This week's image is a reminder that despite popular belief, Jethro Tull is danceable music. So this week take some time to dance to TAAB or Steel Monkey.Saturday, May 24, 2008
Image of the Week (05/24/08)
This week's image is a reminder that despite popular belief, Jethro Tull is danceable music. So this week take some time to dance to TAAB or Steel Monkey.
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Jack in the Green: Live in Germany Released Today
For the release of Jack in the Green: Live in Germany, here is a review from DVDtalk.
Jethro Tull: Jack in the Green: Live in Germany
Review by Jeffrey Kauffman
The Movie:
OK, I'll admit it. I was a kid when a buddy of mine came running over to me and enthusiastically proclaimed, "Jethro Tull is coming to do a concert next month!" "Who's he?" I asked, to my friend's incredulous look, belying my ignorance that the proper verb should have been "are" and the pronoun should have been "they". I was soon brought up to speed on Tull's amazing group dynamic of the then revolutionary combination of rock, classical, jazz and folk musics (frequently with a Celtic edge), anchored by group leader Ian Anderson's incredible flute, vocals, and, in live performances, acrobatic agility. Anderson, whose stage persona is part jester, part magician, and just slightly that of an inspired madman, was an arena rock pioneer who managed to nonetheless bring a surprisingly intimate feel to his shows performed before thousands. This compilation of German performances from 1970 to 1993 shows Anderson and group in fine form, covering some of Tull's best known pieces in some great sounding live versions.
There actually was a real Jethro Tull--a late 17th to mid-18th century English agriculturist who invented the seed drill. The group Tull was founded by Anderson in 1967, but had to wait until 1969's album "Stand Up" for their first mainstream success, highlighted by Anderson's cool jazzy reworking of Bach's Bourree, a classical-jazz-rock mélange that pointed the way for such future supergroups as Yes, not to mention the use of Bach again during the nascent disco era for such singles as Apollo 100's "Joy" (based on Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring).
The DVD finds Tull in fine form on such stalwarts as "Aqualung," "Thick as a Brick," "Locomotive Breath" and "Too Old to Rock 'n' Roll, Too Young to Die," as well as great lesser known tunes (and one of my personal favorites) like "Jack in the Green." Anderson deserves props for letting his band stretch out here, especially the fiery keyboard solo with some positively Wakeman-esque work (unfortunately there are no credits providing a name for this exemplary pianist). The DVD skips around in time, starting in the 1980s, proceeding to the 1993 concert, and then taking the wayback machine to 1970, so it's fun in a tangential way to see Anderson's hair growing and departing through various eras, as well as to see the different instrumentation involved through the years (guitarist Martin Barre is a regular, though earlier incarnations feature a Hammond B3 as opposed to acoustic and electric keyboards).
Tull is such a distinctive force in popular music that their contribution is virtually impossible to classify. I, for one, happen to think that's a very good thing. With Anderson's mellifluous, though at times rock-raspy, voice proclaiming lyrics that frequently have a mythological underpinning, and with the florid instrumental backings that Tull always provides, this DVD offers a career-spanning look at one of the most unique bands to make Top 40 headway over the past 40-odd years.
The DVD
Video:
The full frame image is generally excellent, with a surprising lack of quality difference (save for the 1970-71 segments) through the decades. The opening concert is the darkest, with fairly poor contrast, but the rest of the DVD sports a perfectly acceptable transfer of what are obviously older elements.
Sound:
This is one great sounding soundtrack, with three exceptional options: DD 5.1, DD 2.0 and DTS surround sound. All three sport top-notch separation and fidelity. I know I sound like a broken record, but I tend to prefer the DD 5.1 mixes on these concert DVDs. For some reason, the DTS soundtracks make the screaming audience noise too present for my tastes.
Extras:
None are offered.
Final Thoughts:
Jethro Tull is a one-of-a-kind band led by one of the most distinctive forces of nature to ever hit rock 'n' roll: Ian Anderson. It's great that so many of these historic appearances were documented, and to have them all on one DVD is a treasure trove for all Tull fans. Highly recommended.
Click here for full article.
Jethro Tull: Jack in the Green: Live in Germany
Review by Jeffrey Kauffman
The Movie:
OK, I'll admit it. I was a kid when a buddy of mine came running over to me and enthusiastically proclaimed, "Jethro Tull is coming to do a concert next month!" "Who's he?" I asked, to my friend's incredulous look, belying my ignorance that the proper verb should have been "are" and the pronoun should have been "they". I was soon brought up to speed on Tull's amazing group dynamic of the then revolutionary combination of rock, classical, jazz and folk musics (frequently with a Celtic edge), anchored by group leader Ian Anderson's incredible flute, vocals, and, in live performances, acrobatic agility. Anderson, whose stage persona is part jester, part magician, and just slightly that of an inspired madman, was an arena rock pioneer who managed to nonetheless bring a surprisingly intimate feel to his shows performed before thousands. This compilation of German performances from 1970 to 1993 shows Anderson and group in fine form, covering some of Tull's best known pieces in some great sounding live versions.
There actually was a real Jethro Tull--a late 17th to mid-18th century English agriculturist who invented the seed drill. The group Tull was founded by Anderson in 1967, but had to wait until 1969's album "Stand Up" for their first mainstream success, highlighted by Anderson's cool jazzy reworking of Bach's Bourree, a classical-jazz-rock mélange that pointed the way for such future supergroups as Yes, not to mention the use of Bach again during the nascent disco era for such singles as Apollo 100's "Joy" (based on Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring).
The DVD finds Tull in fine form on such stalwarts as "Aqualung," "Thick as a Brick," "Locomotive Breath" and "Too Old to Rock 'n' Roll, Too Young to Die," as well as great lesser known tunes (and one of my personal favorites) like "Jack in the Green." Anderson deserves props for letting his band stretch out here, especially the fiery keyboard solo with some positively Wakeman-esque work (unfortunately there are no credits providing a name for this exemplary pianist). The DVD skips around in time, starting in the 1980s, proceeding to the 1993 concert, and then taking the wayback machine to 1970, so it's fun in a tangential way to see Anderson's hair growing and departing through various eras, as well as to see the different instrumentation involved through the years (guitarist Martin Barre is a regular, though earlier incarnations feature a Hammond B3 as opposed to acoustic and electric keyboards).
Tull is such a distinctive force in popular music that their contribution is virtually impossible to classify. I, for one, happen to think that's a very good thing. With Anderson's mellifluous, though at times rock-raspy, voice proclaiming lyrics that frequently have a mythological underpinning, and with the florid instrumental backings that Tull always provides, this DVD offers a career-spanning look at one of the most unique bands to make Top 40 headway over the past 40-odd years.
The DVD
Video:
The full frame image is generally excellent, with a surprising lack of quality difference (save for the 1970-71 segments) through the decades. The opening concert is the darkest, with fairly poor contrast, but the rest of the DVD sports a perfectly acceptable transfer of what are obviously older elements.
Sound:
This is one great sounding soundtrack, with three exceptional options: DD 5.1, DD 2.0 and DTS surround sound. All three sport top-notch separation and fidelity. I know I sound like a broken record, but I tend to prefer the DD 5.1 mixes on these concert DVDs. For some reason, the DTS soundtracks make the screaming audience noise too present for my tastes.
Extras:
None are offered.
Final Thoughts:
Jethro Tull is a one-of-a-kind band led by one of the most distinctive forces of nature to ever hit rock 'n' roll: Ian Anderson. It's great that so many of these historic appearances were documented, and to have them all on one DVD is a treasure trove for all Tull fans. Highly recommended.
Click here for full article.
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Review: Jethro Tull, King George's Hall, Blackburn
By John Anson
FOR a band to still be playing to sold out houses after 40 years on the road, they must be doing something right.
After over two hours of first rate musicianship and a standing ovation, you suspect that Jethro Tull are doing quite a bit more than that.
Frontman Ian Anderson has always been one of rock's great characters.
He still skips around the stage like a malevolent Puck wielding his famous flute like a light sabre. And yes, he does still play it stood on one leg.
With bandanna and his wide eyes, it's as though an 18th century buccaneer has been transported through time to front a rock band.
Jethro Tull are never going to be regarded as mainstream. But those who dismiss them have clearly never seen a live show.
Sure they may look like a bunch of music teachers about to give an end of term show to their pupils but when they cut loose, as they did on Thick As A Brick, there's almost a majestic power about them.
Last night's show featured rock, blues, jazz, some Bach and even a drum solo - remember them?
At times the vocals were a little lost but the quality of the musicianship, especially from guitarist Martin Barre, shone through.
Former drummer Clive Bunker was a special guest and the band delved deep into the back catalogue to put on a show that had fans from several generations clamouring for more.
Full article here.
FOR a band to still be playing to sold out houses after 40 years on the road, they must be doing something right.
After over two hours of first rate musicianship and a standing ovation, you suspect that Jethro Tull are doing quite a bit more than that.
Frontman Ian Anderson has always been one of rock's great characters.
He still skips around the stage like a malevolent Puck wielding his famous flute like a light sabre. And yes, he does still play it stood on one leg.
With bandanna and his wide eyes, it's as though an 18th century buccaneer has been transported through time to front a rock band.
Jethro Tull are never going to be regarded as mainstream. But those who dismiss them have clearly never seen a live show.
Sure they may look like a bunch of music teachers about to give an end of term show to their pupils but when they cut loose, as they did on Thick As A Brick, there's almost a majestic power about them.
Last night's show featured rock, blues, jazz, some Bach and even a drum solo - remember them?
At times the vocals were a little lost but the quality of the musicianship, especially from guitarist Martin Barre, shone through.
Former drummer Clive Bunker was a special guest and the band delved deep into the back catalogue to put on a show that had fans from several generations clamouring for more.
Full article here.
Image of the Week (05/17/08)
This week's image is Ian-in-the-box. Great for birthday parties, weddings, aniverseries, and any time you want to be surprised. So this week surprise someone you love with Jethro Tull! (Jack-in-the-green is released in only 3 days!)Saturday, May 10, 2008
Happy birthday Jethro Tull, still packing them in after 40 years
Under the radar of the media, the band are embarking on an anniversary tour. Ian Anderson explains their success
John Bungey
If the czars of musical fashion had their way, Jethro Tull would have ceased to exist decades ago. Tull music is a fanciful melange of prog rock, metal and folk, laced with classical lite and a smattering of Monty Python whimsy. The White Stripes they are not. The band haven't had a Top Ten single since 1970 and their most famous song (Aqualung) portrays - perhaps rather too sympathetically - a pervert on a park bench. Oh, and their oeuvre is almost entirely undanceable.
And yet ... Ian Anderson and his troupe are currently embarked on a globe-straddling 40th anniversary tour, packing out the enormodomes of America en route. In the febrile world of pop, where the average NME-endorsed hipster crashes and burns after a couple of indie hits, the Tull are a ruggedly reliable stock, playing 70-plus gigs every year and quietly flogging 60 million-plus albums. Celebrity fans range from Nick Cave and Stephen King to Geoff Hoon and Russia's President-elect.
So, in the face of near-total media indifference in their homeland, how has Anderson, 60, contrived such a successful career? Culled from a meeting at his discreetly splendid Wiltshire pile, amid his 400-acre farm, here are a few tips to success the Jethro Tull way.
Have a unique selling point
Amid a scrum of sweaty boogie bands heading from the provinces to London in 1967 only one had a man playing flute. On one leg. “It made us stand out,” says Anderson. This delicate instrument didn't stop them playing very loudly on occasion and in 1989 they beat Metallica to the first Grammy for heavy metal. “Yes, everyone was slightly surprised at that.”
Put on a show
“In 1972 we were one of the first bands to do a production tour with some theatricality. It was really just Alice Cooper and us. Back then you didn't have huge video screens. That came in '75 and again we were one of the first with a system called Tullivision.” Theatricality included making an entrance in rabbit suits and hiring Pan's People.
Just say no
“I never touched drugs. The guy sitting next to me at art college in Blackpool had needle marks down his arm. I remember saying, ‘Oh, what's that?' I knew there were perils out there from an early age. Around the time of the Isle of Wight Festival in 1970 they were dropping like flies - people we shared a stage with - Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison.
“We did the last night of the festival with Hendrix, almost his last show - the moment he appeared on stage you could tell he was not a happy bunny.”
Don't give up
“The closest I've ever been to thinking ‘This is enough' was on the tour for Thick as a Brick [famously bonkers 1972 concept album] in America. By then I was playing quite a lot of acoustic passages. Trying to cope with screeching, hooting people who think they're at a football game I found deeply unpleasant. Having 10,000 people whistling is completely overpowering.” The band's response in America was to turn up the riffs - hence that Grammy.
Don't follow trends
When punk came along, Jethro Tull opted to go folkie with Songs from the Wood. “We'd seen all that [punk] before. It was no surprise. We'd played alongside the MC5 in 1969, who were the prototype. They didn't spit; the bass player used to have a shit on stage. Every night. In the same number. Offstage they were just like a bunch of kids from next door and rather in awe of us.”
Become a global brand
Rock'n'roll isn't just London and New York. “I've always liked the idea of playing in places that shaped the era that I grew up in. It was important for me to visit the Eastern Bloc in the 1980s, so too India, Israel - and South America with its history of communism and fascism. People forget how subversive rock music was once considered. I've had people come to me with their albums in Chile and they've said: ‘If I'd been found with this I'd have gone to jail.' Or even worse: ‘I had a friend who had a copy of Aqualung and we never saw him again.'”
Do it yourself
“It came to my awareness early on that if you employ managers and tour managers you end up spending an awful lot more money than you need to. You'd get booked into hotels just because they had the best commission, not because they were near the show or the airport. I also got fed up with the idea that you'd have roadies to pack and carry your suitcases. You can sometimes draw from the murky depths this amazing ability to actually get on the right aeroplane yourself.” Anderson has been managing himself since the midSeventies, his wife, Shona, does the books and his son, James, is promoting the British leg of the current tour.
It helps if you started at the Marquee Club in 1968
Not much use to today's Facebook hopefuls but as Anderson points out: “Deep Purple, Fleetwood Mac, Yes, King Crimson, Jethro Tull all began there and are still working. It was an incredibly inventive era, one that perhaps we're only beginning to really appreciate now.”
Know your fans
Fans age with a band. “Whether they like it or not, Duran Duran's core audience is now 40-year-old mums,” Anderson says. But contrary to rumour, Tull fans are not all middle-aged gents in real-ale T-shirts. “We are not constricted by a particular age group. We have a lot of Asians but not many black people. It's mixed gender but not so mixed that we have a lot of gays. There are bands with a strong gay following, which makes a difference to the numbers.” Clearly all those years in tights and codpiece did not work.
Have a life off stage
Anderson famously ran a successful salmon-farming business in Scotland, now sold. Hobbies include growing hot chillis and the study and conservation of the 26 species of small wildcats in the world.
Keep it real
“I don't want to live in my stately home in the country and have Waitrose deliver to me. On Friday morning I'll be with my wife in the Toyota Prius at Cirencester Waitrose. That's part of being out there.”
Anderson doesn't travel on the tour bus, preferring to journey alone on the train. “What you encounter on the frequently dodgy streets around stations is a way of keeping in touch with British society.”
Win friends and influence people
Jethro Tull have some unlikely political fans, including Geoff Hoon. “I'm not exactly happy about his stance on Iraq when he was Defence Secretary. Still, it's hard to dislike someone who has been gushing how much he likes your stuff ... But God forbid that Tony Blair owns one of my albums.”
The Russian President-elect Dmitri Medvedev has named Tull as one of his four favourite groups. In fact they are a hit generally with the big men of Russia - except one. In 1991 Anderson was photographed with the Mayor of St Petersburg. “He seemed like an OK, urbane character but on the edge of this photo is this face, it's an evil-looking guy who is his bodyguard. He's staring at me and clearly doesn't like me. Many years later someone showed me the picture again and said, ‘Do you recognise that face on the edge of the photo?' It was Vladimir Putin in his days as a KGB minder.”
For tour dates see http://www.j-tull.com/
Click here for original article.
John BungeyIf the czars of musical fashion had their way, Jethro Tull would have ceased to exist decades ago. Tull music is a fanciful melange of prog rock, metal and folk, laced with classical lite and a smattering of Monty Python whimsy. The White Stripes they are not. The band haven't had a Top Ten single since 1970 and their most famous song (Aqualung) portrays - perhaps rather too sympathetically - a pervert on a park bench. Oh, and their oeuvre is almost entirely undanceable.
And yet ... Ian Anderson and his troupe are currently embarked on a globe-straddling 40th anniversary tour, packing out the enormodomes of America en route. In the febrile world of pop, where the average NME-endorsed hipster crashes and burns after a couple of indie hits, the Tull are a ruggedly reliable stock, playing 70-plus gigs every year and quietly flogging 60 million-plus albums. Celebrity fans range from Nick Cave and Stephen King to Geoff Hoon and Russia's President-elect.
So, in the face of near-total media indifference in their homeland, how has Anderson, 60, contrived such a successful career? Culled from a meeting at his discreetly splendid Wiltshire pile, amid his 400-acre farm, here are a few tips to success the Jethro Tull way.
Have a unique selling point
Amid a scrum of sweaty boogie bands heading from the provinces to London in 1967 only one had a man playing flute. On one leg. “It made us stand out,” says Anderson. This delicate instrument didn't stop them playing very loudly on occasion and in 1989 they beat Metallica to the first Grammy for heavy metal. “Yes, everyone was slightly surprised at that.”
Put on a show
“In 1972 we were one of the first bands to do a production tour with some theatricality. It was really just Alice Cooper and us. Back then you didn't have huge video screens. That came in '75 and again we were one of the first with a system called Tullivision.” Theatricality included making an entrance in rabbit suits and hiring Pan's People.
Just say no
“I never touched drugs. The guy sitting next to me at art college in Blackpool had needle marks down his arm. I remember saying, ‘Oh, what's that?' I knew there were perils out there from an early age. Around the time of the Isle of Wight Festival in 1970 they were dropping like flies - people we shared a stage with - Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison.
“We did the last night of the festival with Hendrix, almost his last show - the moment he appeared on stage you could tell he was not a happy bunny.”
Don't give up
“The closest I've ever been to thinking ‘This is enough' was on the tour for Thick as a Brick [famously bonkers 1972 concept album] in America. By then I was playing quite a lot of acoustic passages. Trying to cope with screeching, hooting people who think they're at a football game I found deeply unpleasant. Having 10,000 people whistling is completely overpowering.” The band's response in America was to turn up the riffs - hence that Grammy.
Don't follow trends
When punk came along, Jethro Tull opted to go folkie with Songs from the Wood. “We'd seen all that [punk] before. It was no surprise. We'd played alongside the MC5 in 1969, who were the prototype. They didn't spit; the bass player used to have a shit on stage. Every night. In the same number. Offstage they were just like a bunch of kids from next door and rather in awe of us.”
Become a global brand
Rock'n'roll isn't just London and New York. “I've always liked the idea of playing in places that shaped the era that I grew up in. It was important for me to visit the Eastern Bloc in the 1980s, so too India, Israel - and South America with its history of communism and fascism. People forget how subversive rock music was once considered. I've had people come to me with their albums in Chile and they've said: ‘If I'd been found with this I'd have gone to jail.' Or even worse: ‘I had a friend who had a copy of Aqualung and we never saw him again.'”
Do it yourself
“It came to my awareness early on that if you employ managers and tour managers you end up spending an awful lot more money than you need to. You'd get booked into hotels just because they had the best commission, not because they were near the show or the airport. I also got fed up with the idea that you'd have roadies to pack and carry your suitcases. You can sometimes draw from the murky depths this amazing ability to actually get on the right aeroplane yourself.” Anderson has been managing himself since the midSeventies, his wife, Shona, does the books and his son, James, is promoting the British leg of the current tour.
It helps if you started at the Marquee Club in 1968
Not much use to today's Facebook hopefuls but as Anderson points out: “Deep Purple, Fleetwood Mac, Yes, King Crimson, Jethro Tull all began there and are still working. It was an incredibly inventive era, one that perhaps we're only beginning to really appreciate now.”
Know your fans
Fans age with a band. “Whether they like it or not, Duran Duran's core audience is now 40-year-old mums,” Anderson says. But contrary to rumour, Tull fans are not all middle-aged gents in real-ale T-shirts. “We are not constricted by a particular age group. We have a lot of Asians but not many black people. It's mixed gender but not so mixed that we have a lot of gays. There are bands with a strong gay following, which makes a difference to the numbers.” Clearly all those years in tights and codpiece did not work.
Have a life off stage
Anderson famously ran a successful salmon-farming business in Scotland, now sold. Hobbies include growing hot chillis and the study and conservation of the 26 species of small wildcats in the world.
Keep it real
“I don't want to live in my stately home in the country and have Waitrose deliver to me. On Friday morning I'll be with my wife in the Toyota Prius at Cirencester Waitrose. That's part of being out there.”
Anderson doesn't travel on the tour bus, preferring to journey alone on the train. “What you encounter on the frequently dodgy streets around stations is a way of keeping in touch with British society.”
Win friends and influence people
Jethro Tull have some unlikely political fans, including Geoff Hoon. “I'm not exactly happy about his stance on Iraq when he was Defence Secretary. Still, it's hard to dislike someone who has been gushing how much he likes your stuff ... But God forbid that Tony Blair owns one of my albums.”
The Russian President-elect Dmitri Medvedev has named Tull as one of his four favourite groups. In fact they are a hit generally with the big men of Russia - except one. In 1991 Anderson was photographed with the Mayor of St Petersburg. “He seemed like an OK, urbane character but on the edge of this photo is this face, it's an evil-looking guy who is his bodyguard. He's staring at me and clearly doesn't like me. Many years later someone showed me the picture again and said, ‘Do you recognise that face on the edge of the photo?' It was Vladimir Putin in his days as a KGB minder.”
For tour dates see http://www.j-tull.com/
Click here for original article.
Friday, May 9, 2008
Does Jethro Tull Sing Country?
Tonight at work I had an interesting conversation with a young lady. It is widely known at work that I am a more than "casual" Jethro Tull fan. Jethro Tull came up in the conversation (no, I did not bring it up) and the young lady asked me what songs Jethro Tull sings. I started off with the usuals, Aqualung, Locomotive Breath, Bungle in the Jungle, Thick as a Brick but none of these seemed to ring a bell for her. She then asked if Jethro Tull sings Country. I was very much taken aback. I did not think that Aqualung sounded like it might be the title track to a Country album. To answer her question however, I showed her the back of my Warchild T-shirt (I happened to be wearing it at the time) and asked if it looked like Jethro Tull sings Country. She was forced to answer, "No."
Despite the fact that Jethro Tull does not sing Country (although Truck Stop Runner does have a nice twang to it), it is hard to define what type of music they play. To be safe, Jethro Tull should have its own category. It is Jethro Tull. I guess you just don't understand until you've experienced it.
Despite the fact that Jethro Tull does not sing Country (although Truck Stop Runner does have a nice twang to it), it is hard to define what type of music they play. To be safe, Jethro Tull should have its own category. It is Jethro Tull. I guess you just don't understand until you've experienced it.
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Ian Anderson Interview from icWales.co.uk
Tull are still reaping what they sowed in '68
Apr 11 2008 by Gavin Allen, South Wales Echo
SEMINAL folk rockers Jethro Tull are out on their 40th anniversary tour and arrive in South Wales next week. Martin Hutchinson caught up with flautist in chief, Ian Anderson, for some Q&A.
What has kept you going as a band for four decades?
“The loyalty of our fans keeps us in work and pocket money. Some artists have fickle fans but the more loyal and committed fans ensure that the work of bands like Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix , The Stones and us won’t fade away.”
How do you describe Jethro Tull’s sound, folk, rock, prog?
“Someone once said that Tull is ‘Bach meets the Blues’. Our music has the discipline and formal musicality exemplified by Bach, yet there is something gutsy in it. It’s probably somewhere between heart-felt and head-felt. Actually, Bach was a brilliant improviser. I reckon if he were a musician today, he would probably be a jazz musician. Beethoven would be in a heavy rock band.”
Is it true you hate the band’s name? (The band are named after the 18th century English agricultural pioneer)
“I’ve never been mad keen on the name. It was on a list of names our agent gave us. We got a residency at The Marquee with that name and it stuck. There were other names to pick from but one of them was Candy Coloured Rain.”
Are you bored of singing the same songs?
“I prefer to live in the present and future. Some of our audience like the nostalgia bit and it’s bit of a trip down memory lane for them. For us, it’s not about playing a song which could be more than 30 years old. It’s about playing something that’s 24 hours old, since that’s when we last played it on stage.”
What will the set list be on this tour?
“About 80% of the show will come from the first three or four albums, but of course we’ll play a song or two from other eras – those songs that reflect the big picture.”
Click here for full artical from icWales.co.uk.
Apr 11 2008 by Gavin Allen, South Wales Echo
SEMINAL folk rockers Jethro Tull are out on their 40th anniversary tour and arrive in South Wales next week. Martin Hutchinson caught up with flautist in chief, Ian Anderson, for some Q&A.
What has kept you going as a band for four decades?
“The loyalty of our fans keeps us in work and pocket money. Some artists have fickle fans but the more loyal and committed fans ensure that the work of bands like Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix , The Stones and us won’t fade away.”
How do you describe Jethro Tull’s sound, folk, rock, prog?
“Someone once said that Tull is ‘Bach meets the Blues’. Our music has the discipline and formal musicality exemplified by Bach, yet there is something gutsy in it. It’s probably somewhere between heart-felt and head-felt. Actually, Bach was a brilliant improviser. I reckon if he were a musician today, he would probably be a jazz musician. Beethoven would be in a heavy rock band.”
Is it true you hate the band’s name? (The band are named after the 18th century English agricultural pioneer)
“I’ve never been mad keen on the name. It was on a list of names our agent gave us. We got a residency at The Marquee with that name and it stuck. There were other names to pick from but one of them was Candy Coloured Rain.”
Are you bored of singing the same songs?
“I prefer to live in the present and future. Some of our audience like the nostalgia bit and it’s bit of a trip down memory lane for them. For us, it’s not about playing a song which could be more than 30 years old. It’s about playing something that’s 24 hours old, since that’s when we last played it on stage.”
What will the set list be on this tour?
“About 80% of the show will come from the first three or four albums, but of course we’ll play a song or two from other eras – those songs that reflect the big picture.”
Click here for full artical from icWales.co.uk.
Monday, May 5, 2008
Discovering Tull: Part I
As far as Tull fans go, I am a mere "wee lad in short trousers." At the rightful age of 24, I am currently attending college, trying for find a wife, and "blethering with the best" of Tull fans. How did it happen? This is my Tull story: this is how I discovered Jethro Tull.
Many years passed without Jethro Tull. I never had enough money to buy Warchild. Eventually, I did buy the album on CD but not until I was 21. I was elated at the new bonus tracks (I know that it is a touchy subject...) and was impressed with the softer side of Tull found in Warchild Waltz. I wanted to branch out and discover more about this band, whose one album had meant so much to in my childhood.
I suppose it all started at Christmas when I was nearly 14. I received a portable cassette player from one of my cousins. Somewhat disappointed at the gift anyway (I had really needed a new CD player), my father tried to console me by giving me some tapes to listen to. Before this point, 
music was not a big part of my life. One of the tapes my father pulled out of his collection was, Warchild. Anyone else remember the green tape? My father said that the music on the tape was interesting, involving a crazy guy with a flute, heavy at times, and worth listening to. I was not sure what to expect when I popped it in and was greeted by the air-raid sirens and "Another cup of tea, dear?" The more I listened, the more I liked the album. It was very much different from anything I had listened to before. I would listen to it as I read Roger Zelazny's Nine Princes in Amber, which was also very influential in my tender youth. Tracks that blew me away were: Back Door Angels, Sealion, Bungle in the Jungle, and of course Skating Away. I listened to the tape until it wore out and then promised myself that I would buy it on CD.
music was not a big part of my life. One of the tapes my father pulled out of his collection was, Warchild. Anyone else remember the green tape? My father said that the music on the tape was interesting, involving a crazy guy with a flute, heavy at times, and worth listening to. I was not sure what to expect when I popped it in and was greeted by the air-raid sirens and "Another cup of tea, dear?" The more I listened, the more I liked the album. It was very much different from anything I had listened to before. I would listen to it as I read Roger Zelazny's Nine Princes in Amber, which was also very influential in my tender youth. Tracks that blew me away were: Back Door Angels, Sealion, Bungle in the Jungle, and of course Skating Away. I listened to the tape until it wore out and then promised myself that I would buy it on CD.Many years passed without Jethro Tull. I never had enough money to buy Warchild. Eventually, I did buy the album on CD but not until I was 21. I was elated at the new bonus tracks (I know that it is a touchy subject...) and was impressed with the softer side of Tull found in Warchild Waltz. I wanted to branch out and discover more about this band, whose one album had meant so much to in my childhood.I started my journey to discover the large world of Tull. I had no idea that it would become such a part of my life. In honor of the album that started it all for me, Warchild hangs on my wall to remind me that every journey has a beginning. Mine had begun.
To be continued....
Do you have a Jethro Tull story you would like to share? Play Minstrel Play is always looking for new authors that have something to say about Tull. To become an author, talk to or leave a message for Slipperyjim on Tullchat. Ideas for Play Minstrel Play are also welcome. Help make Play Minstrel Play the #1 blog for Tull fans!
TULL MONDAY - NIGHT LIVE
MONDAY NIGHT 05/05/08
NON-TULL-CAST
@7:30 PM ET
Porcupine tree
- In Absentia -
TULL-CAST
@8:40 PM ET
Boston Garden
October 11, 1980
Enjoy!
BTD
NON-TULL-CAST
@7:30 PM ET
Porcupine tree
- In Absentia -
TULL-CAST
@8:40 PM ET
Boston Garden
October 11, 1980
Enjoy!
BTD
Saturday, May 3, 2008
Image Of the Week (05/03/08)
"Those big-hair days, we used to know, where have they gone? Where did they go?" This week's image is to remind us that big hair is no bad thing, and that it is okay to smile every once-in-a-while.
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