Marc Bolan and T.Rex
Photographs by Masayoshi Sukita
Friday 30 June 1972.
Masayoshi Sukita’s very first photo session with T.Rex took place at Pelling+Cross Studio in London.
“I had heard about T. Rex and they appealed to me very much, even though I hadn’t heard any of their music. I had seen a photo of Marc Bolan in a Japanese magazine and noticed he was clearly wearing make-up, which I thought was pretty amazing. I hadn’t photographed any musicians before so I showed him my portfolio consisting mainly of fashion photos, some of which had won prizes in Japan. He liked them and agreed that I could photograph him, which was very exciting.” – Masayoshi Sukita
A comprehensive overview of Sukita’s six months photographing Marc Bolan from June to December 1972 is beautifully set out in the long out of print 400 page limited edition book, T. Rex 1972 Sukita, which is well worth tracking down on the secondary market if you can find a copy.
Here we present a selection of key images from Sukita’s archives, which are available to purchase as signed limited editions in a range of sizes.
“Marc Bolan was a beautiful and complicated man. But underneath the glam makeup, the glittery clothes and the loud, bopping music, there was a far deeper spirit. Marc was never a shy one when a photographer was nearby and he was quick to pose for a controlled publicity shot. Sukita is really a poet who uses light, lens and film. Like a great poet, Sukita has captured the spirit of T.Rex in these beautiful photographs during the happiest period of their lives.”
– Tony Visconti, November 2007.
“When I was younger I certainly thought I was a superior sort of being. And I didn’t feel related to other human beings….I created a world where I was king of my neighbourhood.”
– Marc Bolan
“It was in March of 1972 when T.Rex’s concert at Wembley in Ringo Starr’s renowned movie “Born to Boogie” took place. Three months later starting from June, I began intensively shooting photos of T.Rex. Although it went on for only half a year and I greatly regret now that I didn’t take more, I am very proud of the photographs I took.”
– Masayoshi Sukita
