They helped time to pass on the long, and unsuccessful US tours. My names Marc. and was an editor of Sounds music magazine. 3: Earned a degree in recording arts at Loyola Marymount . The car was driven by his girlfriend, American singer Gloria Jones, who crashed into a tree in Gipsy Lane, Barnes, in London. A pair of doors opened up like the mouth of Hades. Marc Bolan remains one of the most iconic figureheads in the history of British music despite losing his life in tragic circumstances, painfully too early as the T. Rex man passed away following a car crash on 16th September 1977, just two weeks prior to his 30th birthday. By Simon March 27, 2022 Advertisement Marc Bolan, best-known as the frizzy-haired leader of T. Rex, died September 16th in a car crash. By the time Marc Bolan joined the ranks of John's Children in 1967, the British band had already established quite a reputation. At least, that was the plan. T Rex. That was how Geoffrey Bayldon [the actor in Catweazle] got a part in the Born To Boogie movie. Then came the rivalry, but their camaraderie never really diminished. ", Marc Bolan with with Elton John on Top Of The Pops in 1971, Marc Bolan with Gloria Jones shot in London in 1976, Bolan's wrecked Mini 1275 GT on Barnes Common, Bolan lost in a reverie on the set of Born To Boogie, Def Leppard's Joe Elliott hospitalised by altitude sickness in Colombia, Always wanted to record a Kiss song with Gene Simmons? Yes Gloria Jones was the driver and its likely she wasnt entirely sober and had alcohol & cocaine in her system, two things Bolan and his entire circle indulged in. There were decadent parties, times when he wallowed in bizarre sex. In retrospective, back then Marc Bolan dying was just as shocking as the death of David Bowie, and some others of the brightest rock stardome. , that said did he have it on ?, i think yes he did as its a front wheel drive car the bell housing , on a transform engine would have been directly in front of his legs , but the whole engine was forced back to the passenger side . Oh, no. My tour manager and I were on the first plane to England. But hold on. She was going to be charged with DD, but Richard got here out of UK, so she could be charged, hence lots of Bolan fans, blamed her for, the loss of Marc. I think he would have written a film. His pitfall was always: Lets just do one more for the kids., Captain Sensible: Crikey. Marc Bolan with girlfriend Gloria Jones and their baby son, Rolan Bolan - born 26th September - pictured 1st October 1975. . Following . This is the story of his final hours, You see, my idea of rocknroll is that subterranean homesick blues feel, said Marc Bolan. news journalist, retired, Your email address will not be published. All in all very sad that people need to lie after the event all in all it would seem that Marc was a fairly decent sort of person. I remember gulping down about three shots of something just to handle the news. I knew that, with Marc being Jewish, the funeral would be very quick. Bolan spent 67,000 on the 10- bedroomed 17th-century property and another small fortune on renovation, but never lived there. Its a great idea you open up a cloak and its full of eagles. Motown. When the iconic figure and lead singer of T-Rex, Marc Bolan, sadly died following a fatal car crash in 1977 and the musical world was thrown into widespread mourning. He would seize any opportunity to further his own career. Brendon was a Londoner and was shocked by the news. She was born on October 19, 1945, in Cincinnati, Ohio. A local man who witnessed the crash said, "When I arrived a girl was lying on the bonnet and a man with long . Whatever happened to all his guitars etc people out there know what happened !!! (in West Germany), My first record was 20 century boy,I was hooked, so sad,why dont they do a film of his life,like Freddie and Elton. While driving home from a London club with Bolan, Gloria Jones lost control of her car, smashing into a tree. Steve Harley takes up to story: Muriel Young kick-started it all. Because that was the plan. Last month, he was given his own television show again, featuring the punk bands who had learned so much from him. Im talking about him as if I can see him now. It was a wonderful, exciting and creative time. The Singer, song-writer poet, a guitarist was only 29. . It was an accident and a tragedy, these happen. The couple began their set at 3am and then slept Easter Monday off at the family homes of the clubs disc jockeys Rod Gilchrist and Paul Jennings. She was gorgeous. The songs, with their Tolkien-dense imagery and dream sequences, still evoke the indefatigable innocence and wonder of the Hippy days, but the transition from cult to cash was still to be made. Marc wanted to live forever. Gloria Jones: Hed be doing his own music, hed be doing film, hed be enjoying time with his son, and wed possibly be living in Malibu. People got as weirded-out with Marc as they did with Bowie. Im still the groover honey !! Crews at the capitals other stations were ordered to standby as cover and the men from Blue Watch at Manchester Square W1 took to the road in readiness. THIRTY one years ago, in the early hours of the morning of September 16, 1977, a huge fire broke out in Kingston upon Thames, Surrey, pulling most of the fire appliances from the south of London. David loved Marc very much, and Marc loved David.. Just my honest input , I was 21 too remember the impact it had on me as if it was yesterday, Im so sorry your life ended I always saw you on TV you was one of the best so sad your not around god bless you never forgot from Tony, never read so much crap in such a short time before, This is very strange and doesnt tally with the other witness accounts. So ended the life of Marc Bolan, the founder of glam rock, one of the most bizarre fashion styles British popular music has ever produced. she indeed got out of the car herself! But who would be beautiful enough to play Marc? So was I. The story is false. I was on the same label as him, EMI, and hed say: Oh yeah, my new single, its done 30,000. And Id say: Marc, Ive seen the figures. Despite Bolans bravado, Futuristic Dragon only reached a feeble No.50 in the UK album chart. Im afraid it is, he admitted. Where previously he had been. Surrealistic rocknroll. The young London pop fan, Mark Feld, first approached the glitter world of the pop star when he carried the guitar of Eddie Cochrane into a London concert hall 18 years ago. For very little girls, who had just outgrown their teddy bears, Marc Bolan became a replacement. He gave up writing proper poetry once he realised he could be on every girls bedroom wall with Ride A White Swan onward. Ill have to get back into cars, I might be doing something with Marvel Comics. Bolan died on 16 September 1977, two weeks before his 30th birthday. Presumably it wasn't considered wor. It was here that a fatal, early morning crash, ended the career of one of the great superstars of the glam-rock era, and it is to . He is credited by most people as the inventor of Glam Rock (certainly before Bowie!). There were flames bursting out in front of us. Youre clearly a nasty, small-minded clown who needs someone to blame for this. . Unfortunately, it didnt. I wasnt old enough to appreciate the music/loss. Trouble is it is not the true or full story.To read the true story look up Vicky Aram who was there that night as a guest of Marc and Gloria. He loved Tolkiens stories, but Bowie had no interest in them at all. Never before and possibly never since, have men taken to the stage in full face make-up with lipstick and glitter, sparkling high heeled boots, feather boas and sometimes frocks. Clarifying certain points and dealing with police and coroner in particular, has been a very slow procedure with many legal hoops to jump through ( or find a way around). She was a kids TV presenter she used to work with a puppet called Ollie Beak, remember him? Bless him. she could not get out of the UK fast enough. I played the first Tyrannosaurus Rex album recently and then I wrote about 10 songs in the same style, just to show myself that I could still do it, The high woods filled with the bones of broken gods. I wrote that the other day, its a lovely line, isnt it, I mean, how can I honestly sit down and think that in the past Ive been compared to David Cassidy? A lot of people like what I do, a lot of people dont. Why tell the truth when an exaggeration would do? Embed from Getty Images. He soon came across the accident and called for help. Hair tinted with wispy gold and blue hues, he sported large square spectacles, presenting a somewhat bizarre cross between Cliff Richard conservativeness and Elton John outlandishness. Plus Simon Napier-Bell and Tony Visconti, who worked with Bolan; Harry Feld, his brother; Toyah Willcox, who worshipped him; Gloria Jones who went out with him and had his son; Danielz, of tribute . We dont need sensationalism right now, she states plainly. Marcs dead. It was unreal. "They did not have a lot to drink - just a bottle of wine with the meal and a few after," he said. Rock on Marc & the Guys! The driver of the car, Gloria Jones, who was also Rolan's mother, emerged from the accident alive but severely injured. He changed his name to Marc Bolan, released a flop of a record for Decca called The Wizard, and then, ever alert for a trend, joined the flower-power, LSD and mysticism cults that flowed around the Hippies of 1967. Together with Steve Peregrine Took, who played assorted percussion to Bolans acoustic guitar and vocals, he formed the psychedelic folk-rock due Tyrannosaurus Rex in late 1967 and the following year played two dates in Worcestershire. All the same, I listened intently, half in awe of the man, half in bemusement at his agitated blathering. For you to say its unfortunate that she didnt also die and take pleasure in her being ripped-off from Marcs inheritance is just appalling and you should be ashamed of yourself. marc was actually thrown into the backseat, and new evidence suggests that a metal spike entered his eye. Showing Editorial results for gloria jones. T. Rex was the flagship in glam rock. Gloria Jones' biggest claim to fame came by accident. David can put a Kabuki painting to music, but for all his brilliance hes not a get-down rocknroller. Now, he might have been forgetful. Marc was killed instantly and Gloria was unconscious. Either a tall story from the guy who attended, or journalism at its worse. Its wheels had been balanced and a tyre had been replaced. He would be good-looking and still sharp., Tony Visconti: I think he would have acted. But with his days as the teen-scream Guru Of Glitter well behind him, with the great ship T.Rextasy lost off the misty coast of Albany, he needed the press. mosogotam 133K subscribers Subscribe 21K views 3 years ago No copyright infringement intended. And. The tree itself, leaning over a small . To get there he had adopted whatever guise would advance him best - he was a mod, a Dylan imitator, and found credibility and modest success with ethereal acoustic duo Tyrannosaurus Rex. Today though, interest in Bolan is thriving. But it was an occasion Ill never forget. I agree with you Steve. The couple were on their way back from Mortons drinking club and restaurant in Berkeley Square and only a mile from their home in East Sheen. Lifes a gas I hope its gonna last, Bolan crooned at the peak of his fame. Credit to Gloria jones and. This is not true ,Marcs brother said Marc looked perfect, like he was just asleep,Ive seen the photos of the car ,it had not been cut open ,werent wearing seatbelts,of course not,cars didnt have them then .This man wants to get his facts straight ,just looking for attention obviously and should stop spreading disinformation ,I spent a day photographing the fire brigade as a photojournalist and Ive seen what a car looks like that has had someone cut out of it .why does this man make it sound like Gloria was standing by the car ? Marc Bolans funeral took place on Tuesday, September 20, 1977 at Golders Green Crematorium. Its all known. From his early passion for pop music, as a young East End kid, the young Mark Feld grew naturally into that most flamboyantly introspective of the moods of the 1960s the cult of the young Mods. So sad to read false testimony. Nobody could have foreseen that., Estranged wife June Bolan (ne Child) went to pay her respects to Marcs dead body. Exactly..Gloria was in a coma when Marc died and didnt come around until after his funeral..so there are some obvious lies here! It covers the accident in near forensic detail and I have located and interviewed pretty much every member of all 3 emergency services who were present and I can assure you that Chris Watts story is Not true. Amongst many other things I recall him telling me he had difficulty reading where buses were going. Specifically, she broke her jaw, leg, and foot, as well as suffering serious internal injuries. I ribbed him. His purple Mini was being driven by his girlfriend Gloria Jones, when it swerved over a bridge and crashed headlong into a sycamore tree. She was later summonsed to appear in court in London on charges of being unfit to drive and driving a car in a dangerous condition, but she never returned to face the allegations. But Television-Man had said we were crazy, said we were juvenile delinquent wrecks Aw man, I needed TV when I had T-Rex? The British Establishment clasped him to its grisly bosom, and he appeared in anti-litter advertisements. Not sure my Dyslexia helps, what I establish as an apprentice mechanic In London in the 1970s , was profound , Racism Dont believe a word of this Marc was not cut out of the wreckage he was lifted out by Glorias brother Richard and layd down on a blanket as he then tried hopeless cpr on marcs lifeless body. Remember him saying he would not live to see his 30th birthday. On 16th Sept 1977, 29-year-old former T. Rex singer Marc Bolan was killed instantly when the car driven by his girlfriend, Gloria Jones, left the road and hit a tree in Barnes, London.. I was suspicious of his story when I first read it years ago. Marc Bolan AKA Mark Feld Born: 30-Sep-1947 Birthplace: London, England [1] Died: 16-Sep-1977 Location of death: London, England Cause of death: Accident - Automobile Remains . The guitarist, known for his talent and curly hair, died in a car crash on 16 September 1977. It did 3,000., Marc had to talk everything up. But right now lets look on the positive side. It was a Jewish ceremony. Bolans mind was brimful of new projects, some completed, several half-finished but most of which never saw the light of day. Eddie Cochrane became one of the first of the rock legends whose fame rests as much upon the manner of his death a car crash as upon the matter of his music. He thrived on it., Marc was grateful to have a second chance, says Tony Visconti. And then, much to Bolans delight, he was offered a TV series all of his own, simply titled Marc. singer Gloria Jones, she was fortunate enough to survive the crash. He was deluged with a fanmail of childish scrawls. Steve Harley, the Cockney Rebel frontman and close confidant of Marcs, states of Bolans later work: It was just fifth-form poetry. What pees me off in this day and age is you never hear any Bolan records played on radio stations. His taste was for the big time. People were saying that I was done for even from the time when Debora [Tyrannosaurus Rexs 1968 single] came out, he told me. And there was booze. My PA back in London said: The journalists want a quote from you. I went: A quote? Among those left money were Bolan's wife June; Gloria Jones, whom the will describes as his secretary; and Bolan's parents -- but not Harry. Marc Bolan, the Guru Of Glitter, was killed in a car crash in 1977 just as his career was on the rise again. Hi Russell, same as you mate, a big shock to the system hearing upon Marcs passing, I was 16 years old at the time but was a Bolan fan from aged 12. Rock 'n' roll lost one of its greatest talents on Sept. 16, 1977, when Marc Bolan and his girlfriend, Gloria Jones, were involved in a tragic auto accident. Marc Bolan (born Mark Feld; 1947 - 1977) was an English singer-songwriter, guitarist and poet. I saw genius', Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning. He was getting fit, the cheekbones were coming back, he was excited, he had a great band, and the songs were getting better.. His music, as well as his highly original sense of style and extraordinary stage presence, helped create the glam rock era which made him one of the most . Their Hippy period had never been as fey as Britains, and there were no American DJs with dues to pay to their flower-power pasts. What Chris didnt know was that he had been in at the death of one of the most flamboyant figures in British pop music of the second half of the 20th century. Bolan and Jones left Mortons at about four oclock in the morning in a purple Mini 1275 GT. I went back home to Wales. All the events that happened subsequent to his death just added insult to injury. Bolan, by contrast, was being lumped in with likes of Alvin Stardust and Showaddywaddy. And today Gloria,. I couldnt gather my thoughts. So very sad. The driver of the Mini, a purple 1275GT model, was his partner Gloria Jones, once one of Bolans backing singers but by then the mother of his 20 month old son Rolan. The 29-year-old former T-Rex singer was killed instantly when the car being driven by his girlfriend, Gloria Jones,. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); The night I cut Marc Bolan from the wreckage of his car. And I dont necessarily mean Watts. Please dont publicly call someone a racist or murderer without knowing what the hell your talking about. Sounds silly to write about it now 53 years later but I have time now to reflect. CLEVELAND, Ohio - Marc Bolan came to Gloria Jones in a dream three days before this year's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees - including his band T. Rex - were announced in. The 7.30 news bulletin stopped me in my tracks as I was getting ready for work, I could not believe it. Gloria was talented in her own right, penning Tainted Love she and Marcs son ended up with nothing.though there are rumours that the trust fund is finally ready to pay out. The T Rex star was killed instantly when his car hit a tree in south London. Late reply: This entire situation sounded horrific. Marc wasnt perfect, far from it, but he put himself out there and God bless him! Jones broke her jaw in the accident. I think I got close to it when I wrote the line cloak full of eagles. Thats the problem with me, you see. For the last couple of years Ive been researching and writing a book which covers the last few months of Marcs life. Alright, so I went through a period of time when I didnt want to say anything in the papers, but I think every artist goes through that". She and Bolan were also in a committed romantic relationship and had a son, Rolan Bolan (born September 26, 1975), together. Jones broke her jaw in the accident. I mocked him, constantly. Marc Bolan T. Rex Jones who drove the car in which Bolan died in a Sept. 16, 1977, crash at the age of 29 (it was ruled an accidental death) was a theater performer and was with. Many years ago I though Johnny Depp would have made a good Marc then time passed and my hopeful baton went to Orlando Bloom more time passed and it looked like Aneurin Barnard (as he was in The White Queen) would have been amazing maybe the best (hes a great singer, too). GLORIA, or as i refer to her, the woman who killed marc bolan, was drunk, and had cocaine in her system. But Marc never got around to doing it properly. I was living with my mum and dad. James Ellis -. Bolan and his girlfriend Gloria Jones were out clubbing when she crashed their car into a tree. 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