T.Rextasy – the Acoustic Show at The Playhouse, Whitley Bay

T.Rextasy – the Acoustic Show

The Playhouse, Whitley Bay

Friday 8th November 2019

Tickets: https://ticketmaster-uk.tm7559.net/b1YDb

T.Rextasy, presented by Sweeney Entertainments, return to venues across the UK with a brand new acoustic show, accompanied by a string quartet. This special concert will transport audiences back to relive the good old days of the 1970’s. 

Marc Bolan, with his band T.Rex, was one of the most flamboyant and charismatic stars of the original glam rock era.  With Bolan's special ingredient of Rock-a-Boogie songs, the band had a string of huge hits throughout the 1970s including Love to Boogie, Telegram Sam, Jeepster and 20th Century Boy.

T.Rextasy have now been performing around the world for over 25 years, a career that ironically out lives Marc’s very own T.Rex.  The band is now accepted as the world’s only official live tribute band dedicated to Marc Bolan & T.Rex, and the only band endorsed and approved by Marc Bolan’s family, estate, original ex-members of T.Rex, and Bolan’s catalogue management.  The band has been described by many as ‘beyond the boundaries of tribute’.

T.Rextasy – The Acoustic Show will bring audiences the music of Marc Bolan and T.Rex as never seen, or heard before! For this specially created, totally acoustic interpretation of T.Rex, T.Rextasy will be accompanied by a string quartet. 

Sweeney Entertainments, co-founded by Julie and Peter Sweeney, has been providing a wide repertoire of top-quality touring shows for theatre and corporate events for over eighteen years both in the UK and internationally and now boasts a repertoire of fourteen touring productions. The company saw its busiest year to date in 2018 and now has even more performances on offer, at a growing number of venues, and with the strongest audience figures to date. Julie said: “We are really excited to be presenting this intimate evening of classic T.Rex. This acoustic concert show, accompanied by a string quartet, will being a really special event! A must-see for lovers of the music of T.Rex.”

Danielz, lead vocalist and lead guitarist, said “I absolutely love playing the songs  of T.Rex. It’s the actual buzz one gets of going on stage and giving the audience a live experience. Fans are coming to have a good time, and when I see people smiling and doing just that it makes it really worthwhile.”

We caught up with Danielz, the lead vocalist and lead guitarist for T.Rextasy

Why did you form T.Rextasy?

“In 1992 I was an original musician who was promised recording deals from various companies, always let down at the last hurdle. I decided to then to form T.Rextasy, to go out playing the music of Marc Bolan – an artist that I had always loved while growing up through my teens and older. As Marc died in 1977, I wanted people to experience the energy, excitement, and the wonderful songs and performance that he gave – always 100%. It was this that drove me to push the band as far as I could.”

Did you ever see Marc Bolan/T.Rex live, and if so, how did it compare to your concerts?

“Yes, I saw Marc/T.Rex four times, twice in Germany, in 1972 and 1973 (my dad was in the Forces, so my family was based there for a few years), and then twice in England, in 1976 and 1977.  Marc’s concerts were crazy – fans screaming and dancing, singing and shouting. They most certainly were not a serene affair.  I try and re-create at least an atmosphere of those times, albeit at some venues times have changed and acting in that way is frowned upon! However, I do try to encourage fans to get involved with the gig as much as possible, as it’s a rock’n’roll gig after all.  My costumes are based on Marc’s originals, and as I own some of his original clothing, I have been able to get some things made very close to them. We play, as Marc did, 100% live, raw, and raunchy, just how T.Rex would’ve been back in the day – this is what makes the experience exciting.  A few years ago, we even had an original member, Dino Dines (Marc’s keyboardist) join the band, until his demise. I think having original members join a tribute band says a lot for our credibility and us as a live unit, not to mention receiving endorsements from Marc’s own family, and his record company.” 

Tell us a little more about your band members?

“Well, there’s me, Danielz – I take on lead vocals and lead guitar. Neil Cross, who plays rhythm guitar and does backing vocals, Rob Butterfield who plays bass guitar and does backing vocals, and John Skelton who plays drums and percussion.  I’m very fortunate with my musicians as they are skilful and loyal and love playing the music.”

Why did you decide to create this acoustic show?

“Julie Sweeney from Sweeney Entertainments approached me with a fantastic idea for a new show. ‘Acoustics with a String Quartet’ would add another dimension to the tracks and give fans an alternate way to listen to them. Most of Marc’s songs were written on acoustic guitar anyway, so it’ll give a pure indication as to their originality.”

What do you enjoy most about performing acoustically?

“Performing acoustically gives a more personal and one to one feeling with the audience. It also enables one to take things a little easier and chill with the crowd. They feel as if they can call out and join in a little more too.”

How will you approach this production differently to your usual T.Rextasy concerts?
“My approach with these gigs will be one of a more settled and relaxed appearance, as we’ll be sitting down as one with the audience. I’ll answer questions some may want to ask, whether they be about T.Rex or T.Rextasy.”

What should the audience expect to see?

“The audience should expect a ‘more relaxed Danielz’ and the odd song that they wouldn’t get from our usual electric gigs.”

What is your favourite song to perform from this show?

“I don’t have a fave song to perform as I enjoy them all, since it was me who chose the set list. I guess playing acoustic, I would favour the more ballad-like numbers, as they have so much feeling.”

How different do you find it performing with the string quartet?

“Although playing acoustic is much more relaxing, one has to concentrate a lot when playing with a string quartet as they go by their notes and what’s written down, so really, it’s difficult to reel off on a tangent, like I can with my band - it’s much more ‘by the book’ with strings, so beginnings and endings especially have to be well rehearsed! It’ll be a challenge, but an enjoyable one.”

What preparation do you need to do to get ready for the gig?
“I try to get to each venue in good time as I have a sequence of events that I follow through, such as on arrival I go into my dressing room, unpack my clothing and make-up, and set it all out in order. I then go out to eat.  It takes our roadie about 90mins to unload and set up all the equipment, then another 30mins for the engineer to mic up, so it gives us time to chill before sound-check. In the band, we all have our specific sounds that we require in each stage monitor, and after that, we sort out the out-front sound. With our regular sound-engineer, this normally takes only about 30mins, which is great. After sound-check, it’s backstage to sort out my band merchandise, and then I normally play music on my I-Pod which relaxes me while I’m putting on my make-up and change into stage clothing.  Then I go to side-of-stage to check the tuning of all my guitars, then believe it or not, the time has disappeared and it’s showtime!!!” 

What can an audience expect from attending one of your concerts?

“Excitement, enjoyment, singing along and boogieing, clapping, shouting…and I don’t mind if fans call out for a song, as I usually oblige them by singing a couple of verses to them if it’s a track that’s not in the actual set. A bit of heckling doesn’t go amiss either, as one-to-one contact with the crowd gives the evening an extra special kick!”

What has been the highlight of your career so far?

“Too many to mention here, but here’s a few; Playing Wembley Arena – we did that 3 times over the years, and as it was Marc’s biggest gig in the UK, it was a double-whammy for me to play there too.

Obtaining a major record deal with Columbia Records, and releasing a couple of albums in Japan (‘Trip and Glide’, and ‘Savage Beethoven’), which in turn, enabled us to tour out there twice, and on the second tour meeting up and chatting with David Bowie.

Obtaining a publishing deal to write my autobiography and my life with T.Rextasy. I think I was the first guy in a tribute band to be approached by a publishing company to write about my life, which I was nicely pleased about – the book is called ‘The Spirit of Marc Bolan’ (Wymer Publishing).

Being called up by Marc Almond (Soft Cell) and recording a single with him called ‘Death of a Dandy’ and then having it produced/mixed by the legendary Bolan/Bowie producer Tony Visconti.

Through the years gaining the credibility from major original artists and having them appear as our guests on stage, and being on the bill with some of them as well - too numerous to mention, but they include Marc Almond (Soft Cell), Tony Visconti (Bolan/Bowie/Thin Lizzy producer), Slade, Roy Wood (Wizzard), Alvin Stardust, Shakin’ Stevens, Steve Harley, Glen Matlock (Sex Pistols), Boy George, Holly Johnson (Frankie Goes To Hollywood), Howie Casey (Paul McCartney Band/Mott-the-Hoople), Gloria Jones (Marc’s girlfriend), Rolan Bolan (Marc’s son), The Sweet, and oh, so many others….

There are many other highlights as well, but that could well be a book in itself..!”

This intimate evening features a range of classic Bolan songs and audiences and will undoubtedly be a unique experience that shouldn’t be missed.

Tickets available online: https://ticketmaster-uk.tm7559.net/b1YDb #Ad

Booking and facility fees will apply.