
Surrounding Dates:
• Spring 1977 – UK tour supported by The Damned
• 4 June 1977 – Bolan’s first Record Mirror column published
• 24 August 1977 – Episode 1 broadcast on ITV
Chronicle Note:
By mid‑1977, Bolan’s Dandy in the Underworld album had not matched earlier commercial heights, yet signs of a new audience were emerging.
His embrace of punk’s energy and his commentary in Record Mirror positioned him as a bridge between glam and the new wave. Marc One captured this transition — Bolan’s enthusiasm for the young scene, his self‑awareness, and his determination to remain relevant. His statement, “I’m not a punk and I don’t profess to be one. I’m not 18 and living on a council estate, I’ve done that, that’s why I can understand it,” summed up his empathy for the movement while maintaining his own identity.
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