Today in Rock History – 16th SEPTEMBER:

BIRTHDAYS
1925: Riley “B.B.” King
1948: Kenney Jones (The Small Faces / The Faces / The Who)

1952: Ron Blair (Tom Petty’s Heartbreakers)
1954: Colin Newman (Wire)
1959: Victory Tischler-Blue a.k.a. Vicki Blue (The Runaways)
1969: Justine Frischmann (Elastica)
1984: Katie Melua

EVENTS
1970: Jimi Hendrix joined Eric Burdon on stage at Ronnie Scotts in London for what would become the guitarists last ever public appearance.
1977: Death of singer / songwriter / guitarist, Marc Bolan [aged 29].

Marc Bolan went to rock star heaven 47 years ago. Bolan was a passenger in a purple Mini 1275GT (registration FOX 661L) driven by his girlfriend, Gloria Jones. The car struck a steel reinforced chain link fence post and came to rest against a sycamore tree after failing to negotiate a small humpback bridge near Gipsy Lane on Queens Ride, Barnes, southwest London. Neither occupant was wearing a seat belt. Bolan was killed instantly, while Jones suffered a broken arm and broken jaw and spent time in hospital; she did not learn of Bolan’s death until the day of his funeral, which was attended by David Bowie, Rod Stewart, Tony Visconti, Steve Harley and many others. His crash site has subsequently become a shrine to his memory, with fans travelling from all over the world to leave tributes beside the tree. Bolan never learned to drive, fearing a premature death. Despite this fear, cars or automotive components are mentioned in, if not the subject of, many of his songs and he also owned a number of vehicles, including a white 1960s Rolls-Royce. “I drive a Rolls Royce, ‘cause it’s good for my voice”.

Marc didn’t make it to 30, but he left us some fantastic songs ~ find a T. Rex record and Get It On! This is a great clip for a very cool Bolan number…