T. Rex is born in Leeds Not Coventry

 T. Rex is born in Leeds Not Coventry

by Pete Clemons

For me it began with this comment: 'I was lucky enough to be at the Lanch from 1966 to 1970 (Ted Little era) and went to many of the gigs. One of the most memorable was in about 68/ 69 when Marc Bolan in Tyrannosaurus Rex threw his acoustic guitar away, plugged in electric and I always thought this was the formation of T.Rex at least in Spirit with Steve Took leaving soon after. Amazing evening and, one of many, that included Pink Floyd with Syd Barrett, Ivor Cutler, Edwin Hawkins Singers in the Cathedral'.


Another comment was along the lines of 'I remember they played, sat cross legged on the stage, in the middle, with the cathedral behind them'. I was more than intrigued.

Local legend has it that T.Rex was born here in Coventry as they went from an acoustic to an electric duo. It happened during a gig on 15 November 1969 at the Lanchester Polytechnic. It appears the duo had replaced Fairport Convention who had vacated the previously booked 15 November slot.



This was Tyrannosaurus Rex when they were a duo and, having not being able to find any evidence relating to the gig, despite searching all the usual, and unusual places, I was in no doubt that it happened. I had heard about the guitar incident several times. Additionally, far too many people mentioned that they had attended this gig for it not to have happened.

Other comments relating to the gig were around Steve Peregrin-Took. Steve Took had, apparently, been sacked from the duo during August 1969. But he still fulfilled Tyrannosaurus Rex's debut American tour during September 1969. Despite that, several of the comments had mentioned he was in the band at the time of the gig.

T. Rex folklore has it that Mickey Finn's first gig with the band was 21st November 1969 at the Free Trade Hall Manchester followed by a gig at Liverpool Philharmonic on the 22nd.

It is also recorded in T.Rex history that November 8th 1969 is credited as Mickey Finn's first gig. And that gig was at Leeds University Refectory Hall where the duo had replaced Pink Floyd after the Floyd had cancelled. This Leeds gig is substantiated elsewhere by way of an interview with Marc for one of the major music publications.

Towards the end of November 1969 the music press began reporting that Fairport Convention had lost two key members. Sandy Denny and Ashley Hutchings. And that the band had not worked since November 2nd after a gig at Birmingham Mothers. So it does seem that November 15th was indeed a feasible date for when the event happened.

In the hope that Fairport Convention may have kept old diaries from 1969 I wrote to them. Kindly, ever present and founder band member Simon Nicol, replied: 'I’m sure it’s no surprise to hear that I have absolutely no recollection of the gig (as it didn’t happen!)'.

Simon continued 'When Sandy and Ashley chose to leave there was no question of the remaining members limping on - we did nothing that I can recall until Dave Pegg had been found, auditioned and rehearsed, so whatever gigs had been in the diary at that point would simply have been cancelled or rescheduled'.

Sadly I cannot nail down the 15 November 1969 date conclusively but all the pieces seem to fit the legend in terms of timescales . Previous to this activity, Tyrannosaurus Rex had toured infrequently during the previous 6 months. Just the odd date here and there.

The difficulty I have is that I was not at the gig but it is my conclusion that the gig did take place on the 15th November 1969. The hard evidence may not quite stack up but all the anecdotal evidence does. But surely it was Mickey Finn on percussion and not Steve Peregrin-Took. The interview with Marc Bolan about the Leeds gig the week before is fairly conclusive. Sadly it seems, T.Rex was not born in Coventry. But we came very close.