T. Rex

T. Rex (originally known as Tyrannosaurus Rex), is a band founded in 1960s London, and later found success as a 1970s glam rock group. The band was founded by Marc Bolan in 1967 and gav

T. Rex (originally known as Tyrannosaurus Rex), is a band founded in 1960s London, and later found success as a 1970s glam rock group. The band was founded by Marc Bolan in 1967 and gave exactly one performance as a five-piece rock band at The Roundhouse before immediately breaking up in disarray. Bolan retained the services of percussionist Steve "Peregrin" Took, and the duo began producing eccentric pastoral and folk-tinged ditties steeped in Tolkienian mythology, with spiritual homages to Gene Vincent and Eddie Cochran thrown into the whimsical mix for good measure.

The combination of Bolan's guitar and cat-like wail with Steve Took's bongos and assorted percussion (often including such children's instruments as the Pixiephone) gained them a devoted following on a thriving underground scene that included the Incredible String Band. Disc jockey John Peel befriended the band and ferried them to and from gigs in his mini; he later appeared on record with them, reading stories written by Bolan. Another key pairing was with producer Tony Visconti, who went on to produce all of their albums well into their second phase.