Steve Peregrin Took

Steve Peregrin Took (July 28 1949–October 27 1980) was a British musician.

Early life and Tyrannosaurus Rex

Took was born Stephen Ross Porter in Eltham, South London. He took his name from the hobbit Peregrin Took in Tolkien's Lord of the Rings. At the age of 17 he was recruited as drummer for the electric band that Marc Bolan was forming in response to his departure from John's Children. Took outlived a gig disaster, the departure of other sidemen, and the repossession of the band's equipment. Marc and Steve formed an economy version of the band, busking in subways on acoustic guitar and bongos. As an ersatz flower-power unit, Tyrannosaurus Rex proceeded onto the club and stage circuit and thence into the record shops, where they clocked up three albums and two top 40 hits.

Related Topics:
Eltham - Peregrin Took - Tolkien - Lord of the Rings - Electric band - Marc Bolan - John's Children - Subway - Bongos - Tyrannosaurus Rex - Top 40

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The duo finagled their way into the very heart of the underground, manipulating and seducing the stoned (and frankly gullible) audiences with a synthesised veneer of mysticism and elfin sagacity, which pushed all the right buttons.

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It was Took’s arrangements which were instrumental in transforming Bolan’s music from the straightforward rock ‘n roll it had once been (and would again be one day) into an 'exotic' brew of musical influences. Took was Bolan’s translator, turning his words into audio signals to trigger off mental pictures in a tripped-out audience.

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In Tyrannosaurus Rex, Steve Took contributed backing vocals, drums, pixiephone, bongos, African drums, kazoo, pixiephone; Chinese gong and in later stages some bass guitar.

Related Topics:
Kazoo - Pixiephone - Gong

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While still in Tyrannosaurus Rex, Bolan refused to let the duo perform any of Took's songs, so he took two of them to Twink. Subsequently, the songs were included on his seminal album Think Pink. He also worked with David Bowie and appears on a BBC Bowie album.

Related Topics:
Twink - David Bowie - BBC

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