Fascinating man (you too John)! In concert (and on record) Jethro Tull was consistently one of the tightest bands I've seen. Ian and the bands(s) puts so much energy into performances , never appearing to take the audience for granted. Of all progressive and rock bands I've seen, Tull always had the strongest/impressive bands opening their concerts (UK was my favorite). It goes to show how confident they were as a band! 🎤
Wish you hadn't mentioned that😢I took a wrong turn going around DC and was late arriving to the Stormwatch show in 1979, not knowing UK was the opening act. I had been digging UK's album in the same period I was in love with Stormwatch, so when I got to my seat and saw "UK" in flashing lights behind the band that was finishing their set, I wanted to die. Great show followed, of course.
Been a fan for many, many years. I saw them in the early '70s headlining with openers Redbone and the Eagles. They performed a few tracks from Aqualung and did Thick as a Brick in its entirety. I still think about that concert over the years and listen to Thick and Aqualung once or twice a year. Great band, great albums, and great memories.
Funny how Ian likes to blend in and not stand out. I once sat behind a large coliseum +/- a couple hours before a Tull show. There was an expansive parking lot, and a bus or two at the very far back - probably 150-200 yards from where I was sitting alongside the building's loading ramp. My best friend and I noticed someone coming from the buses - a guy in all black: T-shirt, pants, boots/shoes... carrying a guitar case. We kind of assumed it was a roadie, but as the man made his way to the ramp and walked past and slightly beneath us, we realized it was Ian Anderson. 1974 (or '75?) when Tull was a monstrous band selling out huge arenas (this one had 15,000 seats), and the man takes a couple minutes to stroll across a huge, open, public parking lot to get to the venue. All that time, we had been expecting adoring fans to be gathering , followed by the arrival of a limo, etc... I think at that moment, we realized that even bigger-than-life rock stars are just people who, as they say, put their pant son one leg at a time like the rest of us. I am so angry that I did not acknowledge him with more than a sheepish wave or - knowing me back then - an inaudible "hi". On the other hand, Ian did acknowledge us sitting in the front row, making his fantastic moves and things, and those crazy poses pointing "magician fingers" directly at us - eye contact and all! I gained SO much respect for that man as a musician and performer at that a following shows, and overall as a fellow man over all these years , but funnily enough, at age 15, I was surprised and disappointed that he wasn't the rebellious, drug-crazed rocker he might have appeared to be on stage - lol.
Love Jethro Tull they they really jam, Ian makes playing the flute like a sport,more physical. . My first lp of theirs was Stand Up. Of course Thick as a brick Aqua Lung ect... Great interview with Ian, thanks John
First piece of media I ever owned. Older brother handed it down to me sometime in the mid to late 70s. And because of Thick as a Brick, my first instrument was flute. Thanks Ian!
Jethro Tull's TAAB tour was my first rock concert ever in 1972. Knew basically nothing about the band and music. Arena sound quality was poor in those days. Enjoyed the concert, but it didn't register too much. Heard TAAB playing a few days later. "Hey, that sounds pretty good - I remember it from the show." Bought TAAB and Aqualung albums and have been a Tull fan ever since.
Thick as a Brick certainly was Ian Anderson's Magnum Opus. However my third favorite album by Jethro Tull What a Sin he hasn't been recognized by the idiots in Cleveland.
I recently learned the bass part for this record--very fun to play along with. Does anybody out there know why the tuning changes about halfway through side 2? I find my self tuning flatter as it goes on and by the end of side 2 they are about half a semitone flat. Might it have to do with the string section? I heard that some classical types tune to A430???(that wouldn't be half a semitone???) I"m really interested to find out.
The Zealot Gene is not a prog rock album lacks of power the band had in the past with M Barre , D Perry and A Giddings. It is only folk music . To far from the Jethro Tull sound the band had until The Christmas Album.
One of the greatest albums ever!
Fascinating man (you too John)! In concert (and on record) Jethro Tull was consistently one of the tightest bands I've seen. Ian and the bands(s) puts so much energy into performances , never appearing to take the audience for granted. Of all progressive and rock bands I've seen, Tull always had the strongest/impressive bands opening their concerts (UK was my favorite). It goes to show how confident they were as a band! 🎤
Too right , it was a proper show. Still the best concert I have ever seen.
Wish you hadn't mentioned that😢I took a wrong turn going around DC and was late arriving to the Stormwatch show in 1979, not knowing UK was the opening act. I had been digging UK's album in the same period I was in love with Stormwatch, so when I got to my seat and saw "UK" in flashing lights behind the band that was finishing their set, I wanted to die. Great show followed, of course.
Saw Jethro Tull in Houston June ‘72 during their Thick As A Brick tour; phenomenal show! Can’t believe it’s been fifty years.
Been a fan for many, many years. I saw them in the early '70s headlining with openers Redbone and the Eagles. They performed a few tracks from Aqualung and did Thick as a Brick in its entirety. I still think about that concert over the years and listen to Thick and Aqualung once or twice a year. Great band, great albums, and great memories.
Favorite Prog Album.
A true Masterpiece 50 years on❤
Ian is a complete musician, one of my favorites
Remember listening to "thick as a brick " on a road trip from Ottawa to Hamilton helping my sister move back home .
Great album and always nice to see Ian giving interviews
One of the best albums of all time! Zealot Gene is good.
Funny how Ian likes to blend in and not stand out. I once sat behind a large coliseum +/- a couple hours before a Tull show. There was an expansive parking lot, and a bus or two at the very far back - probably 150-200 yards from where I was sitting alongside the building's loading ramp. My best friend and I noticed someone coming from the buses - a guy in all black: T-shirt, pants, boots/shoes... carrying a guitar case. We kind of assumed it was a roadie, but as the man made his way to the ramp and walked past and slightly beneath us, we realized it was Ian Anderson. 1974 (or '75?) when Tull was a monstrous band selling out huge arenas (this one had 15,000 seats), and the man takes a couple minutes to stroll across a huge, open, public parking lot to get to the venue. All that time, we had been expecting adoring fans to be gathering , followed by the arrival of a limo, etc... I think at that moment, we realized that even bigger-than-life rock stars are just people who, as they say, put their pant son one leg at a time like the rest of us. I am so angry that I did not acknowledge him with more than a sheepish wave or - knowing me back then - an inaudible "hi".
On the other hand, Ian did acknowledge us sitting in the front row, making his fantastic moves and things, and those crazy poses pointing "magician fingers" directly at us - eye contact and all! I gained SO much respect for that man as a musician and performer at that a following shows, and overall as a fellow man over all these years , but funnily enough, at age 15, I was surprised and disappointed that he wasn't the rebellious, drug-crazed rocker he might have appeared to be on stage - lol.
It blew up my mind when I listened....
I was 12 my cousins had it. It changed my life
Big fan of Thick as a Brick lot of memories
Love Jethro Tull they they really jam, Ian makes playing the flute like a sport,more physical. . My first lp of theirs was Stand Up. Of course Thick as a brick Aqua Lung ect... Great interview with Ian, thanks John
My favorite descriptor was "non-rabbit fur." I haven't had the physical album for decades, but that notion I always remembered.
I've seen them 3 times. Amazing live.
The newspaper album cover is cool.
I was at what I believe was the first full live performance of TAAB , at Portsmouth Guidhall March '72.
I’m enjoying The Zealot Gene. “In Brief Visitation” is a beautiful little tune. 👍
I have the 40th anniversary box. Awesome. I can sing the entire song.
First piece of media I ever owned. Older brother handed it down to me sometime in the mid to late 70s.
And because of Thick as a Brick, my first instrument was flute. Thanks Ian!
Been listening to them over 50 years LOL. Can't wait to hear the new stuff.
Jethro Tull's TAAB tour was my first rock concert ever in 1972. Knew basically nothing about the band and music. Arena sound quality was poor in those days. Enjoyed the concert, but it didn't register too much. Heard TAAB playing a few days later. "Hey, that sounds pretty good - I remember it from the show." Bought TAAB and Aqualung albums and have been a Tull fan ever since.
In all these recent interviews Mr. Anderson is giving I always wonder what he's looking down at most of the time.
Thick as a Brick certainly was Ian Anderson's Magnum Opus.
However my third favorite album by Jethro Tull
What a Sin he hasn't been recognized by the idiots in Cleveland.
F*&%% RRHOF
I recently learned the bass part for this record--very fun to play along with.
Does anybody out there know why the tuning changes about halfway through side 2?
I find my self tuning flatter as it goes on and by the end of side 2 they are about half a semitone flat.
Might it have to do with the string section?
I heard that some classical types tune to A430???(that wouldn't be half a semitone???)
I"m really interested to find out.
Never knew he preferred train and doesnt like to fly.
The Zealot Gene is not a prog rock album lacks of power the band had in the past with M Barre , D Perry and A Giddings. It is only folk music . To far from the Jethro Tull sound the band had until The Christmas Album.