Tyrannosaurus Rex

British psychedelic folk duo

Tyrannosaurus Rex was a British rock band formed in 1967 by singer-songwriter and guitarist Marc Bolan. The band initially began as a psychedelic folk duo with Bolan and percussionist Steve Peregrin Took. Their early work was characterized by whimsical lyrics and acoustic melodies, which later evolved into the pioneering glam rock sound that would make them famous under the shortened name T. Rex. Tyrannosaurus Rex released four albums before transforming into T. Rex in 1970: "My People Were Fair and Had Sky in Their Hair... But Now They're Content to Wear Stars on Their Brows" (1968), "Prophets, Seers & Sages: The Angels of the Ages" (1968), "Unicorn" (1969), and "A Beard of Stars" (1970). The transition to T. Rex marked a shift towards electric instrumentation and a more mainstream rock sound, which catapulted the band to greater commercial success with hits like "Get It On" and "Ride a White Swan," the latter often cited as the herald of glam rock. Marc Bolan's charisma and distinctive style played a significant role in the band's popularity until his untimely death in 1977, which effectively ended T. Rex as an active entity.