Music Diary – 28th January

Welcome to my Music Diary – today for the 28th January!

Dick Taylor (The Rolling Stones, The Pretty Things)

Happy birthday to Mr. Richard Clifford „Dick“ Taylor, who was born on the 28th January 1943 in Dartford, Kent (UK). Dick was the first bass player for The Rolling Stones back in 1962 and founded one year later the legendary The Pretty Things!

In the sixties, guitarist Dick Taylor attended the Sidcup Art College in London and during that time, he played with singer Mick Jagger and guitarist Keith Richards together in a group called „Little Boy Blue And The Blue Boys“. In July 1962 the trio joined Brian Jones and Ian Stewart, who founded the band „Rollin‘ Stones“. Since two guitarists were in the line-up, Dick took over the bass part. In November 1962, Dick Taylor left the band and returned to art college. Mr. Bill Wyman took over the place in December of the same year and became the new member of the now called The Rolling Stones.

In September 1963, Dick Taylor founded his own band The Pretty Things. Beside him as the guitarist, vocalist Phil May, Brian Pendleton on rhythm guitar, bassist John Stax and Pete Kitley on drums completed the line-up. They recorded over 10 studio albums and are still active and performing. Dick Taylor worked also with other bands, like The Mekons, and he produced Hawkwind’s self-titled debut album in 1970.

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Music Diary – 30th September

Welcome to my Music Diary – today for the 30th September!

Marc Bolan (30th September 1947 – 16th September 1977)

On the 30th September 1947 Mr. Mark Feld, better known as Marc Bolan, was born in Hackney, East London (UK). He was a singer, guitarist, poet and frontman of the legandary Glam Rock band T. Rex. On the 16th September 1977 Bolan died in a car crash at the age of only 30 years.

Mark Feld get his first guitar at the age of nine and started playing in a Skiffle band. During his school time he was the guitarist in the group „Susie and the Hula Hoops“. The twelve year old girl Helen Shapiro was the singer in this band – Shapiro started also a career as a musician and topped the UK charts in the Sixties with the two songs „You Don’t Know“ and „Walkin‘ Back to Happiness„.

After expelled from school due to bad behaviour, Mark Felt worked for a modelling agency. In 1964 he started his career as singer and recorded a cover of „All at Once“. The name changing to Marc Bolan followed and he signed to the Decca label in August 1965 and the debut single „The Wizard“ was released.

In 1967 Marc Boland formed his group Tyrannosaurus Rex and recorded the four albums „My People Were Fair and Had Sky in Their Hair… But Now They’re Content to Wear Stars on Their Brows„, „Prophets, Seers & Sages: The Angels of the Ages“ (both in 1968), „Unicorn“ (1969) and „A Beard of Stars“ (1970).

In 1970 the name was changed into T. Rex. Until 1977 Bolan record eight albums with the group. Especially in the early Seventies T. Rex was a very successful Glam Rock group and the songs „Jeepster„, „Get It On„, „Ride a White Swan„, „Solid Gold Easy Action„, „Children of the Revolution„, „Hot Love„, „Telegram Sam„, „20th Century Boy“ and „Metal Guru“ charted the UK charts. In 1971 the album „Electric Warrior“ hit the top of the album charts.

Many changes happened then:
Bill Legend left the band in 1973 and Mickey Finn said goodbye to T. Rex in 1975. Bolan’s marriage came to an end and with his new affairr Gloria Jones (backing singer) he started a new life. His son Rolan was born on 26th September 1975. Two years later, Bolan had a new band togehter and the album „Dandy in the Underworld“ was released in March 1977.

On the 16th September 1977, two weeks before his 30th birthday, Marc Bolan died in a car accident. Driver Gloria Jones get injured (a broken arm and broken jaw) and spent time in hospital. She learned of Bolan’s death only on the day of his funeral.

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