Remembering the day when T. Rex star Marc Bolan visited Sheffield in 1975

Remembering the day when hundreds of people turned up to see T. Rex star Marc Bolan appeared on the roof of the Arbourthorne Hotel in 1975.
Marc Bolan on top of the Arbourthorne Hotel in 1975 - Russell is pictured bottom left with glasses onMarc Bolan on top of the Arbourthorne Hotel in 1975 - Russell is pictured bottom left with glasses on
Marc Bolan on top of the Arbourthorne Hotel in 1975 - Russell is pictured bottom left with glasses on

Marc was invited by Radio Hallam to do promo work for his new single, New York City, but fearing the radio station would not cope with his fans all turning up the event was staged at the Arbourthorne Hotel.

Lifelong fan Russell Fredrick Holliday was in the crowd that day and said it was a fantastic day.

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Russel 63, was just 18 at the time but remembers the day as if it was yesterday. He said “I was a big T-rex and Marc fan so to have him come to our home time I just had to be there.

"There was so many kids wagging school that day the radio presenter got in trouble because he announced if you came down to the Arbourthorne Hotel at lunchtime you’d be able to see him and people did in their hundreds.”

Marc arrived in Sheffield by train but there was no transport organised from Midland Station however, it turns out luck was on the glamrock musician’s side.

Russell, who still lives in Arbourthorne, said: “There was a fan waiting at the station just to catch a glimpse of Marc and wen he realised he had no way of getting to the hotel he gave him a lift in his orange Ford Cortina.

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"So there was no stretch limo or rolls for such a famous pop star just a Ford Cortina.”

The crowd shot when Marc Bolan gave an interview to Radio Hallam on top of the Arbourthorne Hotel in 1975 - Russell centre with glassesThe crowd shot when Marc Bolan gave an interview to Radio Hallam on top of the Arbourthorne Hotel in 1975 - Russell centre with glasses
The crowd shot when Marc Bolan gave an interview to Radio Hallam on top of the Arbourthorne Hotel in 1975 - Russell centre with glasses

As so many people turned up their were concerns for Marc’s safety so the interview was conducted on the roof of the hotel.

“It was great,” said Russell, “I’m 6’2” so I was towering over these teenage girls and Marc was throwing T-shirts and toy frogs off the roof and there was a great atmosphere.

"People say you should never meet your idol but I was lucky enough to see him several times and he never disappointed.”

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Marc was on the roof for about six minutes before being given a return lift to the station by by the same Ford Cortina.

Russell touching Marc Bolan's hair as he left the Arbourthorne Hotel in an Orange Ford Cortina in 1975Russell touching Marc Bolan's hair as he left the Arbourthorne Hotel in an Orange Ford Cortina in 1975
Russell touching Marc Bolan's hair as he left the Arbourthorne Hotel in an Orange Ford Cortina in 1975

Russell said: “I followed him to his car and just as he was getting in I made a split second decision to touch his hair, it was a chance I would never get again so I just reached out touched his famous curls and said ‘see you Marc’.

"It has stuck with me forever and was a fantastic day.”

Marc died on September 16, 1977 while he and his girlfriend and mother of his child, Gloria Jones, were driving home. The car struck a fence post and then a tree. Marc was killed instantly, while Gloria suffered a broken arm and broken jaw.

Russell said: “I remember coming downstairs and my dad saying ‘your mate has died’ and when he told me who it was I couldn’t believe it and it still gets my upset today.

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“There was no one before him and no one since who has been anything quite like him – he was one of a kind.

"It’s nice to think that more than 45 years ago since he was in Sheffield his memory still lives on and more than 40 years since his death he can still bring a smile to people.”

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