A Celebration of T. Rex and Marc Bolan in 'AngelHeaded Hipster'

Summary

Podcast Summary: “A Celebration of T. Rex and Marc Bolan in 'AngelHeaded Hipster'”

Podcast: All Of It with Alison Stewart (WNYC)
Air Date: September 4, 2025
Main Guests:

• Ethan Silverman (Director, “AngelHeaded Hipster”)
• Bill Curbishly (Producer, “AngelHeaded Hipster”; longtime manager, The Who)

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Overview

This episode of "All Of It" centers on the enduring influence of Marc Bolan—frontman of T. Rex, architect of glam rock, poet, and visionary—and the new documentary "AngelHeaded Hipster," chronicling both Bolan’s legacy and the making of a star-studded tribute album produced by the late Hal Willner. Host Alison Stewart discusses the film’s genesis, Bolan’s impact on music and culture, his relationships, and how “AngelHeaded Hipster” seeks to bring overdue recognition to his catalogue in America.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Origins of “AngelHeaded Hipster”

[01:53]

• Ethan Silverman traces the project’s roots to his and Bill Curbishly’s collaboration on a musical, with Curbishly introducing him to Bolan’s lesser-known works.
• Silverman, initially only familiar with hits like “Bang a Gong (Get It On),” quickly became captivated by the breadth of Bolan’s catalogue.

  “I said, Bill, we've got to do an album. We have to make a film. … Let's revisit this great artist.” – Ethan Silverman [02:16]

Bolan’s Place in Pop Culture and the U.S.

[02:47]

• Bill Curbishly reflects on Bolan’s immense popularity in the UK and Europe and laments that his genius wasn’t properly appreciated in America—despite inspiring icons like Bowie.

  “He had the one hit, but he should have been much bigger. … He deserved more recognition.” – Bill Curbishly [03:15]

The Innovation and Courage of Marc Bolan

[03:46]

• Curbishly identifies Bolan as a pioneer of glam rock, unafraid to embrace flamboyance and sexual ambiguity, paving the way for Freddie Mercury, Elton John, and David Bowie.

  “He opened the door for people to basically declare who they were.” – Bill Curbishly [04:09]

Hal Willner’s Eclectic Approach to the Tribute Album

[04:31]

• The album aimed to spotlight songwriting craft, not just glam rock’s trappings.
• Willner, known for curating multi-genre tributes, assembled artists like Nick Cave, U2, Lucinda Williams, and Joan Jett.

  “We wanted the songs to be featured as great songs, lyric writing, melody making, all of it, and not just the glam rock package.” – Ethan Silverman [04:35]

Observing the Musicianship—The Making of the Album

[06:23]

• The documentary adopts a cinéma vérité style, offering an unvarnished look at how artists reinterpret Bolan’s songs in the studio.

  “My goal was to create [a] cinema verite version of what it takes to put something together … to show Mark as a living artist.” – Ethan Silverman [06:34]

Listeners’ Connections to Bolan’s Work

[07:09-08:52]

• Maddie from Asbury Park shares the emotional resonance of “Cosmic Dancer” and how “Electric Warrior” was her first self-bought CD.
• Leslie from Brooklyn, a music photographer, speaks to Bolan’s inexhaustible visual and musical allure, noting the iconic photo shot by Ringo Starr for “The Slider.”

Who Was Bolan Writing For?

[09:02]

• Curbishly believes Bolan’s music started as a form of self-expression but connected with audiences desiring something new and distinct from the mainstream.

  “He wasn't following any trend … he provided [something different] in the way he looked, the way he behaved and his songs.” – Bill Curbishly [09:02]

• U.S. mainstream success was limited, partly due to Bolan’s lack of touring:

  “He was very, very English. … He hadn't visited the States, so nobody had actually seen him perform.” – Bill Curbishly [09:49]

The Magic of “Cosmic Dancer” and Nick Cave’s Role

[10:36]

• Nick Cave’s passionate request to sing “Cosmic Dancer” set the project in motion—even before contracts or funding were in place.

  “It was the rough mix of that song that essentially got every artist to commit to the project.” – Ethan Silverman [11:19]

• Silverman credits Cave as the “artistic godfather” who pulled the tribute album together.

Bolan as Poet—Beyond Music

[13:38]

• Bolan was a prolific poet; his book “The Warlock of Love” sold well in the UK.
• Many musicians, including Joe Elliott (Def Leppard), first discovered Bolan through his poetry, not his music.

  “The poetry came first before the music.” – Bill Curbishly [14:22]

Gloria Jones—Partner, Collaborator, and Muse

[15:23]

• Gloria Jones, an accomplished soul singer and arranger, deeply influenced Bolan musically and personally.
• She contributed arrangements to T. Rex and became a central part of his musical life and legacy.

  “They became life partners and work partners, and it was... and parents.” – Ethan Silverman [16:15]

Bolan’s Gender, Sexuality, and Industry Impact

[16:34]

• Bolan’s gender-fluid fashion and open comments on sexuality were daring for the time, eliciting initial surprise but eventual admiration and opening doors for later artists.

  “The reaction at first ... was, no, not shock, but maybe surprise, and then delight, because it … opened the door.” – Bill Curbishly [16:54]

Friendship and Rivalry with David Bowie

[18:28]

• Bolan and Bowie were close friends and occasional rivals since youth; their connection was personal and artistic, often exaggerated by press narratives.

  “They were two peas in a pod.” – Alan Edwards (quoted by Ethan Silverman) [19:06] “I think it was a true loving friendship, and that's what I wanted to bring across in the film.” – Ethan Silverman [19:52]

Bolan’s Media Savvy and Foresight

[20:38–21:27]

• Bolan anticipated the cultural impact of color television, aligning his visual and musical artistry with the medium’s possibilities.
• He hosted a kids-focused variety/musical show, rejuvenated his career, and gave Bowie one of his biggest TV appearances, just before Bolan’s untimely death.

  “Everything about him was color, you know, and he didn't think black and white.” – Bill Curbishly [20:55]

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “He opened the door for people to basically declare who they were.” – Bill Curbishly [04:09]
• “This is a wild, crazy ride, but Marc Bolan and T. Rex deserve it.” – Ethan Silverman [05:44]
• “I dance myself right out the womb.” – Mark Bolan, “Cosmic Dancer” [12:17 song excerpt]
• “The poetry came first before the music.” – Bill Curbishly [14:22]
• “I consider [Nick Cave] the artistic godfather of the rocket that came out.” – Ethan Silverman [11:22]
• “They were two peas in a pod.” – Alan Edwards (quoted by Ethan Silverman) [19:06]
• “Everything about him was color … he didn’t think black and white.” – Bill Curbishly [20:55]

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Highlighted Timestamps

• 01:53 — Project genesis: Silverman’s introduction to Bolan via Curbishly
• 03:46 — Bolan’s pioneering glam rock and cultural openness
• 04:31 — Hal Willner’s vision for the tribute album
• 06:34 — Documenting the creative process, blending studio and archival footage
• 07:09–08:52 — Listeners share their Bolan stories
• 09:02 — For whom was Bolan making music?
• 10:36 — Nick Cave’s emotional involvement in “Cosmic Dancer”
• 13:38 — Bolan as a poet
• 15:23 — Gloria Jones and her influence on Bolan
• 16:34 — Bolan’s sexual fluidity and impact on the music industry
• 18:28 — Bolan and David Bowie’s friendship and rivalry
• 20:38 — Bolan’s foresight regarding color television and his variety show

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Tone and Language

The episode is thoughtful, celebratory, and occasionally poignant, reflecting on the artistry and cultural impact of Bolan as told by passionate filmmakers, veteran music managers, and devoted fans. The language is conversational but informed, with a reverence for the subject’s legacy and an appreciation for the quirky, flamboyant spirit of Bolan himself.

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Final Thoughts

"AngelHeaded Hipster" is both a tribute to Marc Bolan’s outsized, underappreciated genius and a behind-the-scenes story of how artists today continue to celebrate his music. The episode serves both those familiar with Bolan and newcomers, illuminating why his star continues to shine.

Transcript

[A]

You're listening to all of it on wnyc. I'm Alison Stewart. Mark Boland wasn't just the face of T Rex. He was one of the architects of glam rock. The band stormed the UK charts in the early 70s, scoring 11 top 10 singles, four of them number ones in the US Their breakthrough came through with the song Bang a Gong, Get It On. But in Britain, Boland was a cultural force influenced, influencing Bowie in style and sound throughout his life. Although his life was cut short in 1977 by a car crash, his music endures. And in 2020, T Rex was inducted into the Rock and Roll hall of Fame. A new documentary titled Angel Headed Hipster, the Songs of Mark Bolan and T Rex is centered on the making of a tribute album produced by the late Hal Wilner, the renowned producer. The documentary includes archival footage of Bolin and T Rex, plus personal insight from Bolan's partner, the singer Gloria Jones and their son Roland, as well as artists he influenced like Billy Idol and Elton John. The Songs of Mark Bolan and T Rex is playing at the Alamo Drafthouse in lower Manhattan this Sunday and Monday. And starting Friday, it will stream everywhere you rent movies. Listeners, do you remember the first time you heard Mark Bolan or T Rex or what Bowen songs did they mean to you? What did they mean to you? Our Phone number is 2124-3396-9221-2433. WNYC. As we get our calls to come in, we are joined by director Ethan Silverman. Hi, Ethan.

[B]

Hi, Alison.

[A]

And joining us via Zoom is producer Bill Curbishly. Hi, Bill.

[C]

Hi there. You okay?

[A]

I'm doing great. It's good to see you as well. Ethan. How did this project get started?

[B]

Well, it got started because my friend Bill calling in from Toronto. We were working on a musical theater project that Bill had an idea for. And he introduced me really to the catalog of Mark Boland and T Rex. And I was kind of like most Americans my age only knew get it on, Bang a Gong and some songs from Billy Elliot. And Bill said, that's you gotta educate yourself. And I did quickly and streamed everything and it blew my mind. And I said, bill, we've got to do an album. We have to make a film. We have to do ev. Like, let's like revisit this great artist. That's how it started.

[D]

Bill is an executive producer of Angel Headed Hipster and a longtime manager of the who. When you think of Mark Bolan, what was it about him that you wanted to highlight?

[C]

Well, I mean, the fact was that in the early days, I was at Trek Records and we had Mark Bolan on the. On the label, firstly with his first band, which was called John's Children, and then after that, Tyrannosaurus Rex, which was shortened to T Rex. And my feeling was that although he was hugely popular in lots of areas, you know, the UK in particular, but also in Europe and some other territories around the world, he wasn't given the right, if you like, appreciation and acclamation in America. I felt that he missed it a little bit. He had the one hit, but he should have been much bigger. So that's why I suggested it to Ethan, because I always felt that he deserved more recognition.

[D]

Bill, what was unique about Mark Boland?

[C]

Well, he was one of the first in what we term as glam rock. He was incredibly flamboyant, and he came out and showed that flamboyant nature and his bisexuality, etc, and in turn, that was picked up by Freddie Mercury, by Elton John, by David Bowie, all kinds of people. So he opened the door for people to basically declare who they were.

[D]

Ethan, this also turned out to be.

[A]

Hal Wllner's last project.

[D]

What was his vision? How did he decide to bring all.

[A]

Of these artists together on this album?

[B]

That's a great question. Bill and I wanted to do something a bit different. So we wanted the songs to be featured as great songs, lyric writing, melody making, all of it, and not just say, you know, the glam rock package. And. Although that's very much in the film. But I was a huge fan of Hal Wilners from his Kurt Weill compilation, in which he had worked with many people like Lou Reed and Tom Waits and Sting and Debbie Harry, et cetera. And I thought if he could do that, something that electricity, eclectic and alive with the music of Kurt Weil. And then he did a Disney album and so forth and so on. He did a Thelonious Monk album, and when the record company suggested Hal, it was their suggestion. And Bill and I met with him at NBC because he was also the supervisor on SNL Forever. So he also had access to a lot of artists all the time. We just said, okay, this is gonna be a wild ride. Let's give it a try. And Hal's vision was really incredible. Hal brought to it some of the strongest artists on the album, obviously, like, Nick Cave was the first artist who does Cosmic Dancer, his friends Bono and the edge and U2 cover, get it on Bang a Gong. Lucinda Williams does Life's a Gas. I mean, really eclectic really all over the place. And then it was. And Bill has a strong friendship with Joan Jett, and Joan Jett does Jeepster. And all of us together said, this is a wild, crazy ride, but Mark Bolan and T. Rex deserve it. And let's do it.

[D]

It's sort of cool to watch them work their way through the song the.

[A]

Way that they have to, like, oh, should it be louder here, should it be softer here?

[D]

It was really kind of a cool vibe, especially watching you two do that.

[B]

Oh, thank you. Thank you. I wanted to bring. My goal was to create cinema verite version of what it takes to put something together because I thought that would really highlight the strength of Mark's songs and then combine it with the archival. Not just to do the straight ahead behind the Music with all the archival footage and interviews with the superstars, but to meld the two together to show Mark as a living artist.

[A]

Let's take a couple of calls. This is Maddie, who's calling in from Asbury Park, New Jersey.

[B]

Nice.

[D]

Hi, Maddie, thanks for taking the time.

[A]

To call, all of it.

[E]

Of course.

[F]

Thanks for having me. I'm so happy we're having. You guys are discussing Mark Boland. He's been like, such an influence. I remember my first CD I ever bought with my own money was Electric Warrior, and I played it until it broke, basically. And I love his, you know, the influence that he still does have and just the energy, but also the, you know, emotionality to it. You know, I could still cry to Cosmic Dancer today and just how he really encases a lot of emotions. And I'm excited to, you know, stream the movie. I love to see it.

[A]

Maddie, thanks for calling in. Let's talk to Leslie on line two. She's calling in from Brooklyn.

[D]

You are on the air, Leslie.

[E]

Hey there. Thank you so much for taking my call. This is really thrilling. I can't wait to see the documentary. So I am a music photographer and really fell in love with, of course, that I image of Mark Bolan on the slider and then years later found out it was shot by Ringo Starr, which if your listeners don't know that, I'm so happy to be the one to tell them because when I found.

[F]

Out, it was like, what? And it was just really.

[E]

And then, of course, took a deep dive into the music. And I've always been a fan and always, you know, loved how influential Mark Bolan and T Rex was. Everyone, you know, talks about how influential they were to them. And then when I moved to New York City, one of the first shows, I went to see of the Losers Lounge, which is a great, long standing New York institution, they were doing a tribute to Mark Bolan. So it kind of followed me everywhere I went and I'm just really thrilled and can't wait to see the documentary.

[B]

Oh, thank you.

[A]

Thanks for calling in, Leslie. Bill, when you think about Mark Bolan.

[D]

Who was he making music for?

[C]

Well, I think he was making. Initially, I would say that he was making music for himself, you know, and he wasn't following any trend or what other people were doing. But then a much wider view of that is that there were people out there, you know, music lovers who were a bit hungry for something different. And he provided that in the way he looked, the way he behaved and his songs. So it just crashed through, really, especially in Europe and the uk. It took a bit longer in America, but, you know, we know why. But.

[D]

Yeah, why? We know why.

[C]

Why? Well, because he was very, very English. He hasn't. He hadn't visited the state, so nobody had actually seen him perform.

[E]

Right.

[C]

And you need to do those things to get your way in and permeate through to the core audience. So eventually that did happen. But he was very, very real and in people's. You know, he had audiences and he was in people's view in the UK and Europe initially, and that's why he became very big there.

[D]

Ethan, I want to play Cosmic Dancer a little bit. Tell us where this is featured in the film.

[B]

You want to play the original?

[D]

Yeah, we're going to play the original.

[B]

Okay. So Cosmic Dancer is a great story about the album and the film. We had had the idea. We had not completed the contracts or gotten a penny yet to start the album.

[A]

Oh, my gosh.

[B]

Or the film. And Hal happened to be in la, was on the phone with his friend Nick Cave, and Nick just asked him, what are you doing these days? And he said, oh, I want to. This Mark Bolan project. He said, I have to be on it and I have to sing Cosmic Dancer or may I sing Cosmic Dancer? And Hal said, yeah, when can you do it? And it was basically four days later. We threw it together. Musicians, a studio, a crew. I got on a plane and 12 hours later it was happening. And it was because of Nick Cave's emotional attachment to the film, to the song and what it meant to him. And I believe what was going on in his personal life, with the loss of his son a year earlier, that he brought so much to it. And it was the rough mix of that song that essentially got every artist to commit to the project. So I will always be grateful to Nick Cave. I will always be grateful to his vision for the song and for him throwing himself into the project. And I consider him the God, artistic godfather of the rocket that came out. And so, yeah, so you asked that song. So it's emotional for all of us.

[A]

Let's listen to Mark Bolen with Cosmic Dancer.

[B]

Yeah.

[G]

I was dancing when I was 12 I was dancing when I was 12 I was dancing when I was out I was dancing when I was out I danced myself right out the moon I danced myself right at the wound Easy strange to dance I dance myself right out the room.

[A]

That was Mark Bolan with Cosmic Dancers. My guests are Ethan Silverman and producer Bill Kirbishley. Their new documentary, Angel Headed Hipster, explores Mark Bolan's legacy and the making of a tribute album produced by Hal Wilner. Bill Boland also published a book of poetry, the Warlock of Love, which became a best selling book of poetry in the UK at the time. What was it about? What did it reveal around about Mark Poland.

[C]

In terms of the poetry? I was quite surprised actually, because we were talking to Joe Elliot, you know, the leader of Def Leppard, and he said he was into Bolan when he was younger, but initially he got into his poetry before his music, which was really interesting to me because he was a very prolific poet. And, you know, I guess that was his exercise in terms of lyrics and extensions of lyrics and the, the opening of the writing of songs. So the poetry came first and, or in parallel, but I think it became came first before the music. Yeah.

[A]

When we return, we'll hear about Mark Boland's partner, his daughter, and more of Angel Headed Hipster, the documentary. Stay with us.

[D]

You're listening to all of it on wnyc. I'm Alison Stewart. The documentary is called Angel Headed the Songs of Mark Bolan and T. Rex. It's playing at Alamo Drafthouse in lower Manhattan this Sunday and Monday starting Friday. It will stream everywhere you rent movies. I'm speaking with its director Ethan Silverman and producer Bill Curbishly. Ethan, Gloria Jones was Mark Bolan's partner. In what ways did Gloria influence his music? Considering she was quite a singer in.

[B]

A big way because he had hired her as a backup singer to be part of the band. And Mark was really first falling in love with soul music, as he said, black music from America. And then she really became part of the band. She started to arrange with him and she, she had a long, deep history growing up in la. She was best friends with Billy Preston from the age of whatever, from church choir, and she worked at Motown. She did arrangements for Gladys Knight and the Pip. So she was also a real musician. She wasn't just a singer. And they fell in love. They became life partners and work partners, and it was.

[D]

And parents.

[B]

And parents. And Roland is. Roland Bolan is a big part of the film.

[H]

And.

[B]

We are friends to this day. And I'm friends with Gloria.

[D]

Bill, I want to talk about his gender and sexuality.

[A]

You know, he wore makeup.

[D]

He sort of joked about, I like whoever I like in interviews, you know, that kind of thing. As you were managing rock bands at the time, and Bullen was blurring the lines between gender, first of all, how do people in the industry react to him?

[C]

Well, it was very daring of him and adventurous to be honest, to come out that way and be quite honest and truthful about it all. And the reaction at first, I think, was, no, not shock, but maybe surprise, and then delight, because it come out and it opened the door for lots of other artists to follow.

[D]

Let's talk to Tom, who is calling in from Brooklyn. Hi, Tom. Thanks for making the time to call, all of it.

[H]

Hi. Yeah, the last bit of, you know, talking about the sexuality issue, well, reminded me the reason I came to Borland was through Bowie. I'm such a massive David Bowie fan. I saw him 18 times, and I remember seeing him on, I guess was Boland was headlining a show and David came on, and I know they were friends, and I know there's a connection. And of course, the last issue you talked about, the sexuality with Clay, was something that Bowie maybe put on as well, you know, and at the time, it fit and the way they dressed. So I've listened to a lot of Mark's music. I'd love to probably dig in even more. And I'm looking forward to checking out the. The book or the documentary? Excuse me. The documentary sounds fascinating.

[D]

Thanks so much for calling in, Ethan. What was Mark Bolan's relationship with David.

[A]

Bowie and how did it evolve over time?

[B]

Well, first of all, they met before. They were both famous and they were part of the scene. They were mods, and they were both probably big fans of the who, Bill's band, and went to all those gigs and. But they were. And their lives kept colliding and they became very close. Then they became very competitive, then they became close again, and they were really lifelong friends from their late teens through the end of Mark's life. And they just. They shared a publicist for A long time. Who is still alive. Alan Edwards, who works with Bill and the. And Alan said, you know, the thing about David and Mark is that they were two peas in a pod. And I had the great opportunity to work with Bowie when I was a very young assistant director on the Elephant man on Broadway. And I knew what kind of person David was, and I knew how intellectual he was, how smart he was, and how kind and warm he was. And I felt that the British press, especially, especially was always trying to highlight their competition and their rivalry. And I wanted. I just knew what David was like as a person and as an artist. And then when I did all my research and I got everybody's point of view, I felt, no, these guys really loved each other, and they were sometimes having fun, sometimes probably jealous of each other. But I think it was a true loving friendship, and that's what I wanted to bring across in the film, and I think I did. Yeah. But knowing David a bit and talking to a lot of people and who were intimate with both of them over the years, I think I got it right, at least from my point of view.

[A]

BILL Something I thought that was interesting in the film was that Mark Bolan had a sense of what color television would mean for the fans.

[D]

Could you explain that a little bit?

[A]

Because I found that to be really interesting.

[C]

BILL oh, you wanted me to do it? Yeah, sure. Well, he did. He had that foresight. And I think really what that epitomizes is that everything about him was color, you know, and he didn't think black and white. And so for him to imagine how television would be, I think for him, he felt that was natural, but for us, it was enlightening.

[D]

And he started his own show, right?

[B]

ETHAN yes, he had his own show, kind of a late afternoon, I believe, variety show with music and stuff for it that was directed towards kids. And it was a big success. And it was when his career was slipping a little bit, and the show brought him back. But in fact, and it's in the film, David Bowie broke one of the biggest singles of his career, heroes on that show, and they were together, and they played together on the show. And on that same episode, he introduced the bigger country to meaning. He wasn't just another punk rocker with Generation X. He was on television with the biggies. And then Mark died three weeks later after that last episode of that season was taped.

[A]

The name of the documentary is Angel Headed Hipster. It explores Mark Bolan's legacy and the making of a tribute album produced by Hal Wilner. It is worth checking out. Ethan Silverman is its director and Bill Kirbisley is its producer. Thanks to both of you for being with us.

[B]

Thank you, Alison.

[A]

Oh, Gecko.

[I]

I just love being able to file a claim in under two minutes with the Geico app. Could you sign a.

[D]

Sign what? The app.

[C]

Yeah, sure.

[I]

Oh, it rubbed off the screen when I touched it. Could you sign it again?

[D]

Anything to help, I suppose.

[J]

Get more than just savings. Get more with Geico. I'm Ira Flato, host of Science Friday. For over 30 years, our team has been reporting high quality news about science, technology and medicine. News you won't get anywhere else. And now that political news is 24 7, our audience is turning to us to know about the really important stuff in their lives. Cancer, climate change, genetic engineering, childhood diseases. Our sponsors know the value of science and health news. For more sponsorship information, visit sponsorship.wnyc.org.