AngelHeaded Hipster is the first in-depth documentary to fully delve into the groundbreaking artistry of Marc Bolan and his legendary band T. Rex. Far more than a tribute, the film offers a rich and layered portrait of a visionary whose music, lyrics, and image helped redefine the possibilities of rock and roll.
Through rare archival footage, electrifying performances, and interviews with Bolan himself alongside icons like Elton John and Ringo Starr, the documentary paints a vivid picture of a singular talent. It also features dynamic, genre-spanning reinterpretations of Bolan’s music by artists such as Nick Cave, Joan Jett, Macy Gray, U2, Lucinda Williams, John Cameron Mitchell, Father John Misty, and Bolan’s son, Rolan Bolan. Each performance reimagines Bolan’s work through a contemporary lens while preserving its rebellious spirit and poetic soul.
In the early 1970s, glam rock burst onto the scene with glitter, swagger, and a defiant sense of style—and leading the charge was none other than Marc Bolan. Before his rise to stardom, Bolan struggled to find his footing with his band Tyrannosaurus Rex, a psychedelic folk outfit that never quite broke through. But when he reinvented himself and streamlined the name to T. Rex, everything changed. With the release of “Bang a Gong (Get It On),” glam rock officially had its anthem, and Bolan became its glitter-drenched messiah.
Even legendary figures like Ringo Starr were swept up in the phenomenon, recognizing the magic of T. Rex. But as with all musical revolutions, glam rock had its moment in the spotlight before fading into the shadows. Flashy, self-indulgent, and defiantly over-the-top, glam rock wasn’t just a style—it was a statement. It emerged as a reaction to the serious, earnest tone of late ’60s rock, offering an outrageous and theatrical counterpunch to the mainstream. In many ways, glam rock was rebellion against rebellion—a sparkly, androgynous revolution staged from the fringes of both society and rock culture.
At its core, glam rock was powered by thunderous guitar riffs and hard rock energy, laying the sonic groundwork for what would soon become punk. And make no mistake—without Marc Bolan blazing the trail, there would be no David Bowie as Ziggy Stardust. Bolan’s influence on Bowie was direct and profound, helping usher in a new era of music where identity, gender, and art collided in explosive ways.
Glam rock’s legacy is as enduring as it is dazzling. You can trace its DNA through punk, glam metal, new romanticism, pop, goth rock, and more. It was an evolution of rock’s flamboyant roots—hearkening back to Little Richard’s showmanship—and it paved the way for generations of artists to embrace performance, fashion, and character as integral to their sound.
AngelHeaded Hipster doesn’t just chart Bolan’s rise to fame—it celebrates the full arc of his life and influence. From his early days scouring Carnaby Street’s dustbins with a young David Bowie, to his transformation into a glitter-drenched glam rock pioneer and his later forays into soul and proto-punk, the film presents Bolan as a fearless innovator. His final years with singer and partner Gloria Jones add an emotional meaning to the story of a man who lived fast, loved hard, and left behind a dazzling legacy.
Brimming with energy, heart, and visual flair, this documentary reintroduces Marc Bolan to a new generation—not merely as the glitter-soaked star behind timeless hits like “Bang a Gong (Get It On),” but as a bold, boundary-pushing artist who shattered conventions of gender, style, and sound. While some of his original fans may have moved on, Bolan’s music remains ripe for rediscovery—an eternal invitation for young audiences seeking a raw, rebellious soundtrack that still feels electrifyingly fresh.
Marc Bolan and his glittering glam rock era felt like one long, euphoric celebration—an explosion of style, sound, and attitude that lit up the early ’70s like a supernova. But like all wild parties, it couldn’t last forever. While Bolan was eager to keep the music alive and the momentum going, the cultural tide was already shifting. His early fans grew older, tastes evolved, and rock music was heading in new directions.
When Bolan tragically died in a car crash at just 29, the world had already started to move on, and the music industry was charting a different course—toward punk, disco, and beyond. It’s impossible to know exactly where he would have fit into this new landscape, but one thing is certain: he still had so much more to say.
What remains is a brilliant, glittering snapshot of a career that burned bright and ended far too soon—a legacy frozen in time, yet still powerful enough to inspire generations of artists, dreamers, and outsiders who continue to find magic in Marc Bolan’s fearless creativity.
Written and Directed by Ethan Silverman.
Executive Producers: Dan Braun, Frederic Casimir, Hartwig Masuch, Alistair Norbury, Stuart Souter
Produced by: Bill Curbishley, Ethan Silverman
Edited by: Alexander Frasse, Michael Taylor
Screenings are now available.
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