Steve Took (October 14, 1972) – “From Bolan Boogie To Gutter Rock” Feature – New Musical Express.
Former Tyrannosaurus Rex percussionist Steve Took reflects on his years with Marc Bolan, his departure from the group, and his attempts to forge a new musical path. In a candid interview with Charles Shaar Murray, Took discusses fame, boogie, underground culture, drugs, creativity and life beyond Bolanmania.
Publication: New Musical Express (NME)
Publication Date: October 14, 1972
Country: United Kingdom
Event Date: October 1972
Written by Charles Shaar Murray, this substantial feature follows Steve Took as he looks back on the years that transformed Tyrannosaurus Rex from an underground phenomenon into one of Britain's most influential psychedelic acts.
The article opens with Took discussing his current situation and contrasting it with the enormous success enjoyed by Marc Bolan and T. Rex. Murray presents him as an intelligent, sharp‑witted survivor of London's changing underground scene, still pursuing music despite commercial struggles.
Throughout the interview, Took reflects on his relationship with Bolan and the circumstances surrounding his departure from Tyrannosaurus Rex. He recalls the early days of the group, discusses the creative chemistry that once existed between them, and offers his own perspective on the musical and personal differences that eventually led to their split.
The feature also explores Took's post‑Tyrannosaurus Rex projects, including his experiences with Shagrat, underground musicians, and the evolving counter‑culture scene of the late 1960s and early 1970s. Conversations drift between music, politics, drugs, spirituality and the practical realities of surviving as an independent musician.
Rather than focusing on Bolanmania itself, the article presents an alternative view of the Tyrannosaurus Rex story through the eyes of the musician who shared the group's earliest successes before taking a very different path.
CONTEXT AND NOTES
Published during the height of T. Rex's commercial success, the feature provides a rare opportunity for readers to hear directly from Steve Took, who had largely disappeared from mainstream music coverage after leaving Tyrannosaurus Rex in 1969.
By October 1972, Marc Bolan and T. Rex had become one of Britain's biggest acts, while Took remained active in the underground scene. The contrast between the two careers forms one of the article's central themes.
The interview is particularly valuable because it captures Took's own reflections on the Tyrannosaurus Rex years while the success of T. Rex was still unfolding. It therefore serves as an important contemporary document of the band's early history and of Took's often overlooked contribution to its development.
FEATURE HIGHLIGHTS
Event: Steve Took interview
Era: 1972 – Post‑Tyrannosaurus Rex period
Tone: Reflective, candid and counter‑cultural
Photography: Large black‑and‑white photographs of Steve Took accompanying the interview
WHAT THE CLIPPING SHOWS
Headline: “Steve Took – From Bolan Boogie To Gutter Rock”
Major interview by Charles Shaar Murray
Steve Took discussing life after Tyrannosaurus Rex
Reflections on Marc Bolan and the group's early years
Coverage of Took's solo and underground projects
Discussion of music, culture and creativity
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