April 10, 1973: Ma-Ma Marc

Marc Bolan made a memorable appearance on stage with the Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) at Watford Town Hall in England. This event was a spontaneous and exciting collaboration between Bolan and ELO, led by Jeff Lynne.

Bolan had a longstanding friendship with Lynne and ELO drummer Bev Bevan, dating back to the late 1960s when their respective bands—Tyrannosaurus Rex, The Idle Race, and The Move—shared stages. Bolan and Lynne reconnected over drinks, and Bolan asked if ELO had any upcoming local gigs. This led to his surprise guest appearance at the Watford show.

ELO’s set that night featured their early progressive rock sound, blending classical influences with rock, as heard on their album ELO 2. The concert was supported by folk guitarist Nick Pickett, and the venue wasn’t packed, giving it an intimate feel. The real highlight came during the encore when Bolan joined ELO on stage for an extended, 15-minute rendition of their hit single "Roll Over Beethoven," a rocked-up take on Chuck Berry’s classic that had recently charted. Bolan, armed with his guitar, added his signature glam flair to the performance, trading twin lead guitar parts with Lynne.

Fans in the audience, particularly the girls near the front, spotted Bolan at the side of the stage before he even stepped out, and their screams reportedly drowned out the band at times, making it hard for the musicians to hear themselves. Lynne later recalled the chaos fondly, noting Bolan’s skill as a guitarist and the thrill of seeing his rock star presence up close. Bevan echoed this, emphasizing the "old-times' sake" nature of the collaboration, dispelling any rumors of a permanent merger between Bolan and ELO.

This wasn’t Bolan’s only contribution to ELO around that time. Just days earlier, he had played uncredited twin lead guitar alongside Lynne on tracks like "Ma-Ma-Ma Belle" and "Dreaming of 4000" from ELO’s upcoming album On the Third Day. His appearance at Watford was a natural extension of this camaraderie, blending T. Rex’s glittery swagger with ELO’s orchestral rock energy.

No audio recording of this specific performance is known to have survived, though photos by Gary Merrin captured the moment. For attendees like 12-year-old Ian Jakeman, who was at his first-ever gig, and reluctant T. Rex fan Bari Watts, who perked up when Bolan swaggered on stage, it was an unforgettable night—a fusion of two musical worlds that left a lasting impression.

Sourced from There Was A Time by Cliff McLenehan and courtesy of Grok, created by xAI https://officialmarcbolanmerchco.com/product/there-was-a-time-marc-bolan-a-chronology/