GLAM ROCK IS DEAD / Marc Bolan / In His Own Words

[MrYendor65]

I never thought of Marc as Glam!

[shatterdwing]

Marc was a great song writer and a good musician. It's a pitty he didn't have more faith in his own talent instead of trying so hard to build a false image. The audience could see it and it put a hault to his success which is a shame.

[HAPKAH]

what about Autograph band?

[baxterbather]

he would call visconti and lie about sales (tony came to expect it and always checked ahead of time). he always had a #1 record when he was #2 or 3; very petty things. he was taught how to use image early on. he wrote fantastic songs, and obviously he had a vivid imagination. he was bought into the charts like all his idols (elvis, beatles, hendrix, etc.). the more pathetic it got the worse the lies became. and finally....can you imagine Dylan having a talk show?

[baxterbather]

first signed to record by fucking his first manager -- an aging camel hair coated pederast. he molded himself into the scene in the 60's, the guitar god scene after that, then the pop scene, then punk rockers toured with him. he lied in every interview i've heard/seen. he was infamous for exaggerating sales and his own myth. and dylan did it, everybody who makes it did. remember marc started as a modell, nothing but image..... *continued*

[TheMicturation]

Marc was the instigator of a certain fashion and musical movement and by the sounds of it record companies saw an opportunity to project a good lookin male up front to sing about puppy love with a melody and cash in on the audience hed attracted..mainly teenagers - early twenties..he was talented and witty and original, what followed wasnt..too easy for the record companies, this guys legacy is very much misundersood by the wider public but no doubt very respected in all musical circles,pioneer

[tanx54]

No the lead singer from the Fratellis looks like him.

[jameyinegypt]

Look's like the lead singer from The Fratellis..

[GiannisKJ19]

Marc Bolan was a unique artist...

[wulliemcl]

listen to marc as toby tyler

the road im on gloria

blowin in the wind

brill song marc 1964 ish talent there for all to see

[StrummingSparrow]

i have hard time with the thought of putting T-Rex and Kiss in same bucket. They're not the same. T-Rex along wth Bowie's Ziggy Stardust phase and Slade are what i've come to think of as Glam Rock whereas Kiss and Motley Crue were more like Hair Metal or Glam Metal.

[TheNightBadger]

>>It's like if Jimmy Hendrix came out and said "Heavy Metal is dead". When heavy metal hadn't even really started yet. <<

Not really. Heavy Metal is a music genre. Glam Rock is a term applied to a fashion connected with a genre - 'glam + rock'. A band can drop the glam and still be rock (as the hair metal bands of the 80's did). Genres don't die, but fashions connected to them can move in and out of public acceptance. Therefore rock may be fine, but 'glam' can easily 'die' commercially.

[TheNightBadger]

>>the problem is the this comment that "glam rock is dead" was made years before the height of glam rock and years before the power houses of glam rock hit the bigtime.<<

Only from a US perspective. Anyone looking at the history of western popular music generally would see that the UK phase was both 'bigger' in terms of chart dominance and more influential - by being first. The fact that it didn't really happen in the US doesn't mean it hadn't happened elsewhere.

[bohes11]

@TheNightBadger chart topping has nothing to with art..usually isnt a true artists aim, thou respect is great, again, interpretation is everything, but history must be well looked into, as to influence n it goes a lot further than many think once genre labels are attached to ones work or passion, gifts. peace..X

[TheNightBadger]

>>Poison was a perfect example of Glam Rock. All of the bands I mentioned were most definately Glam Rock weather you know it or not<<

Poison are most often referred to as a 'hair metal' band - just like Crue, Cinderella, etc. This is to differentiate between that phase in music and the previous - largely UK based - 'Glam Rock' era. Poison would be the first to tell you they were influenced by Kiss, and Kiss would be the first to tell you they were influenced by, say, Slade.

[TheNightBadger]

Glam Rock was a distinct musical movement in the UK heavily connected with fashion. The US never really had it as a movement. Kiss became huge, but they did so just as the movement was crumbling in the UK. To say that 'Glam Rock is dead' would be to say that a particular phase in British music had died commercially, and would be an entirely accurate thing to say in, say, 1977.

[60srecords]

Glam rock was only in the 70s,dont try to put others in this category, because you can only justify the time of life by the each decade ,I was into this certain style ,and also rock,disco, the elo style ..

[jeepsterrr]

Underrated genius. I live in Thailand and they have heaps of 70s cover singers who never seem to have even heard of Marc Bolan, And don't get me started on the Americans!

[classicrockfan555]

Wonderful person inside and out.

[MrLayford65]

Oh videos were out a few years before Queens Bohemain Rhapsody, The Sweet ect had a few. I mean't home entertainment video machines. Marc must of been one of the first to have one. I also know Blondie were the first to bring out the very first video album in the world.

[IAmPlaysWithSquirrel]

(Cont'd) 4 decades later. But too bad that back in his heyday, critics overlooked the uniqueness and depth in his music and grouped him with manufactured teen idols simply because he attracted the same fanbase. I think music critics in general are up their asses, but they were truly full of it back then, acting like they were experts on music. I think even now he's still very underrated, he deserves way more recognition for his contribution to rock n' roll.

[IAmPlaysWithSquirrel]

Interesting how the things that most rock stars said they DIDN'T want to be back then, most mainstream artists today are exactly those things. And it shows in the quality of the music... oh, boy.

Anyway, it's interesting to hear Marc's take on how he wants to be viewed as a musician, and I understand him. The guy was madly talented, he made songs that were too appealing resist, but that also had a lot of meaning and substance. Which is why his works still stand up to the tests of time

[MrLayford65]

Marc said he likes to sit back and watch videos when chillin

This interview must of been recorded obvious before his death

in 1977 I do not remember videos been around then at all?

[IAmPlaysWithSquirrel]

@MrLayford65 Music videos did exist back then, Queen were credited for making the first "true" music video for Bohemian Rhapsody in 1975, although videos like that existed as far back as the late 60s, so I'm not sure why Queen gets credit for being the first to do it.

[cheapcape]

GLAM ROCK NEVER DIES !!

[sonicadv27]

oh and that vibrato at 5:38 is just delicious...

[sonicadv27]

lol the comment "Glam rock is dead" is ridiculous... The Glam Rock scene actually lasted until the 90's... The last example i can think of was Suede's "Coming Up" album, and that was released in 96 0r 97. Of course its peak was during the early 70's and late 80's but dead... it never was until some yeas ago.

Like osuprowler said, imagine Morrisey, in the late 80's, saying "hey Britpop's dead"... looooool

[cheapcape]

@sonicadv27 That was only because of fucking Grunge which is dead now. Glam rock is still very popular.

[jonbecker03]

this is refreshing. marc bolan, right up until the end, was still essentially a ladbroke grove underground hipster. (he didn't like being compared with david cassidy and donny osmond, but he probably would not have objected to being mentioned in the same breathe with david bowie and ian hunter.)

[TheMikesMaiden]

he didn't want to be compared to bubble gum pop music he had his own style and ppl copied him, you cannot put him into the Donny Osmond and David Cassidy catergory that doesn't make any sense, maybe for the sexuality they mean't not the music, miss u Marc you are unique you started it all you're my Cosmic Angel xx

[DrugStabbingTime]

**Mott the Hoople (perhaps the best example)**

[drivershigh29]

@DrugStabbingTime You sure are proving the correctness between Glam Rock and Hair Metal :) But most early glam rock bands were precursor to punk rock so they are related in some way. Plus early glam rock's sound varied from band to band imo. Unlike Hair Metal which used a common format.

[cheapcape]

@drivershigh29 Actually yes, there were glam punk bands too. Faster Pussycat was a perfect example.

[mitchbob8]

what is the song called at the start? can anyone help me?

[HeatLegs]

He did his own thing. He didn't want to confine himself to trends so that he could be showered with attention.

[flaxonx3]

The Golden Age of Rock n' Roll will never die

[TristownDynamite]

This is great, thank you. Bolan is the king.

[dourtan]

Tell it MARC!

[spaceballbootbounce]

Marc once described his own style of music as "Cosmic Rock" rather than Glam Rock. Nowadays there are way more types and styles of music; a huge array of hybrid genres within music. Elements of Glam Rock included!

It is nice to hear Marc's thoughts. He tried hard to get his point across about him as a mucisian.

<3

Thanks WeilderOfWords!

Peace out.

[EvasAngel]

It is so nice to hear Marc's sweet voice, and HIS point of view....not everyone elses~~~

[osuprowler]

Marc Bolan never played or represented "Glam Rock" nor did he ever have a grasp of what glam rock was. He played 70s Disco/Rock Pop music. It was all he ever knew.

If it was before 1984 and really 1986 then it was NOT glam rock.

Glam Rock was not popularly accepted or recognized until bands like Poison, Bon Jovi, Ratt, Warrant, Winger, Def Leopard, White Snake and so on really started to boom.

So lets not hear from long gone artists that never knew "Glam Rock" claiming it is dead.

[BolanBarlow1]

@osuprowler What exactly is GLAm about most the bands you mention?????

[osuprowler]

@BolanBarlow1 Everything. Glam Rock is about POP songs with a Hard Rock or near Metal sound to them and bands with big long hair and often makeup and bright colored tight flashy clothing. Poison is a perfect example of Glam Rock.

[BolanBarlow1]

@osuprowler ok ok so if it was before 1984 it was not glam rock???? Hmmmm then y is a man who died in 1977 talking about it??? surely if its not glam rock then glam rock was never invented and nobody pre 84 even nos the name of glam rock coz its not actually there??? Must of been a figment of the 70's imagination then???? True later bands hold a different meaning of glam rock but this is just it adapting thru the ages is it not???? 70's G R an 80's G R hold 2 seperate styles and meaning??

[osuprowler]

@BolanBarlow1 No no. As I said the "height" of glam rock was around 1984 to 1990. Not that glam rock didn't exist in the 70's. I should have made that point when I mentioned BonJovi and so on. Sorry about that.

You are right about the evolution of the sound and style of Glam Rock over the years.

My original point is still the same and is still true. Bolan was wrong when he said Glam Rock was dead. It clearly wasn't dead and in fact it went on to grow even more in popularity.

[BolanBarlow1]

@osuprowler Yes i understand your point but i also think the title of this video is very misleading! At no point does he actually say or even suggest Glam Rock is dead he is saying he got stuck in the so called Glam Rock formula and wanted to change his style of music!

[dutchbolanfan]

@osuprowler

Your so wrong! You have to split but periods. The glam of Poison had nothing to do with the seventies glam, and was boring too!! Marc was right in saying that glamrock was dead, because it was in 1974!

[dnavid]

I think what Marc's saying is he's getting stuck with the label, one that at that time was almost all glitter and platforms and cheesy pop pablum. Glam died cos it became a trend, one that Bolan, by stating he was a 'punk', was already moving ahead of. I think the period you call 'glam' (80-90's) is better known as hair (extensions) metal. The closest 70's glam/glitter got to real hard rock was Ziggy Stardust, the rest was all David Cassidy, Wigwam Bam, and Roy Wood in Facepaint.

[Jesus80s]

@osuprowler Poison is Glam Metal learn your distinctions =)P

[justnicknet]

@osuprowler You just named a whole bunch of people who are most definitely NOT glam rock.

Bowie, T.Rex, Brian Eno, Sweet, Gary Glitter...

[osuprowler]

@justnicknet Like I said in my reply to BolanBarlow1. Poison was a perfect example of Glam Rock. All of the bands I mentioned were most definately Glam Rock weather you know it or not.

So the problem is the this comment that "glam rock is dead" was made years before the height of glam rock and years before the power houses of glam rock hit the bigtime.

It's like if Jimmy Hendrix came out and said "Heavy Metal is dead". When heavy metal hadn't even really started yet.

[justnicknet]

@osuprowler POISON is not GLAM ROCK. Get some Ziggy Stardust in your soul, darling! Hair Metal =/= Glam. Glam's big time that you're so fond of mentioning is 1973. Glam Rock died when Bolan went Funk and Bowie went Soul. Deal with it.

[osuprowler]

@justnicknet Wow O.o! The Glam's big time that I"m so fond of mentioning is not 1973. It's more 1984-1990. Are you aware that the current year is 2010 dear? Or is it 1993 for you? Seems like you may be around 17 years behind.

If I am mistaken please forgive me, but as I understand it Glam Rock was bands like BonJovi, Poison, Warrant, Winger, Ratt and so on.

[justnicknet]

@osuprowler ZIGGY STARDUST

Look it up. THAT is Glam Rock. THAT is the most famous Glam Rock album. THAT is the most famous Glam Rock tour. THAT is 1973.

[DrugStabbingTime]

@osuprowler Poison is an awful example of Glam Rock. Glam rock was/(is) Roxy Music (leaning towards prog rock -- good prog -- and art-rock due to lengthiness), New York Dolls (a little bit more protopunk), Gary Glitter, Sweet, Slade, Mott the Hoople (perhaps the bets example), Mud, Bowie, Lou Reed, etc. ...Poison is Glam Metal/Hair Metal like Twisted Sister, Quiet Riot, and any one of those awful bands that smothered Slade's "Cum on Feel the Noize" and bands that didn't quite "get" glam [rock].

[chocolatcats]

@osuprowler he's the 60s Johnny Depp; they have alot in common actually

Johnny looks at life about films in the same way and lived in the same way

[bohes11]

@osuprowler bolan is expressing the actual real art that goes into a true gift in music particualarily, their was an expression glam rock before silly bands i wont argue by naming, but their is seriously heartfelt messages from true artists n intepretation is everything, but true brilliance is so much deeper n insight to the very soul from the artist to the appreciations, like rap or metal anything was actually around in true form well before much garbage brought out at times than most may know?

[bohes11]

@osuprowler " marc bolan is god." i grew up within the music industry, much art, i write, i play, i compose, influences such as robert johnson, beatles, chuck berry, bowie, hendrix, doors, alice cooper, dylan, stones, zeppelin, marley, etc to alice in chains, nirvana, tool, kate bush, quatro, joan jett, melvins, stooges, b.sides..many even calling rnb these days there is no rhythm or blues or lyrics carrying depth. whch would sadden the likes of bb king, aretha, marvin gaye, billy holiday, ect.

[ladystardonna]

I dreamed that he is still living anonymously... so maybe "it has all been arranged."

[pojoelsie]

Artists of today - who believe in thier music and are not in the industry JUST to make money - Listen and learn.

[pojoelsie]

Artists of today - who believe in thier music and are not in the industry JUST to make money - Listen and learn.

[DeltaTone40]

Rock on.

[videovac]

I can see that marc sorta regrets leaving behind his tyrannosauras rex days and of course he lost a valuable freind from all of it (John Peal, incase your wondering) however I loved his more "rock" albums like futuristic dragon and if he kept that up in the first place then he wouldent of felt so bad.

[KleineJumbie]

R.I.P.

Thanks for uploading this!

[imagesk8r6969]

Glam rock is NOT dead!!! =)

[smdutton]

adam lambert will make sure of that!!! thank god

[IoEstasCedonta]

..."David Cassidy and Donny Osmond"?

Not David Bowie, Alice Cooper, The Sweet, G*** G******...

[italianbutoh]

not only in england or Japan... marc is everywhere from his start until now 2009. Mario Florence italy

[wouldntyoulike2know]

I love how Marc does his accent to make it sound more upper class. His parents used to be amused when he would do it too. I'd like to hear him when he is a little bit tired, because I bet he would be more cockney then. I love Marc. :)

[rabbitshirt]

Around 2:00 look at everyone in the band - ROCKIN'!

[WindQuartets]

Absolutely right, about the music buisness.

Rock on

Maro

[TankSombrero]

Osmond & Cassidy were American corporate products like the Monkees before them..This guy is primarily a talented poet with musical ability which sounds simple but melding the two elements into a successful form is as rare as Morrison or Dylan.

[MarcusCicero7]

Thanks for this 5/5

[1stlagitana]

Great video, spendid choises of tracks, pics, and interviews.

[ChromedToes]

Heya!.. On to it vid, WoW ;) Marc did say elsewhere that it was all Cosmic. Rock on.... and Big ups for innitiating all the searchers WoW.

CT

[itstoogoodtopassby]

i think he could see the future top of the pops has gone, as he said but marc is the same his music lasts the test of time s marc bolan himself he is a communication without words

[Exhia]

It was very interesting listening to Marc in this interview , I've never heard it before, infact, I had never heard ANY interviews with Marc , so it really was interesting to know what his perceptions / views were at that time. Thanks for sharing this.

[soulrebel2008]

people like garry glitter

bah ! he was a joke...not a man of music he wa a bold guy in a huge wigg foolin' the population he was good and all the while he was a sex offender & truth came out in end..

he was fake & used marc's words glam to promote his sleezy trashy noise....

long live marc bolan.

[soulrebel2008]

just to look like the thing of that time. so marc's influence was huge back then & today well many look towards marc's musc still..

but none never prevail...

rock on marc ! he is one of thouse people

who was just a one off and never to be copyied

or re-produced...

great video 5** and am glad too see the words

"glam rock is dead" for ama rocker and marc too me is a rocker...

[soulrebel2008]

but the glam did eventurely come back in him.

but he never changed...which is great & many other group's looked up to him...espicaly

one my other fav bands "sex pistol's" they always kept watch eye on him & looked at his trend and what he was wearin' or wat instruments he was useing they would then go

steal thouse item's, just too keep a style of wat was around thouse day's.

[soulrebel2008]

WELL...i read all ppl's comment's...

but i can say i have all known t-rex that was

ever broadcasted or non broadcasted video's...

i know he loved being on spot light, but if any one say to me that's "glam rock" i always

replied...no it isnt it's actualy "rock" music

the name glam too me was like too say here is a NEW era of music & marc set it as glam , as in too say here is me this is m music, but many copyied he did pull away from it, as u can see in my 76' footage no glam. just rock !

[DAVWAVE]

Marc was highly and intensely interested in the charts, really. It is documented history. He wanted to manke number one or nothing at one time. Yes, he is saying that he changed, but in might have been the grind was too much for him too. Hooking up with Gloria certainly got him off the hit parade pretty quickly, if that was his goal. Her style and his did not work as good as he thought it would. And he was moving back to doing his own thing. He had to if he wanted to be his best.

[DawnStorm77]

And thank goodness it is! Marc was much too good for all that though he had something to do with it, it was more a marketing scheme. I was a "glitter kid", but I lost interest when Marc left the scene pretty much.

[gerdenshed]

Great video :-)

[agentwilde]

what a great little montage of videos, pics and interview segments - nice tints and colours used. Marc was a great wordsmith - and he knew how to say the right thing at the right time - great little name dropper too - ha! He was brill even when he was talking rubbish or had his tongue firmly planted in his cheek. He was the person who turned me on to music and I still get excited and moved by his work. Love him to bits x

[ZipDrumBoogie]

Journalists, critics, interviewers, historians...none of these people ever did or ever will really understand Marc Bolan. Their goal is to create a story and depict a character - Marc could play along, but they couldn't get any deeper into his being. Marc himself was the only one who could communicate the reality of the moment. Those who listen without barriers get him. Everything Marc did was a communication from his creative soul...change was natural.

[Bolancity]

He was right to defend his place in the pop world of the day, always honest and right on the MARC! Thx for the remind.

[bolanbabe]

omg!!!...just to hear his voice..sends me ..well...u know!!!such a fantastic vid!!!i really love that man...always will...im sure we will meet him in the ballrooms of mars.....many many tanx deborah xxxxx  sigh....

[ORALORALSEX]

yer glam rock is dead

but the power and creativity it gave to us

isnt xx

[itstoogoodtopassby]

amazing never heard this marc seemed so ahead of his time he is so right and it is happeming all the time know they all jump on the waggon to sell to the kids and it has become boring we dont have anyone like marc he didnt follow the rest of the sheep he was no puppy love and he could see that he was into a formula most would stick with that to earn money as they would now but marc was better then that he was in music to make music not to earn a quick buck today they all follow the trend

[Zipgun1]

Marc was everything to everyone, but most of all Marc was a talented underrated musician and 31 years after his death he still remains everything to everyone, and the new kids see now the clear talent of the man!

Great Video.

ZipX

[cosmicweirdness]

Marc Bolan was so MUCH more than just the inventor of glam rock. His music is much deeper than all that campy über glam rock bands music. I hope that more people would understand that!! Thanks for this vid ----> to the favs

[marcmickey]

HELLO WoW what a great video this is---very good work my friend--********** stars and a fav--

marc

[electricslims]

Tanx WoW, I have tried to read and listen to interviews as much as possible to gain better insight as to what kind of man Marc really was under all the hype and makeup. A facinating character to say the least.

[DawnStorm77]

What heart and honesty. That's what I love about Marc. He's sensitive, smart, gutsy and sexy! Gorgeous video Weilder of Words!

[eddysteele2]

there was a lot more to marc than met the eye,he was never really Glam as such to me,, and as you see how his music progressed you saw how he was developing

[mbcaliforniagirl]

I listen to marc with my heart

marc was so deep, so talented

such a genius

great vid!!!

tanx WoW

marshaX

[moorelvr7]

To me no one was like Marc,no stereotypes,just a wonderfully gifted man:and very gorgeous!! Great Work.WoW!

[tmslab]

It is oversimplification to represent Marc Bolan only as The King of Glam. Follow attentively the vids here is enough for coming to know him. He IS here, in his thousand charms.

[dubbedcrazy]

very insightful...

[cricketbat08]

Very interesting compilation of quotes! David Cassidy could not have written "Electric Slim and the Factory Hen" could he? Bolan was a poet, musician and composer. An innovator!

[julierex]

Never thought Marc as "Glam" ...he was something totally orginal..There has and never will be anyone like him again..

He was truly a Weilder Of Words...beautiful words....A Genius xXx