'It felt like he cast a spell…'

4 Sep 20205

'Marc Bolan was magical, but also sexually heightened and androgynous, with this glitter and makeup. It's funny, the go-go dancers of the era were the legendary Pan's People – he was way more intriguing sexually than they were. I'd never seen anything like it: ‘What the hell is this? Real lads are not into this kind of stuff – this is clearly music for girls.' But when I picked up a guitar a year later, Hot Love was the first song I learned to play….'

In an interview with The Guardian today, Edge recalls watching Top of the Pops as a nine year old in Dublin and first coming across Marc Bolan and T-Rex. 

The band are among a stellar line up on Angelheaded Hipster: The Songs of Marc Bolan & T Rex  available now, produced by longtime friend and collaborator Hal Willner, who died earlier this year.

Edge, Larry, Bono and Adam went into the studio with Hal in New Orleans in 2017 to perform  'Bang A Gong (Get It On)' and they're joined by Trombone Shorty and Elton John on piano - almost 50 years after Elton joined Marc Bolan on Top Of The Pops back in 1971.

'AngelHeaded Hipster: The Songs Of Marc Bolan and T.Rex' 

• Children Of The Revolution - Kesha
• Cosmic Dancer - Nick Cave
• Jeepster - Joan Jett
• Scenescof - Devendra Banhart
• Life's A Gas - Lucinda Williams
• Solid Gold, Easy Action - Peaches
• Dawn Storm - Børns
• Hippy Gumbo - Beth Orton
• I Love To Boogie  King Khan
• Beltane Walk - Gaby Moreno
• Bang A Gong (Get It On) - U2 feat. Elton John
• Diamond Meadows - John Cameron Mitchell
• Ballrooms Of Mars - Emily Haines
• Main Man - Father John Misty
• Rock On - Perry Farrell
• The Street and Babe Shadow - Elysian Fields
• The Leopards - Gavin Friday
• Metal Guru - Nena
• Teenage Dream - Marc Almond
• Organ Blues - Helga Davis
• Planet Queen - Todd Rundgren
• Great Horse - Jessie Harris
• Mambo Sun - Sean Lennon and Charlotte Kemp Muhl
• Pilgrim's Tale - Victoria Williams with Julian Lennon
• Bang A Gong (Get It On) Reprise - David Johansen
• She Was Born To Be My Unicorn / Ride A White Swan - Maria McKee & Gavin Friday

Comments
5
You must be a logged-in member to add comments.
MisterInvisible
The Fly is back
Nice to hear Bono's Achtung-era vocal stylings again!
bowieno
To answer poster below...
...can’t give away covers, only originals. I know this from my Annual Grateful Dead bonus free live Cd. No covers allowed only originals
bowieno
Marc and T Rex and Hal W. And U2
Nice fun version. Still want to hear The take on Jean Genie, but T. Rex And Get it On is Right up there! Glad you got to work with Hal Willner who did those latter year Lou Reed albums.
alexisaurus
Top-Notch
It is fun to hear a U2 and Elton John collab, especially on a song that is so gaudy and bombastic-- the epitome of rock n' roll. I am definitely biased, but the vocals are excruciatingly seductive and almost-- almost-- transcendent. The listener can really hear the respect all the musicians involved have towards Bolan, which is key to a great tribute.
annbert
This track as a present!
Why not offering this track as a present to the U2.com-subscribers?
Newer comments    1 - 5 of 5    Older comments

RECENT NEWS

19 Apr, 2024

Second in the series of digital Deep Dives and B-Sides. (Plus Atomic City for Record Store Day.)

18 Apr, 2024

On Friday, Adam is a guest on BBC's Gardeners World.

2
17 Apr, 2024

The final show from U2:UV in Las Vegas, broadcasting in 12 countries around the world.

11 Apr, 2024

Kiss The Future will premiere on Paramount+ in the US and Canada on May 7th.