T. Rex (October 14, 1972) – “T. Rex: Bolan Musical Burlesque” Concert Review – The San Francisco Examiner.
Appearing ahead of a major Southern California concert appearance, this Los AngeOne of the harshest contemporary American reviews of T. Rex's first major U.S. tour, this San Francisco Examiner article documents the band's appearance at Winterland and illustrates the mixed reaction Marc Bolan encountered as he attempted to translate Bolanmania into American success.
Publication: The San Francisco Examiner
Publication Date: October 14, 1972
Country: USA
Event Date: October 13, 1972
Written by Philip Elwood, this review covers T. Rex's appearance at Winterland in San Francisco on the evening of October 13, 1972, where the band shared the bill with The Doobie Brothers and Poco.
Under the headline “T. Rex: Bolan Musical Burlesque”, Elwood delivers a strongly critical assessment of the performance. While acknowledging Marc Bolan's enormous popularity in Britain, the reviewer argues that the Winterland appearance failed to impress much of the San Francisco audience.
The article describes Winterland as being close to capacity, noting that many attendees appeared curious to see the British sensation who had generated such excitement overseas. However, Elwood suggests that a combination of excessive volume, poor sound balance and audience indifference undermined the performance.
Bolan is portrayed as relying heavily on image and stage theatrics, with the reviewer questioning both the musical presentation and the band's effectiveness in a large American concert setting. Criticism is also directed at the concert's overall sound quality and production.
Despite the negative review, the article provides a fascinating contemporary account of the challenges T. Rex faced while attempting to establish themselves in the United States during the height of their British success.
CONTEXT AND NOTES
This review appeared during T. Rex's first significant American touring campaign and reflects a broader divide between British enthusiasm for Bolan and the often more cautious response from sections of the American rock press.
While Bolanmania was sweeping Britain and Europe, American critics frequently struggled to understand the phenomenon. Reviews of the 1972 U.S. tour ranged from enthusiastic to openly hostile, and this article falls firmly into the latter category.
The Winterland appearances have since become an important chapter in the T. Rex story because they highlight the difficulties Bolan encountered when introducing his unique style of glam rock to American audiences more accustomed to hard rock, folk rock and West Coast acts.
Today, the article stands as an interesting example of how differently T. Rex could be perceived depending on the market and the expectations of local critics.
FEATURE HIGHLIGHTS
Event: Winterland concert review
Era: 1972 – The Slider era
Tone: Critical and confrontational
Photography: Large black‑and‑white photograph of Marc Bolan holding a guitar during the Winterland appearance
WHAT THE CLIPPING SHOWS
Headline: “T. Rex: Bolan Musical Burlesque”
Review by Philip Elwood
Coverage of the October 13, 1972 Winterland concert
T. Rex appearing with The Doobie Brothers and Poco
Criticism of the concert's sound and presentation
Contemporary American reaction to Bolanmania
Large performance photograph of Marc Bolan
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