Metal Guru

"Metal Guru" is a song by the British rock band T. Rex, written by Marc Bolan. It was the band's fourth (and final) number one on the UK Singles Chart when it topped the chart for four weeks from May–June 1972. It was also included on the album The Slider in 1972.

Despite coming only ten months after the success of "Get It On", it failed to chart in the United States. The song reached No. 45 in Canada in July 1972.

Bolan himself described the song's apparent religious references as this:

"Is a festival of life song. I relate 'Metal Guru' to all Gods around. I believe in a God, but I have no religion. With 'Metal Guru', it's like someone special, it must be a Godhead. I thought how God would be, he'd be all alone without a telephone. I don't answer the phone any more. I have codes where people ring me at certain times."

In 2008, Freaky Trigger placed "Metal Guru" at number 37 in their list of "The Top 100 Songs of All Time".^[2]

Track listing

United Kingdom (EMI)

"Metal Guru"
"Thunderwing"
"Lady"

Germany and Spain (Ariola)

"Metal Guru" (2:25)
"Lady" (2:12)

France (Columbia)

"Metal Guru" (3:45)
"Lady" (3:50)

Personnel

Marc Bolan – vocals, guitar
Mickey Finn – percussion, vocals
Steve Currie – bass
Bill Legend – drums
Howard Kaylan, Mark Volman – backing vocals
Tony Visconti – string arrangements
Produced by Tony Visconti

Chart performance

Chart (1972)	Peak position
Australia (Kent Music Report)^[3]	10
Australia (Go-Set National Top 40)^[4]	8
Canada Top Singles (RPM)^[5]	45
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)^[6]	22
France (IFOP)^[7]	29
Germany (Official German Charts)^[8]	1
Ireland (IRMA)^[9]	1
Norway (VG-lista)^[10]	4
South Africa (Springbok Radio)^[11]	14
Spain (AFE)^[12]	13
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)^[13]	1

Chart (1991)	Peak position
Ireland (IRMA)^[9]	27

Year-end charts

Chart (1972)	Position
Australia (Kent Music Report)^[14]	80

Cover versions

In 2005, rock band Rooney covered the song for the Herbie: Fully Loaded soundtrack.
"Metal Guru" was covered and recorded by Serbian new wave band Električni Orgazam as a B-side for the band's fourth single "Locomotion" from their cover album Les Chansones Populaires, released in 1983. Srđan Gojković Gile provided the lead vocals for the track. There are no recorded live versions of the song.
The Smiths based their song "Panic" on "Metal Guru".
American indie rock band Louis XIV were also heavily influenced by this song for the composition of "A Letter to Dominique", which is from their second album The Best Little Secrets Are Kept.

References

↑ Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (2004). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). Simon & Schuster. p. 822. ISBN 978-0-7432-0169-8. Bolan (...) started writing manic chant-along glam-rock hits such as "Metal Guru," "20th Century Boy," "Solid Gold Easy Action," and "Children of the Revolution."
↑ Baran, Pete (18 November 2008). "FT Top 100 Tracks of All Time: 37: T-REX – Metal Guru". Freaky Trigger. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
↑ "Forum – ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts – CHART POSITIONS PRE 1989". Australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Archived from the original on 20 October 2013. Retrieved 18 February 2014.
↑ "Go-Set Australian charts – 12 August 1972". Go-Set. Poparchives.com.au. Retrieved 18 July 2013.
↑ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 7680." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 18 July 2013.
↑ "Forum – General – Finnish singles chart archive". Finnishcharts.com. Hung Medien. Archived from the original on 29 July 2014. Retrieved 18 February 2014.
↑ "InfoDisc : Tous les Titres par Artiste" (in French). InfoDisc. Select "T. Rex" from the artist drop-down menu. Archived from the original on 20 September 2013. Retrieved 18 July 2013.
↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – T. Rex – Metal Guru". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 18 July 2013.
1 2 "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Metal Guru". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 18 July 2013.
↑ "Norwegiancharts.com – T. Rex – Metal Guru". VG-lista. Retrieved 18 July 2013.
↑ "South African Rock Lists Website SA Charts 1969 – 1989 Acts (T)". Rock.co.za. Retrieved 18 February 2014.
↑ Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (in Spanish) (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
↑ "Archive Chart: 1972-05-20" UK Singles Chart. Retrieved 18 July 2013.
↑ "Forum – ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts – Top 100 End of Year AMR Charts – 1970s". Australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Archived from the original on 6 November 2013. Retrieved 18 February 2014.

Preceded by "Michaela" by Bata Illic	German number-one single 31 July 1972 (1 week)	Succeeded by "Michaela" by Bata Illic
Preceded by "A Thing Called Love" by Johnny Cash	Irish Singles Chart number-one single 10 June 1972 (1 week)	Succeeded by "Vincent" by Don McLean
Preceded by "Amazing Grace" by The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards	UK Singles Chart UK number one single 20 May 1972 – 10 June 1972 (4 weeks)	Succeeded by "Vincent" by Don McLean

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