📰 London Boys – Advert: Feb 28, 1976
- T.Rex
- Feb 28, 1976
- 3 min read
Updated: Feb 28
A full‑page Record Mirror & Disc advert announcing the new T. Rex single and the 1976 UK tour dates.
Published on February 28, 1976, this one‑page Record Mirror & Disc advert promotes T. Rex’s new single “London Boys” and lists the band’s late‑February and early‑March tour dates, alongside a thank‑you note for their strong showing in the magazine’s annual readers’ poll.
📰 Key Highlights
• One‑page advert in Record Mirror & Disc, dated 28 February 1976
• Promotes the new single “London Boys” (MARC 13)
• Includes UK tour dates from Feb 24 – Mar 6, 1976
• Features artwork with a stylised alleyway scene
• Mentions the Futuristic Dragon LP (BLN 5004)
• Thanks readers for voting T. Rex into nine categories in the 1976 poll
• Single originally released 21 February 1976
📰 Overview
By early 1976, T. Rex were entering a new phase of their career. “London Boys,” released on 21 February 1976, was one of Marc Bolan’s late‑period glam singles — sharp, streetwise, and rooted in the urban imagery he was exploring at the time. The advert published in Record Mirror & Disc on February 28 served as both a promotional push for the single and a celebration of the band’s continued popularity with readers.
The page combines bold typography, a theatrical alleyway photograph, and a list of imminent tour dates. It also includes a small reproduction of the Futuristic Dragon album sleeve, tying the single into Bolan’s broader 1976 output. The advert closes with a note thanking fans for voting T. Rex into nine categories in the magazine’s annual poll — a reminder that, even as the glam era shifted, Bolan’s fanbase remained fiercely loyal.
📰 Source Details
Publication / Venue: Record Mirror & Disc
Date: 28 February 1976
Issue / Format: One‑page advert
Provenance Notes: Advert verified from the printed page you provided; single release details confirmed via discographic sources.
📰 The Story
The advert captures T. Rex at a transitional moment. “London Boys” was not tied to a studio album, but instead emerged from Bolan’s ongoing work on two abandoned rock operas — The London Opera and Billy Super Duper. The song’s B‑side, “Solid Baby,” came from the Bolan’s Zip Gun sessions, reflecting the eclectic nature of Bolan’s mid‑’70s output.
The imagery in the advert — a group of children and adults posed in a narrow brick alleyway — evokes the gritty theatricality Bolan was leaning into during this period. It mirrors the song’s themes of street life, swagger, and youthful bravado. The inclusion of tour dates reinforces the band’s active presence on the road, with shows across Manchester, New Brighton, Glasgow, Falkirk, and Kilmarnock.
The thank‑you message at the bottom of the advert acknowledges T. Rex’s strong performance in the magazine’s 1976 readers’ poll, demonstrating that Bolan’s cultural footprint remained significant even as the glam landscape evolved. The advert also subtly promotes Futuristic Dragon, released earlier that month, positioning “London Boys” within the broader context of Bolan’s 1976 creative resurgence.
📰 Visual Archive
Record Mirror & Disc advert for “London Boys,” published February 28, 1976.
Record Mirror & Disc – UK – 1976
• One‑page advert
• Promoting “London Boys” (MARC 13)
• Includes 1976 UK tour dates
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📰 Closing Notes
This advert stands as a vivid snapshot of T. Rex’s 1976 identity — theatrical, street‑styled, and still commanding strong fan devotion. It remains one of the most visually striking single adverts of Bolan’s late‑glam period.
📰 Sources
• Record Mirror & Disc, 28 February 1976 (advert)
• “London Boys” release information and chart data
📝 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.
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