Explanations

The puzzle was a commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the death of JRR TOLKIEN. Six clues appeared to lead to normal answers (highlighted in yellow) but actually contained embedded Lord Of The Rings characters that needed to be entered. The definition parts of four further clues require the insertion of races from LOTR (highlighted in green) for the clues to make sense. Seven further clues contain a superfluous word (highlighted in blue). The initials of these in clue order spelt out TOLKIEN.

Across

1. Overpriced end oF ROD On listener (D + EAR = DEAR)
2. HAS (holds) containing (round) LIT (burning) + O (ring) + IS (lives) => HALITOSIS (nasty fumes)
3. IN (popular) following (after) DETA (disastrous date) => DETAIN (reMANd)
4. UNT (jammed nut) + ANGLE (corner) => UNTANGLE (loose) + TOOL
5. ANA (anecdotes) + CA (about) containing OND (Don Trump inside) => ANACONDA (what a snake)
6. Contained in (section) groUND Outside => UNDO (open) + OFFICE
7. Finally ReG AND ALFred play with bull bait (G + AND + ALF => RED FLAG)
8. S (small) + TICKER (clock) => STICKER (label) + LONGITUDINAL
9. Initial letters (roots) That Start A Revolution => TSAR (leader)
10. EX (old) + A (active) + MINE (bomb) + R (makeR at last) => EXAMINER (he investigates)
11. S (fraction of Song) + POUTING (not looking happy) => SPOUTING (streaming)
12. Contained in (essence of) tHE ALT History (6) => HEALTH (wELFare)
13. Anagram (mediation) editors + in => DISORIENT (puzzle) + KEPT
14. Tie Ken with cAR WE Navigated (KEN + CAR + WE => NECKWEAR)

Down

1. TRIAL (go) containing (around) ENNI (nine spins) => TRIENNIAL (1095 revolutions)
2. A (one) + DANCED (traipsed) containing V (around very) => ADVANCED (forward)
3. Vice verSA RUM ANd ice element (RUM + ICE => CERIUM)
4. MIST (film) + RUST (wear) => MISTRUST (suspect) + INDEPENDENT
5. AN (one) + E (energy) contained in (caught by) MOD (60s teen) => MOANED (lamENTed)
6. After revisinG I'M LIke saint whiter than the rest (I'M + LIKE + ST => MILKIEST)
7. AN (core of bANd) + ON (working) => ANON (later) + ELECTROPOP
8. EVEN (not odd) + TEE (shirt) contained in SN (adopted by Poles) => SEVENTEEN (number)
9. R (resistance) contained in LARI (rail strike) + KIN (brethren) => LARRIKIN (Aussie yob)
10. HIV (aids) contained in CALRY (getting dressed in lycra outfit) => CHIVALRY (gallant) + NIGEL
11. AGE (develop) contained in RENT (crack) => REAGENT (chemical)
12. DinoSAUR ONe nobbled with torn pad (ONE + TORN + PAD => PTERANODON)
13. ACE (expert) containing H (has Head start) => ACHE (smart)
14. L (left) contained in SPIT (drool) => SPLIT (divORCe)