Glam rock pioneer Marc Bolan only lived to be 29 yet managed to produce some of the most memorable rock music ever recorded, including eleven top ten singles, four of which reached number one on the UK charts. “AngelHeaded Hipster: The Songs of Marc Bolan and T. Rex” is a must-see documentary for music lovers which combines footage of recording sessions of a 2020 tribute album (the same year he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame) with a look back at his life and his enduring legacy.

Producer Hal Willner–who died of complications from COVID-19 a few months before the album was released–never worked with Bolan but was a huge fan; he was invited because of his long history of making successful tribute albums. (Two of my favorites are his “Amarcord Nina Rota,” and “Lost in the Stars: The Music of Kurt Weill.”) Willner enlisted an inspired group of performers to cover 26 of Bolan’s best songs: Nick Cave (“Cosmic Dancer”–Sharon Van Etten would have been a good choice for this song too!), Kesha (“Children of the Revolution”), Joan Jett (“Jeepster”), Devendra Banhart (“Scenescof”), Lucinda Williams (“Life’s A Gas”), Beth Orton (“Hippy Gumbo”), U2 & Elton John (“Bang a Gong”), Father John Misty (“Main Man”), and others. Bolan’s only child, Rolan Bolan, was also present for the recordings. Like most tribute albums, some of the treatments soar and a few are just okay. The accompanying band includes musical luminaries Marc Ribot, Jon Wurster, Jim White, Bill Frisell, Van Dyke Parks and Wayne Kramer (You can listen to it here. Note: the U2 selection is not included on Spotify.) 

Some of the musical contributors offer interesting insights about their love of Bolan’s songwriting. Beth Orton recalls seeing him for the first time on TV: “I didn’t understand what he was doing… That girly boy situation. I really like that.” Archival performances and interviews with Bolan, Elton John, Ringo Starr, and David Bowie punctuate the studio sessions and provide an entertaining introduction to those unfamiliar with Bolan or the glam-rock movement. Bolan formed Tyrannosaurus Rex in 1967 with drummer Steve Peregrin Took. The psychedelic-folk rock duo released three albums with modest success, including one top 40 hit–”Debora.” In 1971 Bolan went electric, added members to the band and shortened the name to T. Rex. He dressed androgynously, had curly hair and wore glitter and mascara on an appearance on “Top of the Pops” that has been cited as the birth of glam rock. His song “Bang a Gong (Get It On)” made the top 10 in the US in early 1972.

An early champion of Bolan and T. Rex was Ringo Starr, who directed a 1972 concert film, “Born to Boogie,” about them. (Starr says that the title of his song “Back Off Boogaloo” was inspired by a verbal exchange he once had with Bolan.) Marc had an on-and-off friendship with David Bowie, who says they met while both of them were painting the office walls of the manager they shared early on. Bowie says that Bolan taught him to search the garbage cans behind Barnaby Street clothing stores; they’d throw away stylish clothes just because they were missing a single button! Both performers were huge influencers to the fashion world. Asked about his bisexuality, Bolan is both frank and coy. In 1976 he once said (not included in this doc), “I can’t say I was a latent homosexual–I was an early one. But sex was never a great problem. I’m a great screwer.”

Though he never learned to drive, Bolan died in car accident in 1977. His former romantic partner, singer Gloria Jones, was driving them and crashed into a tree that has since become a shrine for the beloved musician. Jones appears in the film and, paraphrasing a lyric from “Cosmic Dancer,” says that Marc “Came into the world dancing. And he loved people.” Beautifully directed by Ethan Silverman, the documentary opens in New York City, Boston and Los Angeles on August 8 and will be available for streaming on September 5. (Still above is courtesy of Neal Preston.)