Was Marc Bolan to the UK what the Ramones were to the US?

[Taverner]

The Ramones gave us a 'back to basics' Rock and Roll sound that was in response to the overkill of previous music.

Marc Bolan gave the UK a 'BoogieWoogie' style that was in response to the overkill of previous music.

[Tikki]

1. His music definitely caught my attention....

at a time when music was not playing a big part in my life.

I had to play catch up with the glam/glitter posh pop scene..

But by the mid 70's I knew there was life before Bowie and I knew

I liked what Bolan and Hunter and others were sounding out...

Bolan was an innovator...a good one.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ylww2dOW7fg
Tikki

[GCP]

2. Have you seen this one? A young unknown Elton John plays session piano with T. Rex

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZS368ay2xFo

[Taverner]

3. And from the videos of him live, he had serious stage presence

The only other person with that gravitas from that era would be Jim Morrison

[mitchum]

4. My wife, who grew up in England,was surprised to find out that T Rex...

had a hip enduring legacy in the states. She remembered being a big fan when they were a teenybopper band in the UK. She was really into them and when Bolan's heyday passed,she, like many, moved on to the Bay City Rollers

[mitchum]

5. Granted, it was a very neat trick, but he was essentially a one trick pony...

and after the trick was done and the crowd had drifted away, he became a very bitter and nasty man. Nasty to, and envious of, even those who tried to help him out...particularly David Bowie.

I saw T Rex in 1974 and Bolan was already tired and just (barely) going through the motions

[Taverner]

6. Interesting...didn't know that

True, he did invent the Glam Rocker - something that Bowie, and then later legions of shitty LA Hair Bands copied.

But he did bring boogie back to rock and roll, in the same way the Ramones brought quick three-chord monte's back to rock and roll.

Now if we're talking Lou Reed and/or VU we are talking something quite different (try Gods among Men)

[mitchum]

7. I always argue that Norman Greenbaum invented the sound of glam rock...

his "Spirit In The Sky" contains every sonic element found in glam rock.
When it comes to rock, Americans innovate and then the Brits take it to the bank :)

[Taverner]

9. Um, we need more beer and a silent room for an argument like that :)

Because I would argue the opposite - I argue the only good bands come from the UK


ON EDIT: Besides, you could never compare Spirit in the Sky to Life On Mars, Moonage Daydream or Lady Stardust.

[mitchum]

10. The Velvets, Stooges, CCR, Television, Howlin Wolf's band...

New York Dolls, Ramones, Booker T and the MGs, Voidoids, Patti Smith Group, Dream Syndicate, Sonic Youth, and Feelies would take exception to that :)

[Taverner]

11. The Ramones Sucked

The New York Dolls took one look at the London Glam scene, and re-tooled it for the US (e.g. all the gender confusion in tact, all of the bisexuality removed). Patti Smith was OK - SONIC YOUTH WAS GENIUS, but that was the 80's. Things were much different then.

Booker T and the MG's, while a great R&B group, never really did the glam thing.

I'm surprised you didn't menion VU since they were the greatest American contribution to the Glam Scene. Actually, they were beyond that, even in 66. They were doing their own thing at a time when no one else was. And it was brilliant. Bloody Brilliant.

[mitchum]

12. They were first in my listing...(I'm one of those old time Bangsian types...

who prefers to call them The Velvets because "Velvet Underground" sounds just a little too Strawberry Alarm Clock-like) because they are first among...well...actually they have no equals

"Booker T and the MG's, while a great R&B group, never really did the glam thing" Really? I take it you have never seen those pictures of Booker T and Steve Cropper in bustiers and stilettos on a sultry Memphis night :)

[mitchum]

13. Response to edit:I would never really consider those 3 stellar Bowie songs...

to be glam. He really only flirted with glam for a year or so, and that was mostly in his presentation. Remember, even Foghat was wearing eyeliner and platforms during this period. For me, glam is represented by the acts that were considered bouilerplate glam during its heyday. T Rex, Slade, Sweet, Mud, Gary Glitter, etc...
Those acts all had that simple chugging stomping chanting thing going on. They also were all marketed to, and for, a younger audience than the one for Bowie, Reed, Dolls, Iggy, etc...

[southpaw]

8. Always loved "Children of the Revolution"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xgcxd9wtXUE&feature=related