Marc Bolan: Marc Lives On Cover Feature (1979)

Marc Bolan’s Marc Lives On, a one-page and centerfold feature in Bravo Magazine, September 13, 1979

Marc lives on," grieving Bolan fans engraved into the tree in the community park in front of Barnes, where Marc Bolan died in a car accident on September 16, 1977. Thousands of fans will make a pilgrimage to his grave in Golders Green Cemetery on the anniversary of his death to remember him. In their hearts, the T. Rex star, the teen idol of the early 1970s, lives on.

A simple rosebush is all that adorns Marc's grave. The nameplates were repeatedly removed by fans. Until his family gave up trying to put up new ones. "Grave robbers" no longer have a chance. He is buried as he lived, simply and without pomp. For his stage show with his own group, T. Rex, however, nothing was too expensive or too elaborate. For them, he was full of ideas and always had new glittery costumes designed come up with tricks and make-up tricks to keep the fans on their toes. They regularly got their money's worth and enjoyed themselves from the first to the last second of each of his shows. Nevertheless, he adamantly insisted that they never had to pay more than 50 pence (2 marks) for his concerts. Everyone should be able to see him.

Marc, the teen idol, is as timeless as his songs. Even today, every party is in full swing when "Ride a White Swan," "Hot Love," or "Get It On" are played. With "20th Century Boy," Marc paved the way for today's punks as early as 1973. Before David Bowie, crazy make-up and multi-colored manes were his style, and with the electric guitar, he was the first to put on wild stage shows. No one knows better than his fans: Marc was unique. A full-blooded musician with vision and the right feel for what's going on with teenagers. No one could beat showmaster Bolan and his hold a candle to his partner, Mickey Finn.

Privately, he was less happy: his marriage to June Child broke up. She once earned the pennies for both of them so he could devote himself solely to songwriting. He was always grateful to her for that, and today she doesn't regret a single minute of her years with Marc.

He had a happy home and life partnership with Gloria Jones, who drove the ill-fated car. She performed with him on stage and is the mother of his only son, Rolan Bolan, for whom he had big plans: "He'll be a dollar millionaire by 21," Marc announced, and he would certainly have made it happen, for he was just as clever as a businessman and a showman. Unfortunately, his fate was that he had to die shortly after his great role model, Elvis Presley. But his fans remain loyal to him even beyond his death.