Marc Bolan (October 24, 1970) "Providing Cheaper Music" – Melody Maker Article

A passionate 1970 Melody Maker feature in which Marc Bolan calls for rock bands to play more affordable gigs so that ordinary fans can actually afford to see them live.

Publication: Melody Maker Date: October 24, 1970

Country: United Kingdom Section: Feature / Opinion

THE STORY	WHAT THE CLIPPING SHOWS
Marc Bolan states that if the Royal Philharmonic can play for a maximum of 25 shillings, then rock bands should be able to do the same. He criticises the high prices that exclude many young fans and positions himself as someone willing to provide “cheaper music” for the people. The piece reflects Bolan’s strong belief in making live music accessible during the early days of T. Rex’s breakthrough.	• Vintage black-and-white photo of Marc Bolan performing energetically on stage with acoustic guitar and microphone • Bold headline: “If the Phil can play for 25 bob…” • Marc Bolan calling for cheaper ticket prices for rock concerts

CONTEXT AND NOTES	RELATED MATERIAL
Published on October 24, 1970, this Melody Maker article captures Marc Bolan speaking out against expensive ticket prices at a time when T. Rex were transitioning from underground folk to electric glam stardom. Bolan argues that top rock acts should follow the example of orchestras and play for more reasonable fees.	Tyrannosaurus Rex (June 21, 1970) “A Beard of Stars” Album Review – Chicago Tribune Tyrannosaurus Rex (January 16, 1970) “By The Light Of A Magical Moon” / “Find A Little Wood” – Single 7" UK Tyrannosaurus Rex (March 30, 1970) “Beard of Stars” Album Review – Greenock Telegraph For more similar posts, check out the tags at the bottom of the page.

FEATURE HIGHLIGHTS	SOURCES
Event: Opinion / Feature article Era: 1970 (Pre-glam breakthrough) Tone: Passionate, populist Photography: Vintage black-and-white performance photo	• Melody Maker, October 24, 1970 • “Providing Cheaper Music” – Marc Bolan interview/feature

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