Jethro Tull

Jethro Tull

Jethro Tull are a British rock group from Luton, United Kingdom, active from 1967 to the present. They emerge from the late 1960s British blues scene and develop a sound that combines art rock, blues rock, classic rock, folk rock, hard rock, progressive rock and related elements. The band is led by Ian Anderson, who sings, plays flute and guitar, and writes songs; his flute playing becomes one of the group’s most recognisable features.

Formation and early years

The group begins in Blackpool and later moves to Luton in 1967, when several members relocate and sign a management deal with Terry Ellis and Chris Wright. Before settling on the name Jethro Tull, the band uses names including Navy Blue and Candy Coloured Rain. The name comes from the eighteenth-century agriculturist Jethro Tull and becomes permanent after the band secures a residency at London’s Marquee Club. Anderson and John Evan first form an earlier line-up that becomes known as the John Evan Band, with school connections also linking Anderson, Jeffrey Hammond and Evan.

The early blues-based line-up includes Anderson, guitarist Mick Abrahams, bassist Glenn Cornick and drummer Clive Bunker. Their first single, “Sunshine Day”, appears in 1968, followed by the debut album This Was the same year. After Abrahams leaves, Martin Barre joins at the end of 1968 and becomes an important long-term member.

Breakthrough recordings

With Barre in the group, Jethro Tull build an audience through extensive touring and support slots with major rock acts. “Living in the Past” becomes a UK hit in 1969, and Stand Up reaches number one in the UK Albums Chart. Benefit further increases the band’s popularity. Aqualung (1971) becomes their international breakthrough and is one of their best-known albums, with lyrics dealing with religion and society.

Thick as a Brick follows in 1972 as a single continuous composition spread over both sides of a vinyl record. It reaches number one in the United States. A Passion Play also tops the US chart in 1973. During the 1970s the band releases albums including War Child, Minstrel in the Gallery and Too Old to Rock ’n’ Roll: Too Young to Die!, maintaining a frequent recording and touring schedule.

Line-up changes and stylistic shifts

Jethro Tull’s personnel changes are frequent. Over the years the line-up includes, among others, John Evan, Jeffrey Hammond, John Glascock, Dave Pegg, Dee Palmer, Peter-John Vettese, Doane Perry and Andrew Giddings. Glenn Cornick leaves before Aqualung, Jeffrey Hammond joins for that album, and Clive Bunker is replaced by Barrie Barlow in 1971. During the 1970s Palmer becomes increasingly involved as an arranger and keyboard player, while Glascock joins in 1975.

The band’s music shifts repeatedly. In the late 1970s it moves towards stronger folk influences on Songs from the Wood, Heavy Horses and Stormwatch, sometimes grouped as a folk-rock trilogy. In the early 1980s the band experiments with electronic rock on A, The Broadsword and the Beast and Under Wraps, the last of which makes extensive use of drum machines. A is originally planned as an Ian Anderson solo project but is issued under the Jethro Tull name.

Award-winning period and later work

After Under Wraps, Anderson develops vocal problems and the band pauses temporarily. Jethro Tull return in 1987 with Crest of a Knave, a record that is both commercially and critically successful. It wins the Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance Vocal or Instrumental in 1989. Later albums include Rock Island, Catfish Rising, Roots to Branches and J-Tull Dot Com. The 1990s releases incorporate world music influences inspired by Anderson’s international travel. The group continues touring and recording, and in 2002 the original 1967 line-up reunites for a single performance later documented on Living with the Past.

The Jethro Tull Christmas Album appears in 2003. By 2011, activity under the Jethro Tull name has effectively ceased, but Anderson later revives the name with a line-up largely drawn from his solo touring band. Martin Barre is not part of this later incarnation. The revived group releases The Zealot Gene, RökFlöte and Curious Ruminant, and continues to record and perform under Anderson’s leadership.

Members and line-up history

Named members associated with Jethro Tull include Mick Abrahams, Glenn Cornick, Clive Bunker, Ian Anderson, Martin Barre, Tony Iommi, John Evan, Jeffrey Hammond Hammond, Barriemore Barlow, John Glascock, Dee Palmer, Dave Pegg, Mark Craney, Eddie Jobson, Gerry Conway, Peter-John Vettese, Paul Burgess, Doane Perry, Maartin Allcock, Dave Mattacks, Andrew Giddings, Jonathan Noyce, David Goodier, John O’Hara, Anna Phoebe, Scott Hammond and Tony Williams.