Tyrannosaurus Rex (July 12, 1970) – Festival Appearance
SOURCE DETAILS
Event: Aachen Open Air Pop Festival Location: Hauptstadion, Aachen, West Germany
Dates: July 10–12, 1970
Attendance: 30,000–40,000
Organisers: Golo Goldschmitt, Walter Reiff, Karl‑August Hohmann Main Investor: Coca‑Cola Ticket Prices: DM 15 (single day), DM 40 (three‑day pass)
FESTIVAL CONTEXT
The Aachen Open Air Pop Festival — commonly known as the Soersfestival — was one of West Germany’s major early‑1970s open‑air rock gatherings. Conceived by three local students, the event faced significant resistance due to the expected influx of European hippies and freaks, yet ultimately unfolded smoothly despite a heavy police presence. Weather remained favourable throughout, and the festival became known for its strong organisation and eclectic lineup.
SUNDAY LINE‑UP (July 12, 1970)
• Pink Floyd
• Tyrannosaurus Rex
• Amon Düül II
• Hardin & York
• Krokodil
• Raw Material
• Champion Jack Dupree
• Fairport Convention (advertised, did not appear) • Van der Graaf Generator (cancelled due to finishing time)
ARCHIVAL NOTES
Tyrannosaurus Rex’s appearance at Aachen is historically significant:
It marks one of the last major European festival dates under the Tyrannosaurus Rex name.
It captures Bolan and Finn at the threshold of their transformation into T. Rex, just months before Ride a White Swan reshaped their trajectory.
The festival’s scale and diverse audience helped broaden their continental reach during a crucial artistic pivot
TYRANNOSAURUS REX – PERFORMANCE OVERVIEW
Tyrannosaurus Rex appeared on Sunday, July 12, sharing the bill with Pink Floyd, Amon Düül II, Hardin & York, Krokodil, Raw Material, Champion Jack Dupree and others.
By mid‑1970, Marc Bolan and Mickey Finn were transitioning from their earlier acoustic mysticism toward a more electric, rhythmic sound — a shift that would soon culminate in the birth of T. Rex and the glam era.
Their Aachen performance sits at a pivotal moment: the final months of the Tyrannosaurus Rex identity, just before Bolan’s transformation into a mainstream pop phenomenon.
The duo’s set would have reflected this transitional period — still rooted in the intimate, percussive charm of their early work, yet increasingly confident, rhythmic, and audience‑focused. Aachen placed them before a large continental crowd, helping expand their European profile ahead of the seismic changes of late 1970 and 1971.
SOURCES
Discogs, 45 World, Wikipedia. BBC Official Charts
'There Was A Time - Marc Bolan a Chronology' Cliff McLenehan
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