The concerts were a triumph for Bolan, the pinnacle of his career. Following three number one hit singles and the chart-topping success of the ‘Electric Warrior’ LP, the reaction of the cynical music press was one of surrender: Bolan was acknowledged as the superstar he always wished to be.

The shows were kept simple: the stage effects ran to little more that two enormous blow-up photos of the show’s protagonist, with popular DJ Emperor Rosko playing MC for the night. He span a few discs and worked the crowd into an anticipatory frenzy, with support band Quiver mostly overlooked.
As cameraman Ringo crouched in the pit at the front of the stage, the Public Address system blasted out ‘Clean Up Woman’ by Betty Wright, one of Marc Bolan’s all-time favourite songs. He left the dressing room, climbed the steps at the back of the stage and made his way out through the curtain.

It was Bolan’s second appearance at the venue, having performed as an unknown, way down the bill at the ‘Glad Rag Ball’ in November 1965; no film survives of that debut but it would have been overshadowed by hit-making performers like Donovan and the Rolling Stones. However, by March 1972 Bolan’s time had come: the audience’s reaction was spectacular.

Ten songs were performed at each concert: Jeepster, Baby Strange, Telegram Sam, Hot Love and Get It On received the T.Rex electric treatment, along with acoustic numbers Spaceball Ricochet and Cosmic Dancer, all making it to the final edit; show-opener Cadilac, Girl (acoustic) and Summertime Blues (the encore) were discarded...next >>