AMG Review of Classic Hits: A Celebration of Marc and Mickey

Dave Thompson
All Music Guide

In 1997, the 20th anniversary of Marc Bolan's death, former bandmate Mickey Finn put together a loose aggregation of fellow ex-T. Rex-ers to play at one of the tribute concerts that were held that sad season. Fair enough. But it was difficult to shake the cynicism from your hair when a fresh version of that band then went out to greet the greatest-hits circuit with only two actual T. Rex veterans (Finn and latter-day sideman Paul Fenton) on board, and even harder to comprehend the group's continued existence once Finn, too, had passed away. Yet here they are, still going strong, a T. Rex tribute band in everything but name. Fifteen slabs of primal Bolan boogie roll across the disc, and maybe if you're really not paying attention, vocalist Rob Benson does pull off a passable impression of the late master.