Bolan: The Rise and Fall of the 20th Century Superstar

Rating:
Summary: Bolan, from 1960s "ace face" to 1970s T Rex superstardom
Review: This is a well-researched, detailed biography. Paytress captures the excitement developing in 1960s Britain as the mod scene sweeps Marc Feld -- a sometime photo model and guitar-strumming minstrel -- into the role of a self-made rock'n'roll icon. It's not a smooth transition. Often ignored and put-down in his earliest efforts, Bolan eventually finds success through the efforts of the radio maverick John Peel; his subsequent rise to stardom, fame, and the eventual excesses that lead to failure is the stuff of countless rock briographies. What sets Paytress's book apart from the usual sad story is Bolan's unswerving drive -- first as a brash upstart and self-promoter, then as a performer whose real talent lay in crafting the perfect three-minute pop song. The book goes a great way to renovating Bolan's tarnished image as a 70s rock'n'roll curiosity, and while his work may not be the equal of his contemprary David Bowie, Bolan was as much a craftsman in image and music as Ziggy himself.