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English singer-songwriter, guitarist, and frontman of the band T. Rex, pioneer of the glam rock movement. Born in London, Bolan rose from mod beginnings to become a psychedelic folk figurehead with Tyrannosaurus Rex before reinventing himself as the electric, glitter-dusted superstar of T. Rex. He achieved massive commercial success in the early 1970s, dubbed 'T. Rextasy', with hits like 'Get It On', 'Hot Love', and 'Telegram Sam'. His song '20th Century Boy' (often referenced as '21st Century Boy') remains an enduring rock anthem. His flamboyant style, poetic lyrics, and driving guitar riffs defined glam rock. Tragically, he died in a car accident weeks before his 30th birthday.

• Bolan began his career as a model and member of a mod band before transitioning to acoustic, hippie-inspired folk music as part of the duo Tyrannosaurus Rex with Steve Peregrin Took.
• His shift to electric rock with the shortened band name T. Rex in 1970 marked a dramatic change in sound and image, leading to unprecedented chart success in the UK.
• He became a major teen idol and pop culture phenomenon during the peak of 'T.Rextasy', comparable to Beatlemania, with four UK number-one singles.
• His flamboyant stage persona, featuring glitter, satin, and platform boots, made him a defining icon of the glam rock era alongside David Bowie.
• Bolan died instantly on September 16, 1977, when the purple Mini 1275 GT driven by his girlfriend, Gloria Jones, crashed into a tree in Barnes, London, just two weeks before his 30th birthday. Jones survived with serious injuries.
• His death occurred just as he was attempting a career comeback with a new TV series and album.