Did Marc Bolan write this classic T Rex lyric to mock John Lennon?
Clear parallels can be drawn between The Beatles and T Rex, with one of the most notable being the shared circumstances both acts encountered. They were, in no uncertain terms, the idols of their day.
Following The Beatles’ breakup in 1970, T Rex, as glam rockers, experienced a fervent fan base reminiscent of the Beatlemania phenomenon. In many ways, they took up the unprecedented and impossible mantle that the Fab Four had left behind.
While there were clear similarities, not every member of The Beatles was unanimous in their opinion towards glam rock. John Lennon, for instance, allegedly proclaimed the music genre was nothing more than “rock ‘n’ roll with lipstick on”. Ringo Starr, on the other hand, disagreed with his bandmate and formed a close friendship with T Rex leader Marc Bolan.
While it’s unclear whether Lennon actually made such a comment, there are instances that otherwise point towards Lennon’s appreciation of the genre and even Bolan himself. The Bolan and T Rex fan site, Till Dawn, once published a translated article showing the late Beatle lauding Bolan, even describing him as the “only one who can succeed to The Beatles”.
Lennon is quoted in the article as saying: “In today’s pop music, there are only two things that interest me: rock ‘n’ roll and avant-garde poetry. Only one group today is of interest to me, Marc Bolan and T Rex. He is the only one who has excited me, and I look forward to meet him again. His music is good rock ‘n’ roll; it has good beat, and it really swings.”
He adds: “But it is mainly his lyrics that amaze me. His way of writing is new, and I have never read lyrics as funny and as real as his. Apart from few American exceptions, Marc Bolan is the only one that has caught my attention, and I believe his mythology is real as well. He will release a book of poetry in the near future, and I look forward to read it again and again. Marc Bolan is the only one who can succeed to The Beatles.“
While Bolan found a kinship with Starr, there were signs that indicated his critical opinion of Lennon. For instance, his song ‘Children of the Revolution’ includes the line, “I drive a Rolls Royce because it’s good for my voice”. Apparently, this was written to point an accusatory finger at Lennon, or at least figures like him, who preached peace and communism while living in luxury. Of course, Lennon was never shy about his psychedelic and eccentric Rolls-Royce.
Interestingly, if the song had been meant as a critique of Lennon and his perceived hypocrisy, it would have been a bold move by Bolan, especially considering that the track was recorded at Ascot Sound Studios, which was founded by Lennon and his wife, Yoko Ono, in 1970. Alas, mocking Lennon was a firm theme of the era.
Steely Dan and a few others took a stab at a fellow perceived to be in an ivory tower, as the economy took a shocking downturn, talking about people having the power. As the aforementioned Californians sang, “Only a fool would say that.”
So, what’s up with this Rolls-Royce?
A Rolls-Royce is already considered the pinnacle of road-going luxury, and when you delve into the winged brand, you find that a Phantom V is the pièce de résistance of motoring opulence. Only 517 of these smooth-rolling machines were ever made. Lennon committed what many petrolheads deem sacrilege when he pimped his elusive ride into the equivalent of a moving LSD tab. But Lennon is Lennon, and of those 517 Phantom Vs only one has a truly iconic place in history and the column inches to prove it.
The mammoth vehicle was hardly subtle in the first place. It weighed in at 2.5 tonnes. With a 3.6-metre wheelbase and a 6.2L V8 engine roaring under the hood, the Phantom was a car usually reserved for traditional royalty. The British Royal family owned two of them, for the Queen and Queen Mother. Needless to say, Lennon chose a different tact when he purchased one in 1964. The famed ‘Smart’ Beatle chose to adorn his exclusive car with a kaleidoscopic swirl of groovy imagery.
