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Elly Roberts reviews
Demon Vision
- Cat.no: DEMONDVD007
- Released: June 2006
- Format: DVD 9
- Rating: 10/10
- Running time: 176 minutes
- Region: All, PAL
- Fullscreen: 4:3
- Sound: Dolby Digital 2.0
- Classification: E (Exempt)
- Languages: English
- Subtitles: English
- Retail price: £17.99
- Extras:None
The rise of Maida Vales elfin glam-rocker Marc Bolan is fascinating, but ultimately a tragic one.,
From underground festival icon with Stephen Ross Porter aka Steve PeregrinTook, in Tyrannosaurus Rex, he created the ultimate musical monster T-REX,with new partner Mickey Finn. Eventually, the duo became a quartet. Some ofthe press said hed sold out.
As an impressionable 15 year old, he filled the void, as The Beatles finallylet it be. Devastated by the demise of my beloved Fab Four, he came as abreath of fresh air. With his corkscrew hair and glittered eyes, Bolan, bornMark Feld was the first androgynous pop star, who thrust himself upon us witha classic mythological pop song, Ride A White Swan in October 1970,though he had charted with previously Tyrannosaurus.
I was smitten. I bought the singles, and the bedroom posters, so Id boughtinto Glam Rock.
Then on March 18 1972 I went to see my hero at Wembley Arena. He wasmagnificent. He even surprised his critics: Melody Maker splashed with BolanMania Hits New Peak. NMEs version was Bolans Triumph.
Beatlemania had suddenly vanished it was now time for T-Rextasy, and I waspart of it.
Even ex-Beatle drummer Ringo Starr recognised the new phenomenon, filming thegig, released as Born To Boogie. For three glorious years, 1970 to1973, he reigned supreme with 11 top ten singles, four of which were numberones Hot Love, Get It On, Telegram Sam and Metal Guru.The release of Truck On Tyke was effectively the beginning of the endfor The Slider.
For the next four years he never entered the top ten. Even after his death,his singles and albums have charted up to 2002.
This 3-hour 4-part DVD captures the key moments, with interviews by son RolanBolan, ex-girlfriend Soul singer Gloria Jones (Tainted Love), producerTony Visconti, Mickey Finn, Morrissey, Holly Johnson, stylist Chelita Secundawho effectively created the Glam Rock image, and Bolan himself.
BBC Top Of The Pops, French and German tv footage (complete with Bolansinfamously bad miming) make up an excellent section of personal memories, andthe famous Music In The Round Rock Of Ages filmed 8 December 1971 at theCockpit Theatre London, again I saw first time around.
Probably, his most revealing interview ever, was with Russell Harty which isa definite highlight at an all too short 34 minutes.
Bolans failure to crack the United States was a major career blow, alongwith the fact that he failed to evolve like his friend and Glam Rockstablemate David Bowie. He did try to embrace Soul music when hed teamedwith Gloria Jones, but the New Age Of Bolan ended his career.
His death in a car crash on September 16 1977 was tragic and untimely.
Long live T-Rex. I was there through the whole thrilling journey.
Weblinks:Marc Bolan.tv /Demon Vision.com
Elly Roberts passed away in 2011, but he was a man who was so passionate about all types of music and loved meeting his musical heroes, such as Mick Hucknall at a book signing at the Trafford Centre, Manchester in 2007.
A former teacher and also a music journalist, DJ and radio presenter on local community station Calon FM, plus appearances on BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru and BBC Radio 2, Elly started doing reviews for DVDfever.co.uk in 2004 and he did the majority of the CD and concerts reviews on the website.
I know also that he loved getting away for the summer to Spain and I hope that wherever he is now he is enjoying the hot sunshine and, as one of his friends has said on his Facebook page, that he is interviewing his musical heroes.