Lee Mead Leads Marc Bolan Glam Rock Musical???

The life and music of the late Marc Bolan provides the inspiration for a new musical tipped for the West End in early 2010. As the frontman of T-Rex, Bolan was one of the biggest stars of the glam rock era in the early 1970s with hits such as “Ride a White Swan”, “Hot Love”, “Bang a Gong (Get It On)” and “20th Century Boy”. He died in a car accident in 1977, just before his 30th birthday.

20th Century Boy – The Story of Marc Bolan is written by record producer Nicky Graham, who is also co-producing with Arden Entertainment. The plan is to launch a regional tour before transferring to the West End next year.

Graham has signed up Gary Lloyd – whose current Michael Jackson tribute show Thriller Live has proved a surprise Shaftesbury Avenue hit at the Lyric Theatre – to direct and choreograph the new production. Discussing the Bolan project, Lloyd told The Stage newspaper: “The music is fantastic, the story is electric and it is going to be quite a big production.”

Lee Mead has also reportedly expressed interest in tackling the title role after attending a workshop for 20th Century Boy last September. Well, it would make quite a change from Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat – and he has got the curls to play Bolan! Other musical projects Mead has been mooted for post-Joseph have included a revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Jesus Christ Superstar and an adaptation of 1953 screen classic Roman Holiday (See The Goss, 15 Dec 2008).