Nick Kent dives into the chaotic, candy‑coloured world of The Sweet — a band caught between glam‑rock frivolity and the gritty realities of touring, image, and expectation.

A politically charged week in British music: unions rally behind the Strawbs, T. Rex prepare for a world tour with no UK dates, and Slade gear up for another chart assault.

A Melody Maker cover insert from January 13, 1973 reveals the Alice Cooper Group’s plans for the year: a new single, a new album, and one of the most ambitious rock tours ever attempted.

A rare mid‑1972 appearance by David Bowie at the Royal Festival Hall, performing as part of the Friends of the Earth “Save the Whale” benefit. This event brought Bowie onto a prestigious London stage just weeks after the release of The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars, capturing Ziggy at a moment of rising national attention.

This tiny BRAVO snippet is a perfect example of how deeply Marc Bolan permeated youth culture at his glam‑era peak. Even a pet mouse bearing his name became a moment of international teen‑press fascination — a reminder of the warmth, humour, and mythmaking that surrounded him.

A bold Melody Maker advert announces Mott the Hoople’s early‑’72 Croydon date — a pre‑Bowie era gig that captures the band on the cusp of transformation

A modest suburban pub becomes the launchpad for one of music’s most iconic personas, as David Bowie introduces Ziggy Stardust to an unsuspecting Tolworth audience on February 10, 1972.

Published February 16, 1972, this three‑page BRAVO feature reframes the T. Rex story through Mickey Finn’s eyes. While Marc Bolan dominated headlines, BRAVO presents Mickey as the band’s gentle soul: an ex‑zookeeper, animal rescuer, and unexpectedly charismatic figure whose calm presence balanced the frenzy of early‑’70s glam.

A Melody Maker page from February 12, 1972 featuring the article “T. Rex to Storm States” and a Marc Bolan poster advert offering a full‑colour print with a free Neil Young poster.

A rare early‑tour advert for Bowie’s February 1972 Imperial College concert — a pivotal night that helped solidify the Ziggy Stardust persona and marked a turning point in his rise to stardom.