Marc Bolan’s Rock Shrine

The Site where Marc Bolan passed over is the place where so many people say they can feel Marc when they visit and indeed the Bronze shows him looking serene and ‘at peace’ as he oversees his shrine. It is a unique phenomenon of British (I think) that roadside deaths so frequently result in roadside tributes. I am sure most people reading this will have seen bunches of flowers and other ephemera by the sides of roads, often attached to trees, railings and other things at the scene of the accident where their loved ones either passed over or were fatally injured. How long the tributes last depends on how long the person is remembered and how much they touched the lives of people around them. In the case of Marc Bolan, he not only touched the lives of millions of members of the public in the UK, Europe and further way, but his legacy through the use of his music in films, adverts or simply replayed on the radio means he now has many fans who were not even born when he died. Because he touched their lives many are drawn to this place to pay their respects. Many find themselves drawn back time after time. For others it will be a ‘once in a lifetime’ pilgrimage because they live so far away or have other difficulties which restrict their ability to travel. Although he has a rose bush to show where half his ashes are buried at Golders Green Crematorium*, it is here that he is fully remembered by the 1997 PRS Memorial, by the Bronze Bust and by the continual flow of visitors who often leave their own ‘marc’ by leaving flowers or a tribute message on the Notice Board or wooden skirt around the Tree itself. Although many people think the crematorium is Jewish because it is in Golders Green and is opposite to the Jewish Cemetery, it is in fact a multi-​faith crematorium and as well as accepting all religions, it also accepts humanists, and atheists too. If you visit Marc’s Shrine, please take your rubbish away with you and collect any other rubbish you find there. In many ways that is the best tribute Leaving his shrine tidy. TAG visit regularly, but cannot be there ²⁴⁄₇. Great to see Marc’s Shrine on BBC4 in the programme ‘Pagans and Pilgrims: Britain’s Holiest Places’ Episode 4: Shrines. in 2013. The Marc’s Shrine episode is on YouTube for those who didn’t see the programme at the time :-) The 23^rd April, 2013 marced the fourteenth anniversary of the formation of TAG when Members Kevin Warner, Myself, and Mark Rowe visited the Shrine to measure up for the Steps, so that the plans could be drawn up and submitted as required by Richmond Borough Council and the Land owners. We were accompanied by Sean Warner and went to the Shrine before heading to Canada House opposite Trafalgar Square for the launch of the Beltane CD. It was a wonderful day made even better by meeting people like Pete Sanders, Marc’s friend and photographer with his lovely wife as well as Sir George Martin, and others. RIP Marc Still Rocking and Rolling in the hearts of Thousands of Fans, from us ‘oldies’ to those not born when he died.

This is the place where Marc Bolan crashed and died.
Location: Queens Ride, Putney, London
Watching QI reminded me of this. I remember the sadness at the time and also the jokes about his last hit being a tree. People always make fun of tragedy.
This is the place, and you can even find the specific tree, where glam rock god Marc Bolan died on 16 September 1977. The T Rex singer hit a tree here in his girlfriend’s Mini, and there’s a shrine there too.
Marc was killed instantly, Gloria (who was driving) was severely injured but survived, and once she had recovered, returned to America.
The car was not being driven at excessive speed. The driver was not drunk, or on drugs. The policeman at the time had reason to understand that a wheel had been removed to have a puncture repaired a few days before the crash. There is a possibilty that the wheel had not been retightened enough, came loose, and affected the steering.
Safety crash barriers were installed after the accident. There had been crashes at this spot before.
Mourners at his funeral at Golders Green Crematorium included Rod Stewart, Elton John and David Bowie. Flowers and wreaths were sent from Keith Moon, Gary Glitter and Cliff Richard. His ashes are spread under a rose bush in the Keats Rose Bed, at Golders Green.
On the 20 anniversary of Marc’s Death, their son Rolan, who has no memories of his father, unveiled a monument at the site of the crash, and announced plans to launch his own rock and roll career.
People stand around playing guitars etc. very peaceful. Hard to believe it is over 30 years.