T.Rex – Children Of The Revolution (with Elton John & Ringo Starr)

T. Rex released Children of the Revolution in September 1972, at the height of their glam rock dominance. Written by Marc Bolan and produced by Tony Visconti, the single carried a simple but powerful message — “you won’t fool the children of the revolution” — a line that connected youth rebellion to Bolan’s swaggering style. Though it stalled at #2 in the UK, breaking the band’s streak of chart-toppers, it became one of T. Rex’s most enduring hits of the era.

The song had originally been something like 12 minutes in length and was recorded in Copenhagen during sessions for T. Rex’s third studio album, The Slider. Bolan, keen to bring it to the attention of the Beatles drummer, made sure the tape box contained the note “for the attention of Ringo”. Within weeks, that wish came true.

On April 6, 1972, Bolan cut a special version of the track at Apple Studios with Elton John on piano and Ringo Starr on drums. The session was filmed for Starr’s concert movie Born to Boogie, which captured T. Rex both live at Wembley and in playful studio jams. The sight of Bolan leading his glam juggernaut with support from a Beatle and the rising star Elton John gave the song a unique place in pop history.

Decades later, Children of the Revolution is remembered not just as a chart hit, but as a cultural moment — where Bolan’s glam revolution briefly merged with rock royalty, preserved forever on film.

Quick Facts & Trivia

• Song: Children of the Revolution
• Artist: T. Rex
• Release: September 8, 1972
• Album: Non-album single (recorded during The Slider sessions)
• Writers: Marc Bolan
• Producers: Tony Visconti
• Genre: Glam rock
• Length: 2:32
• Chart Peaks:
• UK Singles Chart: #2 (1972)
• NME Chart: #1
• Melody Maker Chart: #1
• Ireland: #6
• Sales/Certifications: Estimated 250,000+ UK sales in 1972
• Trivia:
• Originally recorded as a 12-minute jam in Copenhagen with Flo & Eddie on backing vocals.
• The tape box carried the message “for the attention of Ringo.”
• The Apple Studios version with Elton John and Ringo Starr was filmed for Born to Boogie.