Legacy
Bolan was the early guitar idol of Johnny Marr, who later found fame as the guitarist of the influential indie rock band the Smiths.
In 1979, Witch Queen recorded a version of "Bang-a-Gong" that reached #68 on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart in late May.
In 1979, Siouxsie and the Banshees released a cover of "20th Century Boy" as the B-side to the single "The Staircase (Mystery)".
In December 1980, "Telegram Sam" was the fourth single released by British gothic rock band Bauhaus.
Also in 1980, the Bongos were the first American group, with "Mambo Sun", to enter the Billboard charts with a T.Rex cover. Since then, Bongos frontman Richard Barone has recorded several other Bolan compositions ("The Visit," "Ballrooms of Mars"), worked with T.Rex producer Tony Visconti for his current solo album, Glow (2010, Bar/None Records) that includes a remake of Bolan's "Girl" from Electric Warrior, and has himself produced tracks for Bolan's son Rolan.
In 1981, Department S released a cover of "Solid Gold Easy Action" as the b-side to the single "Is Vic There?".
In 1983, NWOBHM legends Girlschool covered "20th Century Boy" on their Play Dirty
In 1984, the Replacements released a cover of "20th Century Boy" as a B-side to the single "I Will Dare"; it is also included on the reissue version of their album Let It Be.
In 1993, Adam Ant covered the track live on the Limited Edition live disc of his Antmusic: The Very Best of Adam Ant collection.
In 1994, Madman Records released the first T.Rextasy single 'Baby Factory' which included the Bolan compositions 'Planet Queen', and 'Girl'
In 1985, Duran Duran splinter band Power Station, with Robert Palmer as vocalist, took a version of "Get It On" into the UK Top 40 and to US No. 6, the first cover of a Bolan song to enter the charts since his death. They also performed the tune (with Michael Des Barres replacing Palmer) at the US Live Aid concert.
In 1986, the Violent Femmes performed "Children of the Revolution" on their third album The Blind Leading the Naked, for which they also recorded a music video.
In 1989, X released a live cover of "20th Century Boy" as the B-side to their single "Kurenai".
In 1990, Baby Ford did a cover of "Children of the Revolution" that appeared on the album Oooh, The World of Baby Ford.
In 1991, T-Bolan a Japanese rock band debuted. The name of this band was inspired by T. Rex and its vocalist Marc Bolan.
In 1993, Guns N' Roses covered "Buick MacKane" on The Spaghetti Incident? but it was mislabelled on the album as "Buick Makane".
In 1994, Billy Idol wore a t-shirt reproducing The Slider album cover in his popular video supporting the song "Speed". That was a clear homage to Marc Bolan, who helped Generation X to rise at the very beginning of their career.
In 1994, T.Rextasy released an album of Bolan compositions on their album 'Trip & Glide Through The Ballrooms of T.Rextasy' (Madman Records – Europe) (Quattro Records – Japan)
Also in 1994, A House covered "Children of the Revolution" as a B-side on their "Here Come the Good Times" single alongside tracks originally by Bolan's erstwhile support band, The Damned, and by Donna Summer.
In 1995 Darryl Read released "Teenage Dream" as a single and Bill Legend of T. Rex drums on this version – for the second time round. This single was reissued in 2009 along with a promotional video filmed at the Roundhouse London – featuring Read and Legend with T. Rex fans.
In 1997 T.Rextasy released the album 'Savage Beethoven' on the Columbia Records label (Japan) and on Madman Records (Europe) with a series of Bolan cover versions
On 30 September 1997 a concert was organised at The Cambridge Corn Exchange to celebrate Marc Bolan's 50th birthday. T.Rextasy headlined the event with guests that included ex-T.Rex members Mickey Finn, Jack Green, and Paul Fenton.
In 2003 Depeche Mode's Martin Gore recorded a cover of "Life Is Strange", and included it as a b-side of the single "Stardust".
In 2005 T.Rextasy released a 19 track compilation of Bolan tracks on the Madman Record label.
In 2006 Def Leppard released their album Yeah!, which contains covers of their favourite bands while growing up, the first song on this album is "20th Century Boy". Joe Elliott wanted to sing "Metal Guru" while Vivian Campbell wanted "Telegram Sam" but end up agreeing to "20th Century Boy". It's not the first time that Def Leppard has sung a T.Rex song; there is a live version of Get It On.
In 2008 Madman Records released a Xmas T.Rextasy CDEP including 'I Love To Boogie', and 'Hot Love', with an additional DVD enhaced video with Rolan Bolan & Danielz performing 'Dreamy Lady'.
In 2009 Danielz & John Skelton from T.Rextasy released an acoustic album of Bolan compositions entitled 'A Dream That Lasts Forever – T.Rextasy Unplugged', on the Madman Records Label
"Children of the Revolution" was similarly performed by Elton John and Pete Doherty of The Libertines at Live 8, 20 years later. U2's Bono and Gavin Friday also covered "Children of the Revolution" on the Moulin Rouge! soundtrack.
In 2000, Naoki Urasawa created a Japanese manga entitled 20th Century Boys that was inspired by Marc Bolan's song, "20th Century Boy". The series is a multiple award-winner, and has also been released in North America. The story was adopted into three successful live-action movies from 2008 to 2009, which were also released in the US, Canada and the UK.
"20th Century Boy" introduced a new generation of devotees to Bolan's work in 1991 when it was featured on a Levi's jeans TV commercial featuring Brad Pitt, and was re-released, reaching the UK Top 20. The song was performed by the fictional band The Flaming Creatures (performed by Placebo, reprised by Placebo and David Bowie at the 1999 BRIT Awards) in the 1998 film Velvet Goldmine. In every decade since his death, a Bolan greatest hits compilation has placed in the top 20 UK albums and periodic boosts in sales have come via cover versions from artists inspired by Bolan, including Morrissey and Siouxsie and the Banshees. Similarly, "I Love to Boogie" was briefly used on an advert for Robinson's soft drink in 2001, bringing Bolan's music to a new generation. Mitsubishi also featured "20th Century Boy" in a 2002 car commercial, prompting Hip-O Records to release a best-of collection CD titled 20th Century Boy: The Ultimate Collection.
His music is still widely used in films, recent notable cases being Breakfast on Pluto, Death Proof, Lords of Dogtown, Billy Elliot, Jarhead, Moulin Rouge!, Herbie: Fully Loaded, Breaking-Up,Hot Fuzz, Click, School of Rock , Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, & Dallas Buyers Club. Bolan is still cited by many guitar-centric bands as a huge influence (Joy Division/New Order's Bernard Sumner has said that the first single he owned was "Ride a White Swan".) However, he always maintained he was a poet who put lyrics to music. The tunes were never as important as the words.
An altogether less welcome legacy for his friends and family is the ongoing row about his fortune. Bolan had arranged a discretionary trust to safeguard his money. His death left the fortune beyond the reach of those closest to him and both his family and journalists have taken an active interest in investigating the situation, so far with little result other than bringing the story to wider attention. A small, separate Jersey-based trust fund has allowed his son to receive some income. However, the bulk of Bolan's fortune, variously estimated at between £20 and £30 million (approx $38 – $57 million), remains in trust. As of 2007, Bolan's family is supposed to have a house paid for by the trust, and Rolan is supposed to receive an allowance.
Bolan returned to the top of the UK charts in 2005 when the remastered, expanded Born to Boogie DVD hit No. 1 in the Music DVD charts.
In 2006, it was revealed that English Heritage had refused to commission a blue plaque to commemorate Bolan, as they believed him to be of "insufficient stature or historical significance".There is, however, an existing plaque dedicated to Bolan at his childhood home, put there by Hackney Council.There are also two plaques dedicated to his memory at Golders Green Crematorium in North London. The first was placed there in the mid-1990s in white marble and was installed by the Tyrannosaurus Rex Appreciation Society with the help of fans worldwide. The second was installed the official Marc Bolan fan club and fellow fans in September 2002, to commemorate the 25th anniversary of his passing. The inscription on the stone, which also bears his image, reads '25 years on – his light of love still shines brightly'. Placed beneath the plaque there is an appropriate ceramic figure of a white swan.
In 2006, TV series Life on Mars, William Matheson portrays Marc Bolan, circa 1973, in a bar in Manchester. Time-travelling Sam Tyler recognises him, has a fan boy moment, and warns him to be careful of riding in Minis.
In the American version of the series, the character is replaced by that of Jim Croce, who died later that year in a plane crash, and Sam warns him. However, the T. Rex version of "Get It On" is played in the New York dance club in that scene.
In 2007, the English Tourist Board included Marc Bolan's Rock Shrine in their guide to Important Sites of Rock 'n Roll interest 'England Rocks.
In September 2007, a special concert was held by Danielz & T.Rextasy for Marc Bolan's 30th Commemorative Anniversary at The Shepherd's Bush Empire in London – guests who sang alongside the band included Gloria Jones, Tony Visconti, Marc Almond, Linda Lewis, Clem Burke, Ray Dorset, Andy Ellison, Howie Casey, etc. A special DVD of the concert was released by the Demon Music Group.
One of Bolan's guitars, a Gibson Flying V, recently turned up on Antiques Roadshow in the hands of a private collector. The appraiser estimated the value of the guitar to be approximately £50,000–60,000.
As reported in 2011, a school is planned in his honour, to be built in Sierra Leone: The Marc Bolan School of Music and Film.
The Cameron Crowe-created movie "Almost Famous" features a scene where a Black Sabbath groupie is telling aspiring journalist William Miller (said to be created in Crowe's own image) about how, "Marc Bolan broke her heart, man. It's famous," regarding the character of Penny Lane, played by Kate Hudson.
A musical, 20th Century Boy, based on Bolan's life, and featuring his music, premiered at the New Wolsey Theatre in Ipswich. in 2011.
Released 16 April 2011, in honour of Record Store Day, San Francisco garage rock artist Ty Segall performs six T. Rex songs on his EP "Ty Rex". In 2013 on Record Store Day Segall released "Ty Rex 2".
On 15 September 2012, in honour of Marc's 35th year of passing, Danielz & T.Rextasy, in conjunction with the Performing Right Society, arranged a special performance at The Shepherds Bush Empire in London. Guests included Noddy Holder, Lynsey De Paul, Tony Visconti, Marc Almond, Boy George, Steve Harley, Sandie Shaw, Glen Matlock, Alvin Stadust, etc.
