Dandelion Radio
Dandelion Radio
Dandelion Radio
Home page
Latest station news & Dandelion related events
Dandelion Radio's broadcast schedule
What you can hear in this month's shows
Profiles of our DJs
Tracklist archive for previous shows
Background info and history
Dandelion Radio's Festive 50 results
Dandelion Radio related compilations and releases
Photos of Dandelion staff and events
Sign our guestbook
How to get in touch
Recommended websites
Dandelion Radio is
fully licenced with:
PRS For Music - Performing Right Society PPL - Phonographic Performance Limited
Listen to Dandelion Radio - click here for web player or one of the links to the right to open the audio stream Listen to Dandelion Radio with media players such as Winamp, iTunes & RealPlayer Listen to Dandelion Radio with Windows Media Player

'Broadcast One' - Dandelion Radio's 1st compilation album

NEWS:
Only a few days left to hear our March stream - otherwise go to MixCloud to listen without detailed artist/gig info

Artist Info

Tyrannosaurus Rex

Tyrannosaurus Rex
Image from Discogs
Powered by Audioscrobbler™Tyrannosaurus Rex started in London, England in 1967 as a five-piece (after one aborted gig), but quickly became a duo having their electric equipment repossessed . Hailed by John Peel ( who narrated two fairy stories on two of their albums) and produced by Tony Visconti, their albums explored a psychedelic folk sound and themes inspired by Tolkienesque and Celtic mythologies. The duo developed a distinctive sound including Bolan's acoustic guitar and vocals and Steve Peregrine Took on bongos, drums and unorthodox instruments such as the Pixiephone.

By 1968, Tyrannosaurus Rex had become a modest success on radio and on record, and had released three albums. While Bolan's early material was rock and roll-influenced folk, by now he was writing dramatic and baroque songs with lush melodies and surreal lyrics filled with Greek and Persian mythology as well as creations of his own. The band became regulars on Peel Sessions on BBC radio, and toured Britain's student union halls. They received bad press from journalists and critics, however, who were annoyed at the exposure they were getting on Peel's radio shows.

By 1969 there was also a shift in sound with Bolan using the electric guitar and Took a full drumkit there was a also a rift between the two halves of Tyrannosaurus Rex. While Bolan and his girlfriend June Child were living a quiet life, Took had fully embraced the anti-commercial/community-spirited/drug-taking ethos of the UK Underground scene centred around Ladbroke Grove. Took was also attracted to anarchistic elements such as Mick Farren/Deviants and members of the Pink Fairies Rock 'n' Roll and Drinking Club. He started writing his own songs and wanted the duo to perform them. After Bolan's refusal and a last tour in the US (which Took was enjoying chemical stumulants), the two departed. Bolan recruted Mickey Finn and released the last album under this name,A Beard of Stars in 1970, before moving in a more rock direction under the shortened name T. Rex in 1970.
Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.
Artist biography from last.fm




Some other places to look for information:
last.fm
Discogs
MusicBrainz