Mickey Finn's T-Rex

Mickey Finn's T-Rex
Also known as	T. Rex (A Celebration of Marc and Mickey), T.Rex-The Band, T-Rex
Origin	England
Genres	Glam rock, Rock
Years active	1997–present
Labels	Spectra Records Angel Air Records
Associated acts	T. Rex, The Pretty Things, Carmen, Christie, Smokie, Saxon
Website	t-rex.co.uk
Members
Paul Fenton Graham Oliver Jay Spargo Dave Major Tony Allday
Past members
Mickey Finn (deceased) Rob Benson Jack Green Alan Silson

Mickey Finn's T-Rex was formed in 1998 by former T. Rex member Mickey Finn. Mickey Finn's T-Rex have been regularly touring Worldwide since 1997 despite the loss of Mickey Finn in 2003.

History

Formation

In September 1997, former T. Rex members Mickey Finn, Jack Green and Paul Fenton were invited by Mick Gray (ex-T. Rex Road Manager and Manager at the Cambridge Corn Exchange) to a 20th/50th Anniversary celebration of the life of Marc Bolan at the Cambridge Corn Exchange. Prior to this Mick Gray and Mick O'Halloran had visited Mickey Finn at his home to persuade him to attend the Cambridge bash. This idea was the brainchild of Mick Gray to celebrate Marc's 50th birthday. Other artists appearing included John's Children and Rolan Bolan the houseband was T.Rextasy with Danielz. Bill Legend was invited to appear but declined to appear. Finn, Fenton and Green were overwhelmed with the support at that gig, so they decided to form "T.Rex - The Band" . In fact, already two weeks before, 15 September Mickey discussed the possibilities of re-form T. Rex at a party given by the P.R.S at Olympic Studios in London. The original line-up of the band was Mickey Finn (congas), Paul Fenton (drums) Jack Green (guitar and vocals), Dave Major (keyboards), Tony Allday (bass). One year later Rob Benson, a lifelong fan of T. Rex, went to see the reformed band in Northampton's Chicago Rock cafe in 1998. He met the band afterward and was asked to send an audition tape after claiming to be able to sing like Marc Bolan. The band'S manager decided that 'the voice' was essential to the T. Rex sound and, after hearing Rob's tape, invited him to a further audition. He was then asked to be lead vocalist. The band renamed from "T.Rex - The Band" to "Mickey Finn's T-Rex". Now Fenton and Finn and Newby were able to get the legal rights for "T-Rex" trade mark. Guitarist Jack Green (who played with Bolan 1973/4) left and was replaced in 1999 by the founding member of Smokie, Alan Silson. The current guitarist is the founding member of Saxon, Graham Oliver.

Early Touring and Albums

With a more complete sound the band started a tour of Germany in 1999. Shortly afterwards they embarked on a full scale tour of Japan. In 2002, the band released an album called Renaissance and a live DVD titled Back In Business. In January 2008 the band released Classic Hits on Spectra Records which they recently signed with. ===Finn's Death=== Mickey Finn died in January, 2003. The future of the band was then unsure but they decided to continue on without him as it was Mickey's wish. The band changed their name to T. Rex (A Celebration of Marc and Mickey) in 2003 after the death of founding member Mickey Finn. In July 2008, after some British fans made a petition for them to stop using this name, the band decided to revert their name back to Mickey Finn's T-Rex, with the blessing from Mickey's family for using his name. They also hired Graham Oliver founder of Saxon.

Recent events

The band continues to tour Europe today, with a much heavier sound than T. Rex had originally. They play all of the classic T. Rex songs from the 1970s. The only member now in the group that had any connection to T. Rex is drummer Paul Fenton. Teri Sullivan joined the band on August 1 as a background vocalist.

As a result of a massive Bolan fan petition - "No Bolan, No T. Rex" - they changed their name back to "Mickey Finn's T-Rex" for a short period of time, then again going as "T-Rex (The Music of Marc and Mickey)".

The band singer Rob Bebnson left the band in Jan 2010. He was replaced by Jay Spargo in May 2010.

Band Members

Current members

• Paul Fenton – drums (1997–present) with T.Rex (1973-1977)
• Tony Allday – bass guitar (1997-present)
• Dave Major – keyboards, vocals (1997–present)
• Graham Oliver – guitars (2003–present)
• Jay Spargo – lead vocals (2010–present)
• Linda Dawson - backing vocal (2002-present)

Former members

• Mickey Finn - bongos, congas, drums, vocals (1998-2003) with T.Rex (1969-1974)
• Jack Green – guitars (1998–1999) with T.Rex (1973-1974)
• Alan Silson - guitars (2000-2003)
• Rob Benson - lead vocals (1999-2010)

Discography

• Renaissance (2002)
• Back In Business (2008)
• Classic Hits (2009)

External links

• Mickey Finn's T-Rex official web site