Jethro Tull are a British rock group formed in 1967 that is known for its lyrics, and the vocals and flute playing of Ian Anderson who has led the band since its founding.
The early incarnation of the band was blues-rock, but throughout they have experimented with elements of classical music, folk music, jazz and art rock into their music.
They are one of world's best-selling music artists. They have sold more than 60 million albums worldwide and are still playing into their fifth decade.
Ian Anderson's first band, started in 1962 in Blackpool, was known as The Blades, and featured Anderson on vocals and harmonica, Jeffrey Hammond on bass, John Evans (later shortened to Evan)on drums, and a guitarist, Michael Stephans. Drummer Barrie Barlow became a member in 1963 after Evans had switched from drums to piano. By 1964 the band had developed into a seven-piece Blue-eyed soul band called The John Evan Band (later The John Evan Smash).
In 1967, the band moved to the London area in search of fame, but the plan fizzled and most of the band quit and headed home. Anderson and bassist Glenn Cornick (who had replaced Hammond) connected with blues guitarist Mick Abrahams and his friend, drummer Clive Bunker to give it another try.
Other names the band used included "Navy Blue", "Ian Henderson's Bag o' Nails", and "Candy Coloured Rain." Since they had no permanent name at the time, booking agents sometimes made up a name for them. One of these agents (perhaps a history buff) put them down as "Jethro Tull" after the 18th-century agriculturist. Jethro Tull (1674 – 1741) was an English agricultural pioneer who helped bring about the British Agricultural Revolution. He perfected a horse-drawn seed drill in 1701 that economically sowed the seeds in neat rows, and later a horse-drawn hoe.
The connection of him to their music? None. But it was the name they were using the first time a club manager liked their show enough to invite them to return, so they took it to be a good omen and stuck with it.
Anderson, frustrated with his guitar playing, made the unusual switch for a rock band of including a flute. They released an unsuccessful single in 1968 called "Sunshine Day." It was mislabeled "Jethro Toe" and copies have become collector's items.
Their first album is This Was
from 1968. It includes original tunes by Anderson and Abrahams, "Cat's Squirrel" with Abrahams' blues-rock, and a Rahsaan Roland Kirk-penned jazz piece called "Serenade to a Cuckoo" which features Anderson's still-developing flute stylings.
Abrahams left because the band was moving away from a pure blues-rock style and he formed his own band, the much-underrated Blodwyn Pig
.Jethro Tull's best-known album is the 1971 Aqualung. The album has a lyrical theme about religion and society and though not a "rock opera" (as with The Who's Tommy
and other albums of the period), it is considered to be a concept album.The character of Aqualung is a Dickensian, disreputable homeless tramp, who wanders the streets "eyeing little girls with bad intent". He was inspired by photos of homeless men taken by Anderson's wife, Jennie. That seemy world includes "Cross-Eyed Mary
" about a young prostitute. The album has both quieter acoustic tracks such as "Wond'ring Aloud," and rockers such as the title track, "Aqualung
," and "Locomotive Breath."
The band has gone through many lineups with Anderson being the consistent factor. Their 2008 tour celebrated 40 years of the band,and included many older songs as well as guest appearances from former band members and others. The band has devoted followers and there are many fan sites online. Their official site is at JethroTull.com.
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Still not sure of the reason for the name?
ReplyDeleteBy chance, You can say. Their name were put down by event an organiser, as Jethro Tull. Sticked to the name, since success seemed to snowball after the naming ...
ReplyDeleteWhy is there never a publicized acknowledgement that Jethro Tull's music is modernized minstrel/dark ages/renaissance, and so on, music? I remember hearing that term a couple decades ago but I can't find anything online about it.i don't believe it's coincidental that their name, Ian Anderson's brilliant incorporation of the flute came together and formed the most unique sound of a rock band I've ever heard. I had the privilege of seeing Ian Anderson live in the mid 90s and he was captivating and genius.
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