đź“°Bolan Fan Defends Bowie: Feb 1973
- David Bowie
- Feb 24, 1973
- 2 min read
Updated: Feb 18
A Record Mirror Mirrormail exchange in which a T. Rex devotee steps in to correct a Bowie‑related rumour about “The Jean Genie.”
đź“° Key Highlights
• Published in Record Mirror, February 24, 1973
• One‑page Mirrormail feature
• Responds to Joyce and Angi’s February 3 letter
• Defends Bowie against claims of mocking Marc Bolan
• Clarifies the misheard lyric in “The Jean Genie”
• Notes past rumours of Bolan attacking Bowie were also false
đź“° Overview
This Mirrormail letter captures the playful but passionate rivalry between Bowie and Bolan fanbases during glam’s peak. While the press often stoked the “Bowie vs. Bolan” narrative, fans themselves frequently pushed back — as Eileen Mitchell does here, defending both artists and shutting down a misheard‑lyric controversy before it could grow legs.
đź“° Source Details
Publication / Venue: Record Mirror
Date: February 24, 1973
Format: One‑page reader‑letter column
Provenance Notes: Part of the ongoing glam‑era fan discourse surrounding Bowie and Bolan.
đź“° The Story
The Misheard Lyric – “Can’t Drive Marc Bolan”
Joyce and Angi, writing in the February 3 issue, claimed Bowie sings “Can’t drive Marc Bolan” in “The Jean Genie,” implying a sly dig at his glam contemporary.
Eileen Mitchell — identifying herself as a dedicated T. Rex/Marc Bolan fan — responds firmly:
• she slowed the record to 33rpm
• she clearly heard “can’t drive his module”
• she insists Bowie is not referencing Bolan at all
Her tone is protective, not of Bowie, but of accuracy — and of Bolan’s dignity.
đź“° A Fan Who Loves Both
Eileen stresses that she is:
• a committed Marc Bolan fan
• someone who listens closely to Bowie’s catalogue
• certain that Bowie has never mentioned Bolan in his lyrics
She also notes that her friend, who owns all Bowie’s records, agrees.
đź“° Rumours & Rivalries
Eileen references an earlier rumour claiming Bolan had mocked Bowie on one of his own records — a rumour she states was false.
Her letter subtly critiques the glam‑era tendency to pit the two artists against each other, asking:
“What are the two girls getting at?”
It’s a moment of fan‑driven myth‑busting, pushing back against tabloid‑style narratives.
đź“° Visual Archive
“Marc Bolan Fan Defends Bowie,” Record Mirror, February 24, 1973.
đź“° Related Material
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đź“° Closing Notes
This letter is a snapshot of glam fandom at its most engaged — protective, detail‑oriented, and unwilling to let misheard lyrics fuel unnecessary rivalry between two icons.
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