📰 Nothing Extinct About T. Rex – Article: Mar. 1972

Writer: Rocky Marotte / Staten Island Advance

Date: March 5 1972

Length: 5–6 min read

A vivid concert feature capturing T. Rex’s triumphant return to New York — from their humble Café Au Go Go debut to a sold‑out Carnegie Hall show — as Marc Bolan and band attempt to translate British superstardom into American impact.

From cult obscurity to Carnegie Hall — Bolan’s electric swagger hits the East Coast.

Rocky Marotte charts T. Rex’s rise from a failed New York debut to a high‑energy Carnegie Hall performance, noting Marc Bolan’s magnetic stage presence, the band’s rhythmic power, and the mixed reactions of a divided American audience.

📰 Key Highlights

• Carnegie Hall concert: February 27 1972

• Notes on Bolan’s stage antics and guitar style

• Band lineup: Bolan, Steve Currie, Will Legend, Mickey Finn

• Commentary on “Bang a Gong” and “Telegram Sam” chart success

• Observations on audience division and sound issues

📰 Overview

In early 1972, T. Rex returned to New York with momentum. Their single “Bang a Gong (Get It On)” had cracked the American charts, and “Telegram Sam” was dominating in Britain. The Carnegie Hall show marked the climax of their U.S. tour — a chance to prove that Marc Bolan’s glam‑rock charisma could resonate stateside.

Rocky Marotte’s Staten Island Advance feature captures this moment with clarity and nuance. He recalls the band’s earlier Café Au Go Go debut, where they failed to earn an encore, and contrasts it with the sold‑out Carnegie Hall crowd. Bolan’s performance is described as visually commanding — a fusion of Rod Stewart and Mick Jagger energy, wrapped in glitter and guitar.

Yet the article doesn’t shy away from the concert’s flaws: sound issues, uneven harmonies, and a divided audience. Some fans surged toward the stage in ecstatic response, while others walked out mid‑show. This tension reflects the challenge T. Rex faced in translating their British success into American stardom.

📰 Source Details

Publication / Venue: Staten Island Advance

Date: March 5 1972

Format: Concert Feature / Tour Commentary

Provenance Notes:

• Based on a surviving newspaper clipping

• Only the T. Rex article used

• Summary only — no copyrighted text reproduced

📰 The Story

Marotte opens with a retrospective: Tyrannosaurus Rex’s early New York appearance at the Café Au Go Go, where they failed to earn an encore. Fast forward to February 27 1972, and the renamed T. Rex are headlining Carnegie Hall — a symbol of their rising profile.

Marc Bolan, now dubbed “Electric Warrior,” commands the stage with frizzy hair, flamboyant movement, and a guitar‑driven swagger. His dancing and aloofness are central to the band’s appeal, matched by bassist Steve Currie’s kinetic energy and the rhythmic backbone of Will Legend and Mickey Finn.

Despite technical issues — inaudible lead guitar and muddled harmonies — the band’s raw rock ’n’ roll energy reaches parts of the crowd. Some fans rush the stage, while others leave in disappointment. Marotte notes this split reaction, suggesting that while T. Rex are poised for American success, they haven’t fully bridged the cultural gap.

The article ends on a cautiously optimistic note: T. Rex are “here to stay,” and their chart momentum suggests that U.S. dominance may be just around the corner.

📰 Visual Archive

• Feature article titled “Nothing extinct about T Rex”

• Mentions of Carnegie Hall concert and U.S. tour cities

• Descriptions of Bolan’s stage presence and band dynamics

• Early‑1970s Staten Island Advance layout and typography

A Staten Island Advance concert feature capturing T. Rex’s Carnegie Hall moment and American growing pains.

📰 Related Material

• T. Rex U.S. Tour (1972)

• “Bang a Gong (Get It On)” (1971)

• “Telegram Sam” (1972)

• Tyrannosaurus Rex → T. Rex transition

📰 Closing Notes

This concert feature offers a rare East Coast perspective on T. Rex’s U.S. breakthrough attempt. It captures both the spectacle and the struggle — Bolan’s magnetic performance, the band’s rhythmic power, and the cultural disconnect that made American superstardom elusive. As a regional document, it’s a vital piece of the glam‑rock puzzle.

#TRex #MarcBolan #CarnegieHall #1972Press #TelegramSam

📰 Sources

• Staten Island Advance (March 5 1972)

• Contemporary T. Rex tour chronology

• Secondary context on Bolan’s American reception

📝 Copyright Notice

All newspaper 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.