Post by admin on May 16, 2008 9:46:12 GMT
Just wondering aloud! According to the Ministry Jeffrey Hammond (Hammond) was due to be special guest, which would have been pretty special! (but I would have thought pretty unlikely too as I've read as well as being a very private man he doesn't really play anymore)
But according to the Blackpool Gazette:
Big time chance for former Jethro Tull man
« Previous « PreviousNext » Next »View GalleryA LYTHAM music teacher will be rolling back the years tonight and wondering what life would have been like if he had not shared his flute with one of the world's best known rock stars.
Martin Skyrme was one of the original members of the former Blackpool-based band which went on to become chart topping Jethro Tull.
Students
And tonight he has been invited back on stage at Blackburn King George's Hall to join ADVERTISEMENTfrontman Ian Anderson on one night of the band's 40th anniversary tour.
Martin, of Preston Road, met up with Ian and the other members of what became the John Evans Blues Band when they were art students at the former Blackpool Technology College and passing time in their Liberal Studies classes.
But the flautist, clarinet player and saxophonist parted company with the band after about a year when they headed to London to become Jethro Tull and he settled for a life of musical academia at the Northern School of Music in Manchester.
He followed their rise to fame with interest and has kept in touch with various members of the original line-up over the years.
But it wasn't until Jethro Tull's Blackpool Opera House visit two years ago that he properly renewed his friendship with Anderson.
"The invitation to join the current band for a night came a bit of out of the blue," admits Martin, who these days couples private music tuition with performing solo and fronting his own dinner jazz duo, trio and quartet.
He will be playing second flute to Anderson's lead on two or three numbers including Bouree from Tull's first album and Locomotive Breath from the band's biggest hit album Aqualung.
"I don't think I've ever really regretted choosing college over the band," he says.
"It would have never worked out with Jethro Tull - Ian and I were sharing the same flute!
"Anyway I was leaning more towards the classical side of things even then."
Having co-written and created an educational series of CDs – Scale and Polish – a new concept in playing scales and arpeggios, Martin says he enjoys playing music far more now than he did when he was younger.
"I make a living out of it and I really enjoy watching younger musicians learning their skills," he says.
"I've done plenty of session work and freelance stuff over the years – it's good now to be passing on my knowledge to new generations."
As for whether he will be nervous when he steps on stage tonight, he says: "I'll be nervous about getting everything right, but I'm sure I can cope with the spotlight – if only for one night."
But according to the Blackpool Gazette:
Big time chance for former Jethro Tull man
« Previous « PreviousNext » Next »View GalleryA LYTHAM music teacher will be rolling back the years tonight and wondering what life would have been like if he had not shared his flute with one of the world's best known rock stars.
Martin Skyrme was one of the original members of the former Blackpool-based band which went on to become chart topping Jethro Tull.
Students
And tonight he has been invited back on stage at Blackburn King George's Hall to join ADVERTISEMENTfrontman Ian Anderson on one night of the band's 40th anniversary tour.
Martin, of Preston Road, met up with Ian and the other members of what became the John Evans Blues Band when they were art students at the former Blackpool Technology College and passing time in their Liberal Studies classes.
But the flautist, clarinet player and saxophonist parted company with the band after about a year when they headed to London to become Jethro Tull and he settled for a life of musical academia at the Northern School of Music in Manchester.
He followed their rise to fame with interest and has kept in touch with various members of the original line-up over the years.
But it wasn't until Jethro Tull's Blackpool Opera House visit two years ago that he properly renewed his friendship with Anderson.
"The invitation to join the current band for a night came a bit of out of the blue," admits Martin, who these days couples private music tuition with performing solo and fronting his own dinner jazz duo, trio and quartet.
He will be playing second flute to Anderson's lead on two or three numbers including Bouree from Tull's first album and Locomotive Breath from the band's biggest hit album Aqualung.
"I don't think I've ever really regretted choosing college over the band," he says.
"It would have never worked out with Jethro Tull - Ian and I were sharing the same flute!
"Anyway I was leaning more towards the classical side of things even then."
Having co-written and created an educational series of CDs – Scale and Polish – a new concept in playing scales and arpeggios, Martin says he enjoys playing music far more now than he did when he was younger.
"I make a living out of it and I really enjoy watching younger musicians learning their skills," he says.
"I've done plenty of session work and freelance stuff over the years – it's good now to be passing on my knowledge to new generations."
As for whether he will be nervous when he steps on stage tonight, he says: "I'll be nervous about getting everything right, but I'm sure I can cope with the spotlight – if only for one night."