America missed the boat on T-Rex. The only substantial hit they had here was Bang a Gong.The song peaked at #1 in the UK and #45 in Canada in 1972. In the UK they were huge and for a short time rivaling The Beatles early popularity. ‘Metal Guru’, T Rex’s fourth and final UK No.1. It topped the chart for four weeks from May–June 1972.
This was a busy time for the band. They were working on the album between March and April 1972 and Ringo Star took photographs for the front and back cover for the album The Slider.
At the time Ringo was taking the pictures he was also starting a documentary about T Rex called Born To Boogie. I do give the doc a thumbs up…I have it and watched it a few times. It shows just how popular T.Rex was during the early seventies.
Marc Bolan: “It’s a festival of life song. I relate ‘Metal Guru’ to all gods around – someone special, a godhead. I thought how God would be, he’d be all alone without a telephone.”
Metal Guru
Metal Guru, is it you?
Metal Guru, is it you?
Sittin’ there in your armor-plated chair, oh yeah
Metal Guru, is it true?
Metal Guru, is it true?
All alone without a telephone, oh yeah
Metal Guru, could it be
You’re gonna bring my baby to me?
She’ll be wild
You know, a rock ‘n’ roll child, oh yeah
Metal Guru, has it been
Just like a silver-studded sabre-tooth dream?
I’ll be clean, you know
Pollution machine, oh yeah
Metal Guru, is it you?
Metal Guru, is it you? Oh yeah
Metal Guru, could it be
You’re gonna bring my baby to me?
She’ll be wild
You know, a rock ‘n’ roll child, oh yeah
Metal Guru, is it true?
Metal Guru, is it true?
All alone without a telephone, oh
Metal Guru, could it be
You’re gonna bring my baby to me?
She’ll be wild
You know, a rock ‘n’ roll child, oh yeah
Metal Guru, is it you?
Metal Guru, is it you? Yeah, yeah, yeah
Metal Guru, is it you? Yeah, yeah, yeah
Metal Guru, is it you? Yeah, yeah, yeah
Metal Guru, is it you? Yeah, yeah, yeah
Metal Guru, is it you? Yeah, yeah, yeah
Metal Guru, is it you? Yeah, yeah, yeah
Metal Guru, is it you? Yeah, yeah, yeah
Metal Guru, is it you? Yeah, yeah, yeah
I never knew they did another song. Thanks, Max!
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Did T-Rex have a lot of female fans? This song is very simple and seems like it is a filler song so they could make an album.
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Sorry I missed this Jim! Yes they were mobbed…Marc Bolan was extremely popular with female fans.
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it’s a new one to me! I kind of think they were over-rated in Britain and under-rated here. I like “Jeepster” and “20th Century boy” by them a lot. Definitely one of themost extreme examples of star power that didn’t carry across the ocean, along with The Jam.
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The had a string of #1’s over there…they were about as hot as you could get.
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Funny how some acts are popular in the UK but don’t cross over- and the other way around also. T. Rex is one of the best that just didn’t translate for some reason.
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I didn’t realise they had four UK number ones. I’ve heard some of their albums and like them, but it’s frustrating how classic rock radio only plays Bang a Gong (at least in NZ).
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Not just New Zealand…here also. The only way I heard 20th Century Boy is through a commercial.
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I mainly know it from The Replacements’ cover.
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Never got too much into T-Rex but loved this tune from the get-go!
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I never heard a lot except Bang a Gong….and 20th Century Boy
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Pretty much the same thing with me. These are cool tunes!
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The US did miss out. Why is that I wonder. They are really great. Don’t understand at all.
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It’s not like they were too British…Slade is another one that never hit big here either.
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Nope, Slade didn’t either. Sometimes I feel the US audience has no taste. They like generic same old same old crap.
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” I feel the US audience has no taste.” I agree totally. The British got their inspiration from us but then ran with it…past us.
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Powerstation brought back some action in regards to the T-REX legacy Max.
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Yes they did…I’m surprised someone hasn’t covered their other songs.
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Yeah no kidding.
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Brilliant record. When this came out it was love at first hearing for me, a real anthem. T.Rex, along with Bowie, were massive influences on British pop music through punk and New Romantics and 80’s Indie music. When Marc Bolan was killed in a car crash after he’d just finished filming his TV pop show in 1977 (which spearheaded punk music) it was a massive shock and blow to me, and all his fans.
Glam was colourful, energetic, retro, visual which was what the UK needed at that time in a struggling, cold, less-affluent black and white holdover 60’s world, and it upset your parents which was a big bonus to teenage fans. In the more sunny laid-back musical world of the USA, West Coast Rock seemed more appropriate. I first toured the USA West Coast in 1979 and the music just seemed to fit the glorious weather while the UK was having another (angry) music revolution with punk and New Wave as the country headed into mass unemployment, strikes and riots.
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I always liked Glam…some of my first memories are of David Bowie/Ziggy Stardust. I wish Bolan would have caught on over here much more and I really can’t understand why he didn’t…same with Slade.
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Aw yeah! I don’t need to tell you my opinion on this (again…)
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I was thinking “I’ve heard this before…somewhere…” LOL!
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LOL…yea he really likes T-Rex and I do also. His posts got me into them again
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Every time I hear of T-Rex or Marc Bolan, I remember that woman’s blog where she channel’s his spirit. LOL!
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Oh yea!!! Hear Bolan…live from Heaven!
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🤣🤣🤣
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My old babysitter had the album with Bang A Gong on it and I listened to it a lot. Never knew anything about T Rex beyond it. Definitely a catchy tune!
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You…had a cool Babysitter!
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Oops that’s a typo. It was the guy I babysat for who had the awesome album collection. He worked 3rd shift and slept during the day and his wife went to work. I had the albums and headphones and life was good!
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That was a great setup… I love those big seventies headphones also… cuts out all noise from outside
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Yep, just like the ones I have now 😉
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Catchy tune. Flo and Eddie on backing vocals
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