SANCTUARY RECORDS TO RELEASE MARC BOLAN & T.REX BORN TO BOOGIE DVD and CD
DIRECTED BY RINGO STARR, THE COLLECTION INCLUDES BONUS FOOTAGE OF RARE & NEVER-BEFORE-SEEN MATERIAL
In Stores June 7th
New York, NY ---
Born To Boogie, the definitive concert documentary on British rock phenomenon T. Rex, will be released in a special 2-disc DVD package from Sanctuary Records on June 7th. Directed by Ringo Starr, the concert DVD will include several hours of bonus footage and extremely rare material and marks the first time the film has been available on DVD. A separate double CD set will be released on the same day as a companion piece to the film.
Although it was filmed in 1972, Born To Boogie wasn’t released in VHS format until 1992 – a full 20 years after it debuted in movie theatres around the world. The film chronicles a pair of epic concerts by T. Rex and features appearances by Ringo Starr (who both directed and appears in the footage), Marc Bolan, Elton John and a cameo by Geoffrey Bayldon (Catweazle). For decades, much of the original footage was thought to be lost with only a handful of well-worn copies of the 35 mm cinema prints in circulation. Sanctuary Records coordinated the painstaking restoration of the original film, cleaning, repairing and transferring the material to high definition video.
At 5 hours and 25 minutes, Born To Boogie shows T.Rex at the height of their success, bringing Ringo’s visionary film back to its true colour and vibrancy, and revealing hours of material never used in the final cut. The DVD also includes further rare, never before seen footage throughout the 2 discs and DVD menus. All told, the extras stretch to over 90 minutes and are presented by Marc’s only son, Rolan Bolan. They feature newly recorded interviews with the sole surviving member from the ’72 T.Rex line-up – drummer, Bill Legend. Also interviewed are Tim Van Rellim (Producer of Born to Boogie and now a Hollywood film executive, responsible for films including A Knights Tale), Tony Visconti, Geoffrey Bayldon (famous for playing Catweazle), radio institution Bob Harris, photographer Keith Morris, former roadie Mick Gray and fans of T.Rex. Also included is unique footage recorded by Marc himself, plus equally unique footage of Marc and Ringo backstage between performances at the Wembley gigs.
Excerpts from the evening concert at Wembley formed the base of Ringo’s film; the DVD restores this concert to its original length and order, including three extra tracks, “Cadillac,” “Girl” and “Summertime Blues.” The matinee performance from that same day is presented here for the first time ever. Original T. Rex producer Tony Visconti recorded both gigs from a truck outside the Wembley venue. “This was the ONLY time I recorded the band live”, says Tony. The precious original multi-track recordings lay gathering dust for over thirty years until being rediscovered for this project after months of searching. Visconti was the natural choice to re-mix the audio for this DVD, a job lovingly undertaken at the NY studio he shares with David Bowie.
Slated for simultaneous release, the Born To Boogie double CD set, includes the restored soundtrack for Ringo’s film, the previously unheard matinee concert from 18th March 1972, as recorded and remixed (over 30 years apart) by Tony Visconti and an extremely rare 12 minute interview with Marc from late 1971, not included on the DVD.
T.Rex, alongside their contemporaries Thin Lizzy and David Bowie, became renowned worldwide for breaking new musical ground at a time when “flower power and check shirts weren’t working for anybody anymore.” Considering Marc’s departure overseas in the mid-70s and untimely death in 1977, the story of the success of T.Rex is all the more remarkable. At the height of their fame in 1972, newspapers dared to call them “bigger than the Beatles”. By 1972, the band was reportedly able to sell up to 100,000 records per day.
While their work in the studio created an unmistakable sound, the live experience was transforming. In concert, T.Rex displayed a raw power that would have stunned anyone who had only previously heard the gentle sounds of Marc’s previous band – Tyrannosaurus Rex. Taking the opportunity to bring something new to fans, in concert Marc loved to turn electric songs into acoustic numbers and transform studio recordings in to raw rock ‘n’ roll experiences.
DVD PRODUCT INFORMATION
Contents DISC 1
Born To Boogie – The Motion Picture
Ringo’s original 1972 legendary picture – restored and remastered
Audio options include original and remastered soundtrack, and Commentary with Tim Van Rellim (Original Producer) and Mark Allen (DVD Director)
Jeepster,
Baby Strange
Tutti Frutti
Children of the Revolution
Spaceball Ricochet
Telegram Sam
Cosmic Dancer
The Slider
Hot Love
Get It On
Chariot Choogle
The Wembley Evening Concert, 8.30pm – 18th March 1972
Includes Cadilac, Girl and Summertime Blues
63 minutes
Born To Boogie Trailer
Original Cinema Trailer with original sound
DISC 2
Wembley Matinee Concert, 5.30pm – 18th March 1972
Entire extra concert
61 minutes
Cosmic Rock - When T.Rex Ruled The World
47 min documentary, presented by Rolan Bolan feat. Interviews with Tony Visconti, Bob Harris, Emperor Rosko and more…
Re-Born To Boogie – Restoration Doco
15 min review of the restoration process
Outtakes and Deleted scenes
‘The Eater of Cars’ – Airfield outtakes & deleted footage
‘More Tea, Anyone?’ – Tea Party outtakes
‘Apple Outtakes’ – Extra Apple Studio sessions
Video and Audio demonstrations
Multi-Cam, Multi-Audio options
‘Before and After’ video and audio tracks
Plus much more rare, never before seen footage and hidden Easter Eggs.
Running Time 5 hours 25 minutes approximately
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