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📰 Drummer for T. Rex – News Item : Apr. 1971

  • Writer: glamslam72
    glamslam72
  • Apr 23, 1971
  • 2 min read

A brief but significant news snippet announces that Bill Legend (formerly of Legend) has joined T. Rex as their new drummer for the upcoming British tour, while Mickey Finn shifts focus to vocals and bongos.


The short, matter-of-fact report marks a key line-up change as the band prepares for its next chapter.


This April 23, 1971 clipping from the Whitstable Times captures an early transitional moment in T. Rex’s evolution — just as “Ride a White Swan” was propelling them toward major success and the full glam explosion.


đź—ž Whitstable Times

đź“… Date: April 23, 1971

⏱ Length: 2 min read

Country: United Kingdom

Section / Page: News / Page 3

Format: News Item / Band Update


đź“° What the Clipping Shows

A short, single-paragraph news item headed “Drummer for T. Rex” with a small star symbol above the title. The text is cleanly typeset in standard newspaper style and announces the addition of Bill Legend to the line-up, Mickey Finn’s new role, the recent arrival of bassist Steve Currie, and the band’s return from America on May 3rd. No photograph or additional graphics are present.


đź“° The Story Behind It

In spring 1971, T. Rex — still operating as a duo of Marc Bolan and Mickey Finn — were gaining rapid momentum following the success of “Ride a White Swan.” To support their growing live commitments, they expanded the line-up by bringing in drummer Bill Legend and bassist Steve Currie.


“Drummer Bill Legend, formerly with Legend, has joined T. Rex for their tour of Britain next month.”

Mickey Finn was to concentrate on vocals and bongos, while the new rhythm section gave the band a fuller, more powerful sound as they prepared to headline their own tour. The group was scheduled to return from America on May 3rd to begin the British dates.


This modest local-news item quietly documents one of the most important line-up stabilisations in T. Rex’s history — the formation of the classic four-piece that would soon dominate the charts with the full glam sound.


đź“° Related Material

Additional material connected to this entry is listed in the tag index at the foot of the page.e


đź“° Visual Archive

Small black-and-white newspaper clipping featuring a short news paragraph headed “Drummer for T. Rex.” Clean, text-only layout with a star symbol above the headline.


Whitstable Times news item announcing Bill Legend’s arrival in T. Rex, April 23, 1971.


đź“° Closing Notes

This unassuming April 1971 news snippet marks a quiet but pivotal moment in T. Rex’s story. The addition of Bill Legend on drums completed the classic rhythm section that would help carry Marc Bolan and Mickey Finn from underground folk-psych roots into the full blaze of T. Rextasy and glam-rock domination.



📝 Copyright Notice

All magazine scans, photographs, and original text excerpts referenced in this entry remain the property of their respective copyright holders. This Chronicle entry is a transformative, non-commercial archival summary created for historical documentation and educational reference. No ownership of the original material is claimed or implied.



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