The two unheard tracks coincide with a major moment of recognition for Marc Bolan’s enduring influence, as English Heritage today unveiled a blue plaque at Bolan’s former home at 31 Clarendon Gardens, Maida Vale, London, commemorating his extraordinary contribution to British music and culture. The ceremony, held on what would have been Bolan’s birthday, was […]
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The two unheard tracks coincide with a major moment of recognition for Marc Bolan’s enduring influence, as English Heritage today unveiled a blue plaque at Bolan’s former home at 31 Clarendon Gardens, Maida Vale, London, commemorating his extraordinary contribution to British music and culture.
The ceremony, held on what would have been Bolan’s birthday, was led by legendary Yes keyboardist Rick Wakeman CBE. The guest speakers were Martin Barden, Bobby Gillespie (Primal Scream), Captain Sensible and Rat Scabies (The Damned) in celebration of Bolan’s life and legacy.
Yes keyboardist and PRS Members’ Fund patron, Rick Wakeman CBE, said: “I am pretty sure that if Marc is with us in spirit today he’d be absolutely thrilled to see the blue plaque and probably would write a song about it. Marc was a truly remarkable person, with an extraordinary clarity of vision about what he wanted to achieve — a quality that made him unique across so many musical, fashion, and artistic forms.” “To think that after all these years, we’re still discovering unheard T. Rex tracks like ‘I’m Dazed’ and ‘Billy Super Duper’ is just incredible and proves how deep and rich his creativity really was.”
BBC Radio 3 presenter and English Heritage blue plaques panel member, Petroc Trelawny, said: “Marc Bolan was not just a hitmaker, he was a visionary who led a glitter-drenched revolution that transformed the sound – and style – of the 70s, both in the music scene and beyond. His fusion of folk roots, electric rock, and decadent style opened the door to glam, and his fearless self-expression paved the way for future icons. This plaque in Maida Vale marks the building he called home at the peak of his artistry: from here, he captured the imagination of a generation.”
