Glam rock icon Marc Bolan has been commemorated with a blue plaque outside his London home, where he wrote and recorded many of his biggest hits, English Heritage has announced. Bolan, the frontman of T. Rex, tragically died in a car crash in 1977 at the age of 29. The unveiling coincides with the release of previously unheard T. Rex tracks, I’m Dazed and an alternate take of Billy Super Duper, discovered on long-forgotten studio tapes.
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The plaque was installed at 31 Clarendon Gardens, Maida Vale, where Bolan lived with his wife June from late 1970, during the height of his career with hits such as Ride A White Swan and Get It On. Keyboardist Rick Wakeman, who also played on T. Rex recordings, said Bolan would have been “absolutely thrilled” by the plaque and that discovering the lost tracks demonstrates the depth of his creativity.
BBC Radio 3 presenter and English Heritage blue plaques panel member Petroc Trelawny described Bolan as “not just a hitmaker, but a visionary who led a glitter-drenched revolution transforming the sound and style of the 70s.” The plaque marks the building Bolan called home at the peak of his artistry, from where he inspired a generation of fans.
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Between November 1970 and June 1973, T. Rex achieved 11 top 10 hits, including Hot Love, Metal Guru and 20th Century Boy. The newly unearthed tracks have been mixed by musician Steven Wilson and will be available to stream and download, with a limited edition 7-inch single releasing on 7 November. Bolan now joins other celebrated musicians honoured by the scheme, including Freddie Mercury, Jimi Hendrix and John Lennon.
