Single:
Metal Guru entered the Kent charts on 26 June 1972 and peaked at #10. It was #72 on the Top 100 of 1972.
Album:
The song is on The Slider which entered the Kent album charts on 11 September 1972 and peaked at #13.
Songwriter:
Marc Bolan
Producer:
Tony Visconti
Record label of Australian release:
T.Rex
Video:
In May 2025, the T.Rex YouTube channel uploaded a newly restored HD clip of a classic Top of the Pops (BBC) performance of Metal Guru, originally broadcast in 1972.
*Kent Music Report / Australian Chart Book. See About.
Songfacts – Metal Guru:
T.Rex lead singer Marc Bolan explained: “It’s a festival of life song. I relate Metal Guru to all gods around – someone special, a godhead. I thought how God would be, he’d be all alone without a telephone.”
Read more: www.songfacts.com/facts/t-rex/metal-guru
Wikipedia – The Slider
The album notes credit Ringo Starr with the front and back cover photographs. They were taken the same day that Starr was filming the T.Rex documentary Born to Boogie at John Lennon’s estate, Tittenhurst Park. Producer Tony Visconti, however, disputes that Starr took the photograph, stating “Marc [Bolan] handed me his motorised Nikon and asked me to fire off two rolls of black and white film while we were on the set of Born to Boogie. Ringo, the director of the film, was busy all day lining up shots. But Marc apparently saw a photo credit opportunity and gave Ringo the credit for the photos.”
Read more: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Slider
Lyrics:
Metal Guru, is it you?
Metal Guru, is it you?
Sittin’ there in your armor-plated chair, oh yeah
Metal Guru, is it true?
Metal Guru, is it true?
All alone without a telephone, oh yeah
Click for full lyrics
This song is also on our Spotify playlists Bang a Gong – the 70s and Bang a Gong – rockin’ the 60s & 70s
Find more songs to enjoy: Bang a Gong song finder
New to Bang a Gong? Click HERE to learn more about us.