Jeepster

Zoo Freaks, get ready to groove with the Zoo Crew as we spin "Jeepster" by T. Rex from their iconic album Electric Warrior. This track, released as a single on November 5, 1971, hit No. 2 on the UK Singles Chart but stirred some drama. Marc Bolan, the band’s frontman, had already left Fly Records for EMI when Fly released "Jeepster" without his permission, sparking a legal battle that left Bolan reluctant to promote it. Despite this, the song’s infectious glam rock vibe made it a fan favorite. Bolan revealed in interviews that he drew inspiration from Howlin’ Wolf’s "You’ll Be Mine," written by Willie Dixon, adapting its bluesy rhythm into a sexy, car-metaphor-laden anthem. He cheekily admitted, “I don’t sing the old rock ’n’ roll songs myself. I prefer to change the words and make new songs out of them. That’s all ‘Jeepster’ is.” The song’s raw energy also comes from Bolan’s unique touch—those percussive beats in the middle? That’s Marc tap-dancing on the studio floor, or as he called it, “Me doing a little bit of tap dancing.”

Another cool tidbit: "Jeepster" holds a quirky place in tech history. On April 19, 2002, it became the first song ever identified by the music-recognition app Shazam, back when users had to dial 2580 to get song details texted to them. The track’s cultural reach extends to cinema too, blasting from a jukebox in Quentin Tarantino’s 2007 film Death Proof, cementing its gritty, rebellious edge. Fans on X still rave about its timeless appeal, with posts like one from @MVinny69 in 2021 calling it “still a wonderful record 50 years later” and quoting its poetic line, “You’ve got the universe reclining in your hair.” Cover versions by artists like Joan Jett & the Blackhearts for the 2020 Marc Bolan tribute album Angelheaded Hipster and Chad Smith with Josh Klinghoffer for a 2019 Record Store Day release show its lasting influence across genres.

T. Rex, originally Tyrannosaurus Rex, was born in 1967 in London, led by the charismatic Marc Bolan. Bolan, born Mark Feld on September 30, 1947, kicked off his career as a mod in London’s Soho scene, modeling and dabbling in music. His early influences included rock ’n’ roll pioneers like Little Richard and Eddie Cochran, but he also idolized guitar gods like Eric Clapton and Jimi Hendrix. Bolan’s first musical venture was a brief stint with the band John’s Children in 1967, but he soon formed Tyrannosaurus Rex with percussionist Steve Peregrine Took. Their early sound was psychedelic folk, releasing four underground albums filled with whimsical, Tolkien-inspired lyrics. Producer Tony Visconti, who later shaped Electric Warrior, started calling them “T. Rex” as a shorthand, a name Bolan initially resisted but adopted in 1970 as they shifted to electric rock. This pivot, sparked by the 1970 hit “Ride a White Swan,” launched them into glam rock stardom, with Bolan’s glittery stage presence and androgynous style defining the era.

While T. Rex disbanded after Bolan’s tragic death in a car crash in 1977, their legacy thrives online. The official website, marbolan.com, is a treasure trove of band history, discography, and news about tribute projects. You can connect with fans on the official T. Rex Facebook page, which shares vintage photos and updates, or follow trex.marcbolan on Instagram for iconic shots of Bolan’s flamboyant style. On X, the @T_Rex_MarcBolan account keeps the vibe alive with fan interactions and throwback posts. For deeper fan engagement, check out the T. Rex Fans Facebook group, where Zoo Freaks can swap stories and celebrate Bolan’s genius. Fan-run sites like Till Dawn offer detailed archives, from lyrics to rare photos, keeping the T. Rex spirit burning bright.