THE drummer in one of rock music’s biggest bands of all time is gearing up for a fundraising gig in Furness.

Paul Fenton, who lives in Ulverston, will pick up the sticks again to play with T-Rex and relive the glory days of the 1970s.

Mr Fenton joined the rockers back in 1973, having struck up a strong friendship with the legendary Marc Bolan after being introduced by top producer Tony Visconti.

While continuing as the drummer with his original band Carmen, who counted Bolan and David Bowie among their fans, Paul became a member of T-Rex.

Paul featured on each of Marc Bolan and T.Rex’s albums and singles starting from Zinc Alloy and the Hidden Riders of Tomorrow in 1974 until Bolan’s tragic death.

Reminiscing on his friendship with the great man, Paul said: “We spent a lot of time together socially. We were mates, you know. I used to stay at his house and we used to go down to the Speakeasy club in London together. You could have a good laugh with him. One thing I remember is he used to always call everybody ‘doll’.

“It was great fun being with him. He was a bit of an androgynous character and he was good at getting the attention of people through that.

“Marc was an extremely generous person - there aren’t many rock stars like that. They were extremely good times.”

The gig on Saturday (February 18), at The Nines in Barrow is raising money for The Ryan Stanford Appeal. It was set up in the name of a three-year-old boy who is suffering with the rare Alpers' Disease, a terminal genetic disorder with affects the brain and liver.

Paul said: “We are looking forward to the gig. It will be our first in this area and I have been told there are lots of fans of T Rex in the Barrow and Furness area.

“We don’t make a fortune out of playing live but it is just great to be out there. We have brought the band into the 21st century and I’m pleased about that.

“Everytime I go out it is like a new audience. My favourites to play are Children of the Revolution, 20th Century Boy and Get It On. We always get asked for those.”

For tickets contact 07719 186145.