January 25, 1971 - Marc Bolan Becomes A Star !

T.REX Play The Lyceum Strand

The day Marc Bolan became a star and T.Rex a supergroup on Monday. Over 2,000 jammed London's Lyceum.

It was heart-warming for those who have followed the career of the unlikely duo down the years.

But several doubts arose during the almost unbelievable response there was something a ... little disturbing about the readiness to cheer what was frequently unmusical.

Marc whipped up incredible excitement with his minimal instrumentation and technique. While long sympathetic to the cause of Marc's cheerful pastiche of rock and poetry, when banging on top of a Woolworth's organ in loosely rhythmic fashion ... be- comes the basis of a performance, one has to own up.

The best moments were during Marc's electric guitar freak-out on 'Elemental Child', where his fantasies of being a heavy rock star were fully played out. And 'Ride a White Swan' is a great riff and a lovely hit.

But the elements that make up the web of fantasy, fun and pop or Tyrannosaurus Rex are being un- comfortably stretched to the limits of credibility."

Chris Welch, Melody Maker