Martin Barre

Martin Barre

Martin Barre is a guitarist from Birmingham, United Kingdom, born in 1946. He is best known as the lead guitarist in Jethro Tull, where he joins Ian Anderson from 1969 after replacing Mick Abrahams in the group’s line-up. His playing becomes a central part of the band’s sound in both studio recordings and live performance, bringing force and texture to Anderson’s melodies and lyrics.

Barre also contributes to Jethro Tull’s Grammy-winning album Crest of a Knave, which takes the award for Best Hard Rock Album in 1988. Anderson describes him as essential to the group’s existence.

Solo work

Barre’s solo recording begins in his home studio, before he puts together a band for charity gigs in the early 1990s. He then records two albums that let him move beyond the usual Jethro Tull framework and explore different sounds, genres and musical settings. His work is associated with rock, progressive rock, classic rock, art rock and folk.

He is also linked with Fat Mattress.