Steve Peregrin Took

Firstly his middle name is spelt the Tolkien way PEREGRIN (No final 'E'). Sadly spell checkers change this automatically (unless it is over ridden) to the bird of prey spelling with the final 'E'.

Steve Peregrin Took
Born Stephen Ross Porter, 28 July 1949, Eltham and educated after passing his eleven-plus at Shooter’s Hill Grammar School. Former Shooter’s Hill ‘boys’ include Ginger Baker and Frankie Howerd. He was in several school bands including the ‘Waterproof Sparrows’.

Stephen Porter changed his name to that of the Tolkien Character Peregrin Took and although he was a singer, songwriter, and multi-talented musician in his own right he is currently best known for his membership in the band Tyrannosaurus Rex with Marc Bolan.

After leaving school he was drawn via the music scene in Blackheath (London) towards Central London with its Underground scene around Ladbroke Grove where he would meet any people who would remain friends for the rest of his life. Many would be in bands he was associated with and they include Hawkwind, The Pink Fairies, Motorhead to name but a few.

Stephen Porter changed his name to that of the Tolkien Character Peregrin Took and used that name exclusively to the point that many people were not aware that Took was not his original surname. When his son was born his was listed on his birth certificate with the surname of Took unlike Marc Bolan’s son Rolan who was registered as ‘Rolan Feld' - Feld being Bolan’s real surname.

In Tyrannosaurus Rex, Bolan wrote the tune and the words, but it was woven into a tapestry of music for 'Hippies' by a combination of Took's backing vocals, and the inclusion of so many instruments by Took. It was Took wholehearted embracing of the Underground Culture (including drugs) which was one of the key components of Tyrannosaurus Rex's success, given that Bolan's solo singles before meeting Took all flopped.

DEPARTURE FROM TYRANNOSAURUS REX
In 1969 Took was sacked by Bolan and the duo's management Prior to the US tour for a number of reasons and pseudo-reasons of:

1) Determinedly hanging out with the anarchists of the London Underground including Mick (White Panther/Deviant) Farren and doing lists of silly things many cased by factor 2);

2) Taking lots of drugs, many of which were taken with Syd Barrett. Mick Farren recalls Took would often drag a bemused Syd along to events;

3) Asking Marc if the duo could do some of his songs which Tony Secunda (their producer) said was sure to mean Took would HAVE to go;

4) Bolan considered people who worked for him should work exclusively for him. And example was demonstrated in T.Rex when their publicist BP Fallon was sacked for daring to do some PR for Suzi Quatro. (1) Before Took was sacked he sung and played on Twink's seminal album 'Think Pink' though he was not listed at the time, so this did in itself not bode well for Took.

5) Following on from this was the potential jealousy of Took by Bolan. According to his widow June Bolan "Marc idolised Syd". Bolan however would never go on to be friends with Syd Barrett. Bolan would never record with Syd. Took did both. It was long been known by 'Tookites' that Took played percussion on the recently released 'Ramadan' as well as the previously released 'Lanky Part One' and the unreleased 'Lanky Part Two'

Although Took was sacked BEFORE the US tour he was contractually obliged to go on the tour, or face a bill for £2,000. To put that amount into perspective. Tyrannosaurus Rex's first album cost just £400 to record in 1968 and in 1969 petrol was 6 shillings 2 pence (31 new pence) a UK Gallon, so £2,000 would buy you 6,450 Gallons of Petrol. That amount would cost at least £38,000 today (2011). Alternatively the average UK house price in 1969 was £4,640. Compare that with the average house price in the UK in 2010 of £232,628.

Therefore an unhappy Took had no choice but to go on the tour which would actually span his 20th Birthday and end when in June Bolan's words "we abandoned him" when Bolan & his soon-to-be wife returned to the UK. After the tour the story put out by 'da management' was that Took had been sacked AFTER the US tour because of the amount of drugs he consumed ON the US tour. Took's girlfriend Lou recalls that Took was being provided with drugs while on tour. "what were they giving you?" she asked him. "I don't know. I just took them" was his reply and I'm sure its not hard to imagine wanting to drown-your-sorrows in such a situation. Interestingly the Television footage from the US Tour shows a coherent Took suggesting that when 'da management' wanted Took to perform well that was within their abilities (presumably by simply restricting Took’s drug diet for that day).

To be fair to Bolan - He wanted to be a Star and once Tyrannosaurus Rex showed it was not the vehicle to achieve this sufficiently Bolan needed to go more mainstream and a drug-taking anarchist like Took wasn't Took, almost two years Bolan's junior joined what he thought was a "nice hippy thing" and of course the duo originally played free gigs in Hyde Park which was in keeping with the 'Underground Ethos'. The management quickly realised that Bolan was the businessman - hence Took's departure. After Took no member of T.Rex would had aspirations 'above their station'. Mickey Finn recalled that he was happy to "ride the rollercoaster" and reap the rewards of success.

AFTER TYRANNOSAURUS REX - TWO KEY BANDS
After his departure from the duo, Took concentrated on his own singer/songwriting activities, variously as a solo artist or as a frontman for several bands in particular Steve Took's Shagrat with Motohead founder Larry Wallis and Steve Took's Horns both of which resulted in recordings, which were posthumously released. He remained true to his beliefs in the underground ethos, though he was confused when Bolan did not use his position to highlight environmental issues in the way Underground Musicians did and would continue to do so.

The effect of his time in Tyrannosaurus Rex and the manner of his dismissal cast a long shadow over Took’s life, which is complex and will be dealt with in detail in his forthcoming biography “A Trip through Ladbroke Grove”.

OTHER BANDS / MUSICAL ASSOCIATIONS
Took went on to work with many Hawkwind musicians on various projects which resulted in recordings many are ‘missing presumed no longer in existence’, although some are known to exist *somewhere*. Notable Hawkwind members Took worked with (in addition to Nik Turner) include Adrian Shaw, Sir Adrian Wagner, Paul Rudolph (also a Pink Fairy) and Robert Calvert. Took also formed the original line-up of the Pink Fairies with Twink, Mick Farren and Twink’s girlfriend Silva Darling. As well as his own son Luke Took he was also step-father to Lemmy’s son Paul Inder.

FURTHER THINGS WORTH NOTING
Although born Stephen Porter he changed his name to that of the Tolkien Character Peregrin Took prior to meeting Bolan and used that name exclusively to the point that many people were not away that Took was not his original surname. When his son Luke was born he was listed on his birth certificate with the surname of Took unlike Marc Bolan’s son Rolan who was registered as Rolan Feld – Feld being Bolan’s real name and Bolan used the spelling of his own first name as Mark.

DEAD AND FUNERAL
Steve Took died on 27 October 1980 in Ladbroke Grove, London, England, aged thirty-one when he choked on a cocktail cherry. He was buried in Kensal Green Cemetery at a funeral attended by hundreds of people including a number who arrived in black stretched limos.

For more information visit his web site :- www.Steve-Took.co.uk web mistressed by his Official Biographer Fee (Mercury Moon) Warner