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.
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