A couple days back I was excited to learn that a man named Bill Sagan had purchased concert Promotor Bill Graham's entire stock of video and audio masters. Bill Graham was the #1 concert promoter in the U.S. and put on many well known concerts live at the Fillmore, Orpeheus Theatre, Apollo Theatre etc.. Everyone you can think of, and more. Included among those performers were Marc Bolan + T.Rex.
Bill had every show he put on professionally (audio) recorded and video taped. I'm told that he had early video equipment and would show the previous weeks concert to the live audience on a screen, before the current week's show was to begin. I had intended to post this here and ask fans to write to Bill at a Website called Wolfgang's Vault and request that he air the T.Rex performances.
A more recent development however is some bad news, as record companies and bands have caught wind of this, gotten very greedy and want in on the action and seizure of the tapes. Meaning even though the stuff exists, we may never get to see or hear it because of the lawsuits being brought against him. I've put some links below where you can check it all out for yourself.
Since he's only broadcasting the stuff, and since they get airplay royalties for anything broadcast, the case may set some legal precedents with regard to any judgements that come out of the case, because it is a pretty unique case. As for the t.shirts etc... that they can stop - he is out of line there. But basically as long as the guy isn't charging people to listen or selling the stuff, there is nothing they can do about him. You don't need permission from The Grateful Dead to play one of their songs on the radio. You play it, a fee is paid to ASCAP, BMI or the apt royalty collection agency, the artist cashes their cheque and spends it. End of story.
While all this is pending I would like to urge fans to spread the word, visit the site and request the T.Rex performances be aired. If they air them I can get them and will share them.