And still - at a time when both the Osmonds and Jackson Five, are drawing masses of fans wherever they travel In England - staunch Bolanites cluster around his office just hoping for a glimpse of their idol. Indeed, as more names are cropping up to fight for the title of top riot creating group, Marc Bolan seems to assume a gleeful delight in taking on the World. Far from his confidence waning, he is out-wardly bubbling with delight at the way things are progressing, and though deep down he may be hiding some niggling insecurity, his spirits are definitely high. 

Incredible 

"The only thing that I'm concerned with is that they should pick on someone who'd only had one hit," says Marc grinning cheekily. "Slade I can dig, I can take the comparisons and Michael Jackson is incredible. I liken him to Fellini as far as they both do their craft really well, and I consider myself to be on that plateau, along with a few others." 

But does Marc feel that he was ever on the level that he would consider the Osmonds and David Cassidy to be at? 

"Oh come on," he says somewhat affronted. "I've never thought of myself as being on that level. I consider that people who buy my records know exactly where I'm at, so I don't really fucking care anymore what else is said.■ 

As there have been conflicting rumours about T. Rex' progress in America, I asked Marc to sum up the situation in his own words. 

⌠Well" he smiles, picking up a glass of the champagne that has just been brought in for us. ⌠You've just seen my gold award for one million sales of Get It On in America. So, none of the rumours seem to be true. In Houston we turned away five thousands people, Los Angeles was sold out in an hour and the album is 15 in the charts. But where are David Bowie and Slade - not in the top 100! 

"It's just been incredible for us; a great tour. We used Aretha's here back up singers for most of it. We had riots like when we first started, with the little girls, who are slightly bigger, though not that much older!" Marc grins, hissing his curls around him, sipping some more champagne, then continues in a burst of enthusiasm. 

"We're an album band in the States in the same way that Jethro Tull and E.L.P. are. We haven't promoted our singles there at all, and I'm not bothered about following up with a single now. Children of the Revolution hasn't been put out yet. Something interesting, though A&M have released an album In The Beginning - I don't know how they got hold of our material - but it's done two hundred thousand already." 

In America T. Rex have been their appearance to five thousand seater, rather than progressing to the larger venues with capacities more in the region of 20 thousands. And if their popularity increases to the proportion that it has in Britain, Marc claims that he still prefers to play smaller venues. Should there be any doubt, how-ever, he emphasises just how big T. Rex are. 

⌠After seeing the film of the concert that Ringo made, I can't think of any likely comparison to us except Ringo and the dudes!" 

Though Marc con-sequently considers it can be dangerous for T. Rex to play in Britain, they will be appearing in a special Christmas show for three days at a London venue. And Marc dismisses the reported suggestions that T. Rex were not going to perform live in this country by stating simply: "While the cat's away, the mice will play!" 

Marc says that he was now forced to take a lighter view of what he considers to be the exploitation of his name and success, since in most cases it is not practicable to put a stop to the publication of posters, books, even records, issued without his agreement. 

Flattered 

"That's what Children of the Revolution is about, it was written for the kids who buy the records. I do my music for them and them only, and if people in the media want to work with me and be my friend, they're super welcome. But I'm certainly not flattered that people want to use me. If I spend 24 hours in a studio I need nothing like being flattered and told what I've done isn't bad! But you can't fool the children of the revolution, that's it." 

Having just completed work on his album and a single Solid Gold Easy Action, Marc was feeling particularly confident, and when I mentioned that, for me, his previous album Slider lacked the impact that Electric Warrior created, he commented: 

"Well Solid Gold Easy Action will blow your radio apart, and there's a track on the album that's for every girl who's ever wanted to hold my hand. They'll be discussing that one for weeks, It's the rudest one I've written - Mary Whitehouse shouldn't like it!" 

Marc claims a new exuberance has been instilled in him which will undoubtedly affect his music and emphasise the less effervescent quality of The Slider. 

"Electric Warier was made to be danceable" says Marc. "And The Slider was made to say what I really felt. I was going through a very low key stage, and I should be respected for putting out what I wanted. I was honest to myself when I put it down. But the new album is so electric - I don't even think there's one acoustic guitar on it; if there is I can't hear it! 

"I've watched them put me down for doing super commercial rock and roll, then for The Slider, so," expletives fly. Everything is very high-key with Marc at the moment. ⌠You're getting worse than ever," I laugh, to which Marc replies "It's America!" 

So expect some peak power music on the album which has strong use of piano and features vocalists Lisa Strike and Lesley Duncan, but no Leech and Eddie. 

"They couldn't record with us because they were on tour," Marc explains. And when I mentioned their comment which I'd presumed to be I a joke, that without them Marc would be nowhere, he continued. "Yes, that's their humour. Their whole line is I'm just a punk who plays on their records. After I saw that I rung Howard (Kaylan) up and said what a groove I thought it was. They also say I never pay them, but the gratuities I pay them are tremendous, though not in money!" 

Projects 

Marc, however, is currently working on a few projects which he hopes will bring in definite monetary payments. His next book of poetry should be published In January. When questioned about the delay. Marc says: "Don't forget I'm a rock 'n' roller, and I've had to put back so many other things." 

In the meantime new poetry is constantly being added to the works so that it is as up to date as possible; and the book, titled Teenage Annual, will also feature Marc's stories. 

"I'm also planning to write an animated story for TV, which is based on the characters in T. Rex. I've been offered the people who draw the Jackson Five cartoon, which is fine, and I'd like to make it like Fantasia or Yellow Submarine, which I was bored out of my mind with at the time, but now I can see it's so well done." 

For England, a chance to see the real T. Rex on film comes at Christmas, with the screening of Ringo▓s work, capturing T. Rex on and off stage.