Steve Took & Marc Bolan (November/December 1972) – “Took's Ballad Of The Mountain Grill” Feature – Sounds.
Sounds reunites two key figures from the earliest Tyrannosaurus Rex days as Steve Took reflects on Marc Bolan, T. Rex's extraordinary success, and the remarkable transformation from underground acoustic duo to one of Britain's biggest rock acts.
Publication: Sounds
Publication Date: November/December 1972
Country: United Kingdom
This feature follows Steve Took, Marc Bolan's former partner in the original Tyrannosaurus Rex, as he attends a T. Rex concert to witness first‑hand the scale of Bolanmania that had developed since their days performing together.
The article opens with vivid descriptions of the scenes surrounding a T. Rex appearance. Crowds surge towards the stage, barriers strain under pressure, and security staff struggle to control excited fans desperate to get close to Marc Bolan. The contrast between these chaotic scenes and the intimate venues Tyrannosaurus Rex once played forms the basis of the story.
Took recalls memories from the early days when he and Bolan shared a flat and lived a far less glamorous existence. Looking back on their partnership, he reflects on how dramatically Bolan's life has changed and expresses amazement at the level of hysteria generated by T. Rex.
The feature also explores Bolan's personal life behind the headlines. Marc discusses the difficulties of living under constant public attention, admitting that weeks sometimes pass without him leaving home. Comparing his life to a "goldfish bowl", he explains how fame has dramatically affected even the simplest aspects of everyday life.
Took is also profiled separately as he works on new musical projects following his departure from Tyrannosaurus Rex. Discussions range from his songwriting and new recordings to his thoughts on creativity and the music industry. Throughout the article there remains a sense of mutual respect between the former bandmates despite the very different directions their careers had taken.
Additional sections include a reader correspondence page, industry snippets, and a short news report noting that Marc Bolan had recently recorded a new movie follow‑up to the success of Born To Boogie.
CONTEXT AND NOTES
Published during the height of Bolanmania, the feature provides a rare perspective from someone uniquely positioned to understand Marc Bolan's rise to fame. Steve Took had shared the earliest Tyrannosaurus Rex years and could compare those beginnings with the extraordinary success T. Rex enjoyed by late 1972.
The article is particularly valuable because it captures both viewpoints: Took observing Bolan's stardom from outside the phenomenon, and Bolan himself discussing the pressures created by fame. It also documents the continuing interest in Born To Boogie and the wider T. Rex story at a time when public fascination with Marc Bolan remained enormous.
FEATURE HIGHLIGHTS
Event: Steve Took reflects on Marc Bolan and T. Rex
Era: 1972 – Peak Bolanmania period
Tone: Reflective, personal and nostalgic
Photography: Portrait photograph of Steve Took alongside performance and publicity photographs connected to Marc Bolan and T. Rex
WHAT THE CLIPPING SHOWS
Steve Took revisiting the world of T. Rex
First‑hand observations of Bolanmania at a T. Rex concert
Marc Bolan discussing fame and loss of privacy
Memories of the early Tyrannosaurus Rex period
Discussion of Steve Took's contemporary musical projects
Reference to a new film project following Born To Boogie
All magazine scans, photographs, and original text excerpts referenced in this entry remain the property of their respective copyright holders. This Chronicle entry is a transformative, non-commercial archival summary created for historical documentation and educational reference. No ownership of the original material is claimed or implied.
Comments