|
Post by maddogfagin on Dec 1, 2016 8:51:08 GMT
Another photo of the youthful Martin. I think the guitar is a Gibson? I don't think it's the one featured in the above photo but according to Martin's facebook page he's been reunited with what seems to be a similar model though without the tremolo arm. "This is my 'new' 1961 Gibson ES 335 guitar. I had to sell 15 years ago - reluctantly. I happened to see it on Mansons Guitar Shop website & bought it back for my 70th Birthday present to myself!! Welcome home old friend!"
|
|
|
Post by maddogfagin on Jan 27, 2017 8:59:23 GMT
www.premierguitar.com/articles/25258-hamer-guitars-announces-2017-lineupHamer Guitars Announces 2017 LineupPress Release January 25, 2017 Before retiring from the stage in 2013, Hamer Guitars were seen, heard, and played around the world by acts that included Aerosmith, Bad Company, Blackfoot, Blues Brothers, Bon Jovi, Cheap Trick, The Cars, Def Leppard, Del Fuegos, Dire Straights, Eagles, Sammy Hagar, Hall & Oats, Billy Idol, Jethro Tull, Billy Joel, Kiss, Huey Lewis & the News, Gary Moore, Motley Crue, No Doubt, Neville Brothers, Night Ranger, Ted Nugent, Robert Palmer, The Police, The Pretenders, Judas Priest, Ratt, The Romantics, Savoy Brown, The Sex Pistols, Steve Simmons, Billy Squire, Third Eye Blind, Steve Vai, The Who, Wishbone Ash, and Warren Zane, among many others.Hammer guitars web page www.hamerguitars.com/2017/
|
|
|
Post by nonrabbit on Feb 28, 2017 19:15:30 GMT
Maybe a wee bit too early to put up the 2018 threads yet however here's a snippet/tease from Prog Mag's ( February 2017) interview with Martin. Martin revealed that his band are planning an extensive series of 50th anniversary shows in 2018. 'It'll represent the whole history of Tull... I've got two, if not more, ex-Jethro Tull musicians to be guests... ..concerts in the UK, Europe and America. The first gig...will be Cruise To The Edge in Feb 2018' Prog Mag FB ( with Ian as cover pic)Cruise To The Edge
|
|
|
Post by rredmond on Mar 1, 2017 16:48:08 GMT
Yes of course, it is a 1962 Fenton Weill Dualtone. Dude! Nice!! Y'all impress me with your gee-tar knowledge. Now if we were talking trombones... I still likely wouldn't be able to compete. --Ron--
|
|
|
Post by maddogfagin on May 30, 2017 12:38:11 GMT
Concert info out of date but interesting story about "Eleanor Rigby"lincoln.wickedlocal.com/entertainment/20170420/jethro-tulls-martin-barre-plays-blues-in-cambridgeJethro Tull’s Martin Barre plays the blues in CambridgePosted Apr 20, 2017 at 6:17 PM By Ed Symkus, Correspondent Before Jethro Tull became a renowned progressive rock group in the early 1970s, they were a blues band, and their guitarist, Mick Abrahams, was a master blues player. When Abrahams left in the late 1960s, his spot was taken by Martin Barre, a blues player in his own right but far more diversified as a guitarist. Barre stayed with Tull for 43 years, till the band was dissolved by frontman Ian Anderson. But Barre had already started doing some gigs with his own band long before that, the most current version of which is set to perform at the Regattabar in Cambridge on April 22. Barre, 70, a native of Manchester, England, got his first guitar at 14, was turned on to jazz flute by albums his dad bought him – so also took up playing the flute – taught himself the tenor saxophone in order to join a band that needed a sax player, and went back to his main passion, the guitar, with his late ’60s band Gethsemane. Speaking by phone from a tour stop outside of Atlanta, Barre recalled first seeing Jethro Tull perform around 1968. “I thought that’s exactly what I want to be doing, with the flute, the guitar,” he said. “We did a gig with them about three months later in Plymouth, England. That’s when I met Ian and the guys, and we got on really well.” Thinking back to after he passed the audition to join Tull, Barre believes he helped take the band’s sound in a new direction. “Mick was a fantastic guitar player, and he was much better at doing what he did than I was,” he said. “But I had my own style, and I think Ian saw that, within that style, I was more flexible, maybe more broad-minded in what I played, and that’s what he was looking for. Even in those days he was thinking ahead of the blues boom, and he wanted to be writing songs that were getting away from it. He didn’t want a 100 percent blues guitar player in the band. I wasn’t aware of those parameters but luckily, I guess I fit the bill. Though he was with Tull till 2011, Barre started working with other musicians in the early-1990s. “The whole solo thing started with a bunch of friends in Devon, England,” he said. “We just put a band together called the Summer Band, because we worked one summer playing all these local outdoor gigs. We had a lot of fun doing it, there was nothing serious, but that sort of gave me the bug to go out and play with other people, do other styles of music. I eventually started writing music, as well, and that was a real big point for me as a musician.” Barre’s Regattabar show will have him fronting a quartet. He’s on guitar, Dan Crisp is on vocals and guitar, Alan Thomson plays bass, and Jonathan Joseph is the drummer. They’ll be playing selections from Barre’s most recent album, “Back to Steel,” as well as tunes from his earlier solo efforts and, of course some Jethro Tull nuggets. “I obviously have to start [set lists] with what I think is going to work,” he said. “But I listen to the audience, and I look at the audience, and I would never play anything if I didn’t think the audience loved what we were doing. We play two songs from [Tull’s] ‘Benefit’: ‘To Cry You a Song’ and ‘Nothing to Say.’ But we don’t play ‘Aqualung’ because I think that’s sort of a cheap shot. It’s just too easy, and I want to win audiences over my way. I want subtlety, I want surprises, like ‘Eleanor Rigby.’” That Beatles cover, which is on “Back to Steel,” goes back a number of years for Barre. “I remember seeing Jeff Beck playing an instrumental of ‘A Day in the Life,’ and I thought it was beautiful,” he said. “And the Beatles’ songs lend themselves so well to being played instrumentally. So I went back home and because Jethro Tull have always played an instrumental during their set, I thought about Beatles songs. I worked on ‘Eleanor Rigby,’ then deconstructed it and wrote different chords and a slightly different melody. I made a little demo of it, but I never got around to playing it live with Tull. That was probably 15 years ago. So, fast forward to doing ‘Back to Steel,’ and there it was on the shelf and I thought I might have another go at that. I added a couple of riffs, and worked in the vocals with Dan Crisp. Then we rehearsed it as a band and straight away it sounded damn good.”
|
|
|
Post by maddogfagin on Aug 31, 2017 7:45:28 GMT
www.thehindu.com/entertainment/music/underrated-but-not-unappreciated/article19588978.eceUnderrated but not unappreciatedNarendra Kusnur AUGUST 30, 2017 For jazz lovers, the death of American guitarist John Abercrombie on August 22 came as terrible news. The 72-year-old virtuoso was known for his versatility and lyrical style, moving from jazz-rock fusion earlier in his career to a polished chamber jazz sound. One of Abercrombie's best known albums was the 1975 Timeless, recorded with fusion keyboardist Jan Hammer and drummer Jack Dejohnette. That was the beginning of his long association with the Munich-based ECM label. Many of these featured bassist Dave Holland. In his obituary, jazz critic John Fordham of The Guardian, London, has described the guitarist as an understated, delightful performer. It's an accurate statement, and Abercrombie isn't obviously the only one. The worlds of jazz, rock and blues have seen many underrated musicians over the years. Here, let's stick to guitarists. When one talks of the best jazz guitarists, many people will instantly mention John McLaughlin, Al Di Meola, Paco de Lucia, Larry Coryell, Scott Henderson and Pat Metheny. Some will talk of old-timers like Wes Montgomery, Grant Green and Django Reinhardt. A much smaller section will add names like Lee Ritenour, John Scofield, Bill Frisell and Abercrombie to the list. In 1984, French guitarist Christian Escoude visited Mumbai and Delhi. It was one of the most memorable tours in India but by and large, not many have heard of him. The technique and style of these players are unique, and they have had a huge influence on younger musicians. Yet they are underrated among a large section of jazz followers. When it comes to rock, if you mention the term guitar god, then names like Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, Ritchie Blackmore, Keith Richards, David Gilmour, Slash, Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Carlos Santana and their ilk crop up. Guitarists like Martin Barre of Jethro Tull, Brian May of Queen, Robbie Krieger of the Doors and Mick Ralphs of Bad Company are not mentioned in the same breath. Jeff Beck has many devotees but usually misses out on top ten favourite lists. And very few knew country star Glen Campbell as a guitar genius till they read tributes to him. From the 21st century lot, nobody mentions Wilco guitarist Nels Cline, though he's as fantastic as many. Check out the ending of the song 'Impossible Germany'. Barre, May, Krieger and Ralphs have done some great work for their bands. Yet, they probably have been underrated simply because of the sheer charm of the groups' frontmen, namely Ian Anderson, Freddie Mercury, Jim Morrison and Paul Rodgers. They have also been less showy in their approach, preferring not to grab the limelight. There may be no concrete theory as to why some guitarists are hugely popular and others have a devoted but limited audience even though talent levels are often on par. In the latter case, many have a cult following, in that they are worshipped by some and overlooked by others. This phenomenon isn't restricted to guitarists. We have underrated pianists, bassists, drummers, saxophonists, sitar players, tabla exponents, even singers and what have you. Western classical music is filled with unknown and unsung soloists. It's just one of the things one has to accept about the music industry, one guesses.
|
|
|
Post by maddogfagin on Sept 10, 2017 7:44:16 GMT
Martin's acquired something new to play with "A huge thank you to Paul & the team at PRS Guitars for my new arrival. A year in the making - she's one of a kind!"
|
|
|
Post by steelmonkey on Sept 10, 2017 21:14:03 GMT
In Oakland Martin showed off the new ax and called it a 'wife' guitar....'it tells you what to play'.
|
|
|
Post by maddogfagin on Oct 7, 2017 8:02:36 GMT
www.njherald.com/20171005/tull-guitarist-does-his-own-thing#/Tull guitarist does his own thingBy Robert Price New Jersey Herald Posted: Oct. 5, 2017 12:01 am Martin Barre doesn't believe in labeling music. And his newest solo album, "Back to Steel," doesn't really allow the listener to pigeonhole the sound, as the tracks jump seamlessly from blues to folk, hard rock to soft rock to progressive rock. The album's almost a microcosm of Barre's 43 years as lead guitarist with the legendary English rock band Jethro Tull, which started as a blues band before moving through periods of folk, hard rock (according to Grammy nominators) and classical or progressive rock. "I just tell people it's blues-rock, but I've always been of a mind that music doesn't need a category," Barre said, in a telephone interview from a tour stop in Palm Springs, Calif. Barre and his new band will perform at Roy's Hall in Blairstown on Saturday, Oct. 14. "A lot of people say they can recognize my style and sound. I don't understand how they can pinpoint what I do. I don't mind. I'm quite proud of the heritage of Jethro Tull," he said. "But, hopefully, my music stands on its own, or at least beside that of Jethro Tull." Tull, led throughout its entire history by iconic singer, songwriter and flute player Ian Anderson, began in 1967 and ended in 2012, with a revolving door of some 33 members. Barre, who joined in 1969, started a new band from scratch when Anderson dissolved Tull. He's not involved in Anderson's recently-announced 50th anniversary Tull revival. "I'm very determined," Barre said. "This band is starting out from absolute zero. I've got the energy and motivation to do that. And I'm surprised and pleased to still be playing music." Barre's band consists of vocalist Dan Crisp, who sometimes sounds like Ian Anderson; Scottish bassist Alan Thomson, and drummer Dave Schoepke, longtime Willy Porter Band member. Barre, 70, is equally happy as a supporting player or a bandleader. He doesn't consider himself a "hot-shot guitar player," and he says there's a lot more to music than playing an instrument well, such as composing, arranging and being as committed to playing rhythm as lead. Still, Barre's playing with Jethro Tull -- a band that has exceeded 60 million albums sold worldwide -- has earned him a high level of respect and recognition. His performances on the albums "Aqualung," "Songs from the Wood," "Heavy Horses" and "Crest of a Knave" are legendary. Over the years, Barre has worked with many other artists including Paul McCartney, Phil Collins, Gary Moore, Jo Bonamassa and Chris Thompson, and has shared a stage with such legends as Jimi Hendrix, Fleetwood Mac, Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin. Barre has forged a solo career for many years, in between Tull projects. "Back to Steel" is his sixth solo album. But the current Tull split seems permanent. "Ian (Anderson) was, and is, an incredibly talented musician. But we started thinking differently and, in the later years, sort of clashed," Barre said. "Jethro Tull became more of a solo artist with a band. It got diluted." But since Barre had a big hand in both creating and playing Tull music, he has no problem including some of it in his shows and recordings. "Back to Steel," for instance, includes the Tull songs "Skating Away" and "Slow Marching Band." His current tour features "a healthy mix. At the end of the day, we put together a show that's the most fun to play and most exciting for the audience," he said. "The reaction has been really fantastic," he said, of the West Coast portion of the current tour. Barre started playing flute and saxophone as a child, but he didn't feel destined to become a musician. He went to college to study architecture, but left after three years to try music. After playing around London with a couple of different bands, he auditioned for Jethro Tull, and the rest is history. "I was 100 percent ready to go back to my normal studies," he said. "I just take every year as it comes." Barre said he prefers the earlier Tull albums because they "have a certain naive drive to them. They were new, fresh and ground-breaking. We weren't like other bands." If pressed, he says, "Crest of a Knave," the 1989 Grammy-winning album, is his best work. Almost 30 years later, he is still irked by the controversy surrounding that Grammy win. The album was nominated in the hard rock/heavy metal category in which Metallica was favored for "...And Justice for All." As good as Tull's album was, most people, including the band's record label (Chrysalis), felt it didn't fit the category. Chrysalis was so sure Tull wouldn't win that it refused to send the band to the Grammy Awards event. "The controversy was unfortunate. I think we deserved it. At the end of the day, people voted," Barre said. "I was bitterly disappointed we couldn't be there to receive it. In those days a Grammy was something really special. I'll always regret that." In addition to "Steel Monkey" from "Crest of a Knave," Barre's signature guitar work can be heard on the songs "Aqualung," "Cross-Eyed Mary" and "Locomotive Breath." His part on "Aqualung" was voted by the readers of Guitar Player magazine as one of the top rock guitar solos of all time. In 2007, this solo was rated one of the 100 Greatest Guitar Solos by Guitar World magazine. If you go ... What: Martin Barre (of Jethro Tull) When: Saturday, Oct. 14, at 8 p.m. Where: Roy's Hall, 30 Main St., Blairstown Admission: $47.50-52.50 Tickets, information: 908-362-1399, visit royshall.org
|
|
|
Post by JTull 007 on Oct 8, 2017 1:57:21 GMT
Jethro Tull’s Martin Barre Band LINK October 8 @ 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm
|
|
|
Post by bunkerfan on Oct 8, 2017 6:34:05 GMT
Especially for you Bernie For all of us who love Martin and his band And for all of us who love the music of Jethro Tull
|
|
|
Post by JTull 007 on Oct 13, 2017 0:43:27 GMT
OCTOBER 12, 2017 INTERVIEW – JETHRO TULL’S MARTIN BARRE LINK CrypticRock.com – It will be exciting to hear the new material and to catch you live in the coming months for all those attending the shows. It will be interesting to see where you go next. My last question for you is pertaining to movies, particularly Horror and Sci-Fi. If you are a fan, what are some of your favorite Horror or Sci-Fi films?
Martin Barre – I’m not a Horror movie person. I’m not a Star Wars person either, although the rest of the band stay up all night watching every film. They’re huge fans. I’d say my favorite is Alien (1979).
I have a piece of H.R. Giger’s art. He was an incredible person. I heard he lived in a house that was painted black inside. He was a very dark person. Just the fact that all those ideas came from this distinctive mind is amazing to me. It makes it very much more personable as an idea, as a concept. Rather than having a bunch of Hollywood people sit round coming up with idea for a Sci-Fi movie, this was one person’s vision of a nightmare. Incredible. The Alien films are really great movies.
|
|
|
Post by maddogfagin on Oct 18, 2017 13:08:50 GMT
Interview with Martin Barre Jethro Tull blended hard rock, blues, folk and surreal lyrics to become one of the most unique progressive rock bands of our era. Joining Tull in 1969 for the recording of “Living in the Past”, Martin Barre continued to provide much of the energy juxtaposed to Ian Anderson’s complex melodies and lyrics that allowed the band to rise in epic popularity until it’s dissolution in 2011. Listen here to Carol’s interview with Martin Barre on Test of Time as Barre reflects back on his days as Jethro Tull’s guitarist including his favorite and most difficult albums to record. Martin Barre is hitting his stride as a solo artist and loving the freedom that’s offered. He continues re-interpreting Jethro Tull songs as well as writing and recording new material. Soundcloud interview HERE
|
|
|
Post by maddogfagin on Oct 27, 2017 8:08:50 GMT
www.southbendtribune.com/entertainment/inthebend/music/jethro-tull-s-barre-not-too-old-to-rock-performs/article_bacc63b2-eba1-5931-af9a-bf6adc92d918.html Jethro Tull's Barre not too old to rockBy Tom Conway | Tribune Correspondent Oct 26, 2017 Updated 15 hrs ago Jethro Tull has been inactive since 2012. Ian Anderson, singer and flutist for the progressive rock band, announced last month that the group was reforming and would tour this fall into 2018. “That’s not strictly true,” Martin Barre, guitarist for Jethro Tull from 1968 to 2012, says. “That’s not even true at all. Jethro Tull is not getting back together, because there is no Jethro Tull. It’s completely untrue and inaccurate. Essentially, there are only two people to do with Jethro Tull. That is me and Ian Anderson. He doesn’t play in my band and I don’t play in his band. Therefore, there will never be another Jethro Tull.” Anderson is touring with members of his solo band and billing the show as “Jethro Tull by Ian Anderson.” Barre, who is second only to Anderson in the length of time in Jethro Tull, just bills himself under his name. “I don’t use the words Jethro Tull to promote myself in the same way,” Barre says. “I use it in a more subtle way. I don’t want to have to sell it on that basis. I am independent of that. I write and record my own music. But we do play Jethro Tull and we play it better than anybody on the planet. That’s a bonus and a byproduct. It’s not everything. We don’t rest just on the name Jethro Tull, because that would be misleading.” Barre has released six solo albums, beginning with 1994’s “A Trick of Memory,” although he says he started creating music outside of Jethro Tull long before that. “I have always had a bit of independence,” Barre says. “But I didn’t always have the time to dedicate doing it. I started back in ’83. Jethro Tull had a year off, although we ended up not having a year off. Ian did his first solo album (‘Walk Into Light’) and that is when I first went into the studio and did some writing and doing solo material for myself because I had the time off. It was more of a hobby. I had fun doing it.” Barre says that the solo work he made while he was in Jethro Tull benefited the band. “I always had fun working with other musicians,” he says. “I found that doing things outside of Jethro Tull made me a better musician when I got back playing with Tull. Now, I have that background that has been the foundation of what we are doing now with my solo band. I am still continuing to write as much music and arrange as much music as I can.” Barre and his band — singer and guitarist Dan Crisp, bassist Alan Thomson, and drummer Dave Schoepke — perform today at The Livery in Benton Harbor. Barre and his band will play songs from his solo career — his last album, “Back to Steel,” came out in 2015 and he is working on his next record — and classic Jethro Tull songs, possibly even throwing in a Beatles song or two. In 1989, the Grammy Awards announced a new category: Best Hard Rock/Heavy Metal Performance. Jethro Tull won for its 1988 album, “Crest of a Knave,” beating out bands such as Metallica, Jane’s Addiction and AC/DC. Jethro Tull’s win caused much controversy, with many saying they were neither hard rock nor heavy metal. The Grammys separated the two categories thereafter. “It was a poorly conceived category, and I think they made a mistake when they threw hard rock and heavy metal into the same title,” Barre says. “At the end of the day, it was nice that they voted on the album they preferred. It was great. The sad thing was that the record label didn’t have the belief that we stood a chance of winning it, so they advised us not to go. That was quite disrespectful. It would have been a really important occasion to be present at. It’s a shame. I would have liked to have been there.” Although Anderson has been the main focal point of Jethro Tull, Barre is the one responsible for the classic riffs in songs such as “Aqualung” and “Locomotive Breath.” Barre says that there is no bad blood between and Anderson and himself. “I have got a great band, better than any of the Tull bands probably for the last 20 years,” he says. “I am a different person and a different musician. We are independent of each other and are better off because of that. The way that we were both going, it wasn’t going to work being together. Ian is very restricted by the Tull catalog he has to play.” Barre wishes Anderson success with his latest version of Jethro Tull. “We’re not in competition, because we are very different musically,” he says. “I often say, instead of having one great band with Jethro Tull, now you have got two. Give everyone a choice. There is no conflict, because we’re doing the tracks that Jethro Tull never played, so they are very fresh and very exciting. They are also very guitar-oriented. All the great Tull songs are based around the guitar. It works really good for me.” At 70 years old, Barre says he is playing with as much passion and energy as he ever has in his nearly 50 years of performing. “I love playing,” he says. “That is key to it all. I am playing so much more than I ever played in my life. I am really happy, musically. I never want to go back. Financially, it is a shame. We enjoyed good years with Jethro Tull. There is a compromise going on, but it is a very positive one.”
|
|
|
Post by JTull 007 on Oct 28, 2017 2:12:46 GMT
Images by Nick Coln and Richard Warner @ WHFB AM 1060 Radio
|
|
|
Post by maddogfagin on Nov 3, 2017 8:42:43 GMT
www.lep.co.uk/whats-on/music/laying-it-bare-with-martin-barre-and-keeping-the-music-alive-1-8836361Laying it bare with Martin Barre and keeping the music aliveNAOMI MOON Published: 09:29 Updated: 09:31 hursday 02 November 2017 There's few artists who can claim such a rich and varied career as Martin Barre. He was the guitarist of Jethro Tull for 43 years, his sound and playing having been a major factor in their success. But as well as working on numerous Jethro Tull albums, he has worked with many other illustrious artists including Paul McCartney, Phil Collins, Gary Moore, Jo Bonamassa and Chris Thompson, and has shared a stage with such legends as Jimi Hendrix, Fleetwood Mac, Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin. I caught up with Martin as he was busy touring America, before his return to the UK last week to play a string of shows up and down the country, including a stop off in Preston. And despite his extremely unrelenting and hectic schedule, he was willing to chew the fat on a number of different things. It was the day after the death of rock icon Tom Petty at the age of 66, and also the horrific attack on a music festival in Las Vegas. "It's really tragic because that's just far too young to pass away. But unfortunately it happens. "People like Moon, Keith Emerson and Greg Lake. There's so many people who have passed away. David Bowie. It's just a long list. It's just horrible. "All I can do is stay as fit, mentally and physically, as I can. You know, I run five miles every other day and I play tennis and table tennis and try and keep really fit. And mentally very active. That's all I can do. "But I just hate it that people are taken away so early in their lives, with so much talent. "But you know the tragedy today in America is the Las Vegas massacre and Tom Petty has hardly been mentioned on the news media because obviously that's the overbearing news. "And that again because it is related to music. "It is just dreadful that music and violence are now being linked because these twisted people find it an easy target. "There's no religious or political agenda to music at all. It's for people to love and enjoy. "It's horrible the thought that safety is now an issue at a music concert. The ramifications of what has happened is just truly awful." With thoughts of the early deaths of many music stars, I broached the subject of Jethro Tull ever re-forming. The answer was a resounding no. "It won't happen because I am so committed with the other guys that I work with. We are obviously on the road so much and when we are not on the road we are writing and recording. "I can't turn my back on that commitment and I am fiercely loyal to the guys that are giving their career to me and visa versa. "It's a total commitment. It's a great band. The best band I have ever played with - including all the line-ups with Tull, and there's no room for anything else in my life I'm afraid. "Jethro Tull needs to be laid to rest. "It's best left in history and for people to enjoy what I do, and enjoy what Ian (Anderson) does. And to bring back a version of Jethro Tull - it wouldn't be as good, it wouldn't be the same. And I don't think it would be fair to fans." The band that Martin will be bringing to Preston will play the "classic" music from the Tull catalogue. It's a total commitment from them to give the Tull fans, and a broader audience, the chance to hear tracks not performed for many years. The guys he is now so fiercely loyal to are Dan Crisp, who was born in Bournemouth, but honed his craft in Somerset; he plays acoustic guitar, bouzouki and provides the vocals; bass player Alan Thomson, a long-term member of John Martyn’s Band plus an accomplished songwriter; and drummer Dave Schoepke, who is based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. They take music from the earlier Tull albums, going at material like Songs from the Wood and Heavy Horses. He says: "We are more sort of rock/blues. We do a real cross section of the songs, the more heavier, rockier Jethro Tull songs, like Teacher, Minstrel in the Gallery and Hunting Girl. So it's more of a blues rock band than anything else. "We've got a great singer, Dan Crisp, who comes from Somerset. He's got such a great voice. He can pretty well do anything from the Tull catalogue and it sounds great. "We are in a very fortunate position in that we can pick and choose our set list and change it on the run. But obviously we swap songs round every show so that it keeps things turning round." There is also a sprinkling of Martin's own solo music and old blues standards. "It's more of a rock show. It's not Jethro Tull, it's just me! "But I've got a great band of musicians and we do a great interpretation of Jethro Tull music because the guitar, certainly in those older songs, like Teacher, Minstrel in Gallery, and To Cry You a Song, they are very guitar focused. And then any keyboard parts or flute parts, we have two guitars that cover between them all these parts and it sounds great." He continued: "I've been following a solo career for the last five years now and I've really built it up. "It's difficult. You really go back to absolutely zero because people don't know what to expect, they don't know what sort of music I'm going to be playing, or the quality of it. "You make new fans. So that quite slowly, but very, very surely, every time you go back to a country or an area, you've got a lot more new fans and you sort of build-up your fan base. It's taken us a long time but the people that like us make for a really amazing following. You begin to see the front rows have all got Martin Barre band t-shirts and it's a very satisfying thing to do, to win over your fans." But what led Martin to start touring again after the Jethro Tull split? "It's in my blood. It's what I do every day of my life - I get up and play guitar. I'm either writing music and rehearsing, recording. "I'm just determined. I'm highly motivated to playing music. I love playing guitar and now I'm on my own I'm playing so much more. "I'm sort of going back to the vitality and dynamics of Tull during the 1970s and early 80s, where it's [now] a really strong, exciting, vibrant bunch of guys that are making great music. "And now I'm able to do that, it's like I'm reborn! "I just see me starting out again and I'm prepared to take it as far as it will go - essentially a young man inside an older man's body. "I'm playing better than I've ever played , in my opinion. And I love playing more than I've ever played before. It's all very positive." One thing I was burning to ask Martin involved a story about him laying down a solo in the studio during his Jethro Tull days, only to end up having Jimmy Page sit in and watch him! Martin laughed and said: "We were recording the album Aqualung in London and they (Led Zeppelin) were in the other studio. In fact we didn't see them for probably a month while we were both recording because of our crazy schedules. And the first time he came into the studio to say hello, he was in the control room while I was doing the solo. He was sort of waving at me and I just smiled as I thought, 'If I wave back I will have to finish the solo and do it again!' "They are a great band and one of many friends who we made over the years." Our conversation then moved on to the present prog rock revival, and I asked what he thought about some of the newest guys on the block, artists like Steven Wilson and Big Big Train. "Steven Wilson is exceptionally good, exceptionally talented. And I love Porcupine Tree as well. "I listen and I hear things I like. And I hear things I've sort of heard before and I hear things I don't like. "It's been my menu musically ever since I started playing. I keep my ears open and try and listen to everything. And draw inspiration or whatever you can from everything you hear, whether it is old music or new music. "There's nothing groundbreaking, for me, at the moment. But there will be, I'm sure. "There are a lot of young kids out there who are very determined and very musical. As long as music turns over and creates a big mass audience, it's all good. There's no bad music as long as it keeps music alive." And the schoolgirl question I just had to ask: What's your favourite Jethro Tull song? His answer, pretty much straight away, was Sossity You're a Woman. He added: "I could have said several songs but that was a nice track to record. Both me and Ian played acoustic guitars. It was a very musical part and a very challenging piece of music. There's beautiful lyrics and it's just a great piece of music. One of many. "In fact, all my favourite Tull tracks we play live! So if you see one of my gigs, you will find out which ones I really like!" Looking to the future, Martin has been working on some music, and this album should be out next spring. He is also planning an anniversary CD of Jethro Tull music, with "very, very special guests - some famous, some not". That will be out at the end of next year and will celebrate his 50th anniversary of Jethro Tull, which started in spring of 1969. Until then you can catch Martin Barre and his band at Preston's LiVe venue at Preston Guild Hall on Monday, November 6. Doors open at 7pm and tickets are £13. Book your tickets online at prestonguildhall.co.uk/shows/martin-barre-jethro-tull/ or call the box office on 01772 804440. If you are unable to get along to the Preston gig, he is also performing at The Citadel in St Helens on Friday, April 6, 2018. Tickets for this event are £18. Support on the night comes from This Winter Machine. Visit www.citadel.org.uk/event/martin-barre-band/ to book tickets or call the box office on 01744 735436.
|
|
|
Post by theothertull on Nov 4, 2017 14:41:34 GMT
www.lep.co.uk/whats-on/music/laying-it-bare-with-martin-barre-and-keeping-the-music-alive-1-8836361Laying it bare with Martin Barre and keeping the music aliveNAOMI MOON Published: 09:29 Updated: 09:31 hursday 02 November 2017 There's few artists who can claim such a rich and varied career as Martin Barre. He was the guitarist of Jethro Tull for 43 years, his sound and playing having been a major factor in their success. But as well as working on numerous Jethro Tull albums, he has worked with many other illustrious artists including Paul McCartney, Phil Collins, Gary Moore, Jo Bonamassa and Chris Thompson, and has shared a stage with such legends as Jimi Hendrix, Fleetwood Mac, Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin. I caught up with Martin as he was busy touring America, before his return to the UK last week to play a string of shows up and down the country, including a stop off in Preston. And despite his extremely unrelenting and hectic schedule, he was willing to chew the fat on a number of different things. It was the day after the death of rock icon Tom Petty at the age of 66, and also the horrific attack on a music festival in Las Vegas. "It's really tragic because that's just far too young to pass away. But unfortunately it happens. "People like Moon, Keith Emerson and Greg Lake. There's so many people who have passed away. David Bowie. It's just a long list. It's just horrible. "All I can do is stay as fit, mentally and physically, as I can. You know, I run five miles every other day and I play tennis and table tennis and try and keep really fit. And mentally very active. That's all I can do. "But I just hate it that people are taken away so early in their lives, with so much talent. "But you know the tragedy today in America is the Las Vegas massacre and Tom Petty has hardly been mentioned on the news media because obviously that's the overbearing news. "And that again because it is related to music. "It is just dreadful that music and violence are now being linked because these twisted people find it an easy target. "There's no religious or political agenda to music at all. It's for people to love and enjoy. "It's horrible the thought that safety is now an issue at a music concert. The ramifications of what has happened is just truly awful." With thoughts of the early deaths of many music stars, I broached the subject of Jethro Tull ever re-forming. The answer was a resounding no. "It won't happen because I am so committed with the other guys that I work with. We are obviously on the road so much and when we are not on the road we are writing and recording. "I can't turn my back on that commitment and I am fiercely loyal to the guys that are giving their career to me and visa versa. "It's a total commitment. It's a great band. The best band I have ever played with - including all the line-ups with Tull, and there's no room for anything else in my life I'm afraid. "Jethro Tull needs to be laid to rest. "It's best left in history and for people to enjoy what I do, and enjoy what Ian (Anderson) does. And to bring back a version of Jethro Tull - it wouldn't be as good, it wouldn't be the same. And I don't think it would be fair to fans." The band that Martin will be bringing to Preston will play the "classic" music from the Tull catalogue. It's a total commitment from them to give the Tull fans, and a broader audience, the chance to hear tracks not performed for many years. The guys he is now so fiercely loyal to are Dan Crisp, who was born in Bournemouth, but honed his craft in Somerset; he plays acoustic guitar, bouzouki and provides the vocals; bass player Alan Thomson, a long-term member of John Martyn’s Band plus an accomplished songwriter; and drummer Dave Schoepke, who is based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. They take music from the earlier Tull albums, going at material like Songs from the Wood and Heavy Horses. He says: "We are more sort of rock/blues. We do a real cross section of the songs, the more heavier, rockier Jethro Tull songs, like Teacher, Minstrel in the Gallery and Hunting Girl. So it's more of a blues rock band than anything else. "We've got a great singer, Dan Crisp, who comes from Somerset. He's got such a great voice. He can pretty well do anything from the Tull catalogue and it sounds great. "We are in a very fortunate position in that we can pick and choose our set list and change it on the run. But obviously we swap songs round every show so that it keeps things turning round." There is also a sprinkling of Martin's own solo music and old blues standards. "It's more of a rock show. It's not Jethro Tull, it's just me! "But I've got a great band of musicians and we do a great interpretation of Jethro Tull music because the guitar, certainly in those older songs, like Teacher, Minstrel in Gallery, and To Cry You a Song, they are very guitar focused. And then any keyboard parts or flute parts, we have two guitars that cover between them all these parts and it sounds great." He continued: "I've been following a solo career for the last five years now and I've really built it up. "It's difficult. You really go back to absolutely zero because people don't know what to expect, they don't know what sort of music I'm going to be playing, or the quality of it. "You make new fans. So that quite slowly, but very, very surely, every time you go back to a country or an area, you've got a lot more new fans and you sort of build-up your fan base. It's taken us a long time but the people that like us make for a really amazing following. You begin to see the front rows have all got Martin Barre band t-shirts and it's a very satisfying thing to do, to win over your fans." But what led Martin to start touring again after the Jethro Tull split? "It's in my blood. It's what I do every day of my life - I get up and play guitar. I'm either writing music and rehearsing, recording. "I'm just determined. I'm highly motivated to playing music. I love playing guitar and now I'm on my own I'm playing so much more. "I'm sort of going back to the vitality and dynamics of Tull during the 1970s and early 80s, where it's [now] a really strong, exciting, vibrant bunch of guys that are making great music. "And now I'm able to do that, it's like I'm reborn! "I just see me starting out again and I'm prepared to take it as far as it will go - essentially a young man inside an older man's body. "I'm playing better than I've ever played , in my opinion. And I love playing more than I've ever played before. It's all very positive." One thing I was burning to ask Martin involved a story about him laying down a solo in the studio during his Jethro Tull days, only to end up having Jimmy Page sit in and watch him! Martin laughed and said: "We were recording the album Aqualung in London and they (Led Zeppelin) were in the other studio. In fact we didn't see them for probably a month while we were both recording because of our crazy schedules. And the first time he came into the studio to say hello, he was in the control room while I was doing the solo. He was sort of waving at me and I just smiled as I thought, 'If I wave back I will have to finish the solo and do it again!' "They are a great band and one of many friends who we made over the years." Our conversation then moved on to the present prog rock revival, and I asked what he thought about some of the newest guys on the block, artists like Steven Wilson and Big Big Train. "Steven Wilson is exceptionally good, exceptionally talented. And I love Porcupine Tree as well. "I listen and I hear things I like. And I hear things I've sort of heard before and I hear things I don't like. "It's been my menu musically ever since I started playing. I keep my ears open and try and listen to everything. And draw inspiration or whatever you can from everything you hear, whether it is old music or new music. "There's nothing groundbreaking, for me, at the moment. But there will be, I'm sure. "There are a lot of young kids out there who are very determined and very musical. As long as music turns over and creates a big mass audience, it's all good. There's no bad music as long as it keeps music alive." And the schoolgirl question I just had to ask: What's your favourite Jethro Tull song? His answer, pretty much straight away, was Sossity You're a Woman. He added: "I could have said several songs but that was a nice track to record. Both me and Ian played acoustic guitars. It was a very musical part and a very challenging piece of music. There's beautiful lyrics and it's just a great piece of music. One of many. "In fact, all my favourite Tull tracks we play live! So if you see one of my gigs, you will find out which ones I really like!" Looking to the future, Martin has been working on some music, and this album should be out next spring. He is also planning an anniversary CD of Jethro Tull music, with "very, very special guests - some famous, some not". That will be out at the end of next year and will celebrate his 50th anniversary of Jethro Tull, which started in spring of 1969. Until then you can catch Martin Barre and his band at Preston's LiVe venue at Preston Guild Hall on Monday, November 6. Doors open at 7pm and tickets are £13. Book your tickets online at prestonguildhall.co.uk/shows/martin-barre-jethro-tull/ or call the box office on 01772 804440. If you are unable to get along to the Preston gig, he is also performing at The Citadel in St Helens on Friday, April 6, 2018. Tickets for this event are £18. Support on the night comes from This Winter Machine. Visit www.citadel.org.uk/event/martin-barre-band/ to book tickets or call the box office on 01744 735436. Is it me, or does it seem like Martin is trying out for a job with Roger Waters. I mean the level of revisionism, he belongs along side Waters. Add to that, does anyone on the planet (including Barre) believe that this unit he is touring with is as good or better than any iteration of Tull? Having seen them, I can say they are not even better than the version of Tull that didn't include Martin. Wish he would just stick to playing the music he was taught.
|
|
|
Post by maddogfagin on Nov 4, 2017 17:25:26 GMT
Is it me, or does it seem like Martin is trying out for a job with Roger Waters. I mean the level of revisionism, he belongs along side Waters. Add to that, does anyone on the planet (including Barre) believe that this unit he is touring with is as good or better than any iteration of Tull? Having seen them, I can say they are not even better than the version of Tull that didn't include Martin. Wish he would just stick to playing the music he was taught. I can't believe that Martin's comment about his current band is sour grapes, and I would hope and trust it isn't. After all IA hasn't said anything derogatory about Martin's band and has been complimentary about the MB band, so for the moment, and until it's proved otherwise, it's either a bit of bravado or competitive spirit rearing it's ugly head. In reality we should be on the lookout for a definitive answer to all the malarky that's gone on over the last 10 years or so with Martin's autobiography, if indeed he ever has a mind to write it.
|
|
|
Post by JTull 007 on Nov 5, 2017 0:45:16 GMT
www.lep.co.uk/whats-on/music/laying-it-bare-with-martin-barre-and-keeping-the-music-alive-1-8836361Laying it bare with Martin Barre and keeping the music aliveNAOMI MOON Published: 09:29 Updated: 09:31 hursday 02 November 2017 With thoughts of the early deaths of many music stars, I broached the subject of Jethro Tull ever re-forming. The answer was a resounding no. "It won't happen because I am so committed with the other guys that I work with. We are obviously on the road so much and when we are not on the road we are writing and recording. "I can't turn my back on that commitment and I am fiercely loyal to the guys that are giving their career to me and visa versa. "It's a total commitment. It's a great band. The best band I have ever played with - including all the line-ups with Tull, and there's no room for anything else in my life I'm afraid. "Jethro Tull needs to be laid to rest."It's best left in history and for people to enjoy what I do, and enjoy what Ian (Anderson) does. And to bring back a version of Jethro Tull - it wouldn't be as good, it wouldn't be the same. And I don't think it would be fair to fans." Here we go again... This may seem a little hard to believe at times LINK This is why it does not matter to me what anyone calls it. When you wish to call it TULL go right ahead. It's ok with me, seriously. Now what is unfair to fans is when you decide to create anger about the name TULL... Others whom live in a world of negative thinking, constantly try to correct others from saying Jethro Tull. Almost in a very demeaning way they constantly say these 4 words ... "It's NOT JETHRO TULL" They even try to tell the venues how to do their job and take down any mention of it. GET REAL!
I trust the good people of New Jersey and New York who can still read a marquee to read this...
|
|
|
Post by JTull 007 on Feb 22, 2018 2:56:49 GMT
Thursday, November 14, 2013 LINK Portraits of Jethro Tull guitarist Martin Barre
|
|
|
Post by maddogfagin on Mar 31, 2018 7:20:07 GMT
From oldwebby. That'll be £25. www.rocktopia.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=9813:tommy-justice-rockturnal&catid=910:cd-reviews&Itemid=121CD Reviews Tommy Justice - 'Rockturnal' Contrary to what Harem Scarem stated on their 'Mood Swings' album, there is "justice in the world" and his name is Tommy! Tommy Justice is the former singer and guitarist of Hard Rock bands Ruff Justice and PsychoHero. In 2012, he unveiled his critically acclaimed debut 'Setting Fire To History', now five years later, Justice has returned to release 'Rockturnal' on the world. The style of the album can pretty much be split into two; Melodic Rock with a large helping of Glam/Sleaze, and a more mature AOR sound. However, what's so impressive about 'Rockturnal' is how Justice has managed not only to pull both styles off with equal aplomb but also blend them perfectly together. The latter has been boosted by a fantastic production courtesy of John K. The album kicks off with a couple of Sleazy, magniloquent Rock standards, 'Ruff Justice' and 'Psycho Ex', both similar in vain to Black Star Riders and both featuring some impressive axe work by Justice. The obligatory song with a girl's name, 'Gina', might have cheesy lyrics but it is also as catchy as hell. The pace reduces with the melodic ballad 'Where Does The Time Go?' before kicking back into top gear with the grandiloquent 'Chainsmoker' and the bombastic 'Say It To My Face'. With the exception of the fun 'Laughing All The Way To The Bank', the second half of the album shows a change in style and an increased maturity in Justice's song-writing; from the standard ballad 'Forever Just A Dreamer' and the lyrically intelligent 'Halloween' to the exceptional ballad 'Where The Two Roads Part'. The latter features the evocative violin of Anna Phoebe and the earworm lyric "I guess if I believe in the Devil, I must believe in God."
'Waking Up The Neighbours' is the one song that actual blends both aforementioned styles and features not one, but two major hooks. The final, bonus track 'If I Could Change' features Jethro Tull's Martin Barre on lead guitar and verdant string arrangements.
Contrary to what Harem Scarem stated on their 'Mood Swings' album, there is "justice in the world" and his name is Tommy! Mark Donnelly
|
|
|
Post by maddogfagin on Apr 3, 2018 7:27:20 GMT
www.heralddeparis.com/jethro-tulls-guitar-virtuoso-martin-barre/Jethro Tull’s Guitar virtuoso Martin BarreBY DR. ALAN CARLOS HERNANDEZ ON APRIL 3, 2018 HOLLYWOOD (Herald de Paris) — Martin Barre has been the guitarist of Jethro Tull for 43 years, his sound and playing having been a major factor in their success. Album sales have exceeded 60 million units and they continue to be played worldwide, representing an important part of classic rock history. He is best known for his work with progressive rock band Jethro Tull, with whom he recorded and toured from their second album in 1969 to the band’s initial dissolution in 2012. In the early 1990s he initiated a solo career that has now spawned four studio albums plus several guest appearances. In addition to Jethro Tull albums, Martin has worked with many other artists including Paul McCartney, Phil Collins, Gary Moore, Jo Bonamassa and Chris Thompson and has shared a stage with such legends as Hendrix, Fleetwood Mac, Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin. Martin’s guitar playing has earned him a high level of respect and recognition; he was voted 25th best solo ever in the USA and 20th best solo ever in the UK for his playing on ‘Aqualung’. His playing on the album ‘Crest of a Knave’ earned him a Grammy award in 1988. He is now a member of Excalibur IV – The Dark Age of the Dragon The Rock Opera Album Featuring Members of Jethro Tull, Saga, Uriah Heep, Curved Air, Clannad, Supertramp and others! Excalibur IV is the widely anticipated fourth NEW STUDIO ALBUM in the Celtic Rock Opera series, following on from the GOLD and PLATINUM selling original trilogy. EXCALIBUR IV was played live in its entirety to 12 ARENAS in Germany in December 2016 and will be touring again in 2018. He has also played the flute and other instruments such as the mandolin, both on-stage for Jethro Tull and in his own solo work. In 1966 he moved to London with his friend, Chris Rodger, who had played saxophone in their previous band, “The Moonrakers.” In London Barre and Rodger got an audition for a band called “The Noblemen” that was looking for two saxophonists. Barre bought a tenor saxophone and after two days of practice was able to bluff his way through the audition. The band subsequently changed its name to “The Motivation” and backed visiting soul artists such as the Coasters, the Drifters and Lee Dorsey. Finally, in mid-1968 they became a blues band called “Gethsemane” and played in pubs all over England with Barre playing guitar and flute. When Gethsemane and the band Jethro Tull played at a blues club called the Van Dyke in Plymouth, the members of the two bands got acquainted. Then, four months later, while Gethsemane was playing in London and about to break up because of lack of money, Jethro Tull’s manager, Terry Ellis, sent his card up from the audience asking Barre to audition for Jethro Tull. The audition did not go well. Barre was so nervous that he barely played. Barre arranged a second audition. This time he was offered the job. He spent the Christmas holidays of 1968 learning material that was to become the album “Stand Up”. On the first album that Barre recorded with Jethro Tull, Stand Up, he said that he was: “terrified because I had just joined the band. It really showed a change in direction for the band and when it was accepted and became a successful album, we gained a lot of confidence. We extended that confidence into the making of Benefit, in which we were a lot more at ease.” On the next album, the world success Aqualung, Martin was more confident, stating that in the recording: “Everybody [the band] had input into the making of the album.” In the following period, his solos blended virtuosity with classical music, like on Minstrel in the Gallery, where the opening track has a four-minute solo, or his piece (shared with Barrie Barlow) “Conundrum” and “Quatrain” in Bursting Out. Martin declared that much of the material from Jethro Tull catalog was written by himself and Ian Anderson, with Ian getting the credit for writing the lyrics and having the initial idea for the music, which: “then I, or someone else in the band, contribute parts to it.” There are two albums where he is credited for having put “additional material,” both classics Songs from the Wood and Heavy Horses, which Martin has already stated to be two of the albums which show his best playing. About the end of his involvement in Tull, Barre stated in 2015 that “It’s important that people realize there will never be a Jethro Tull again. There will be two solo bands: the Ian Anderson Band and the Martin Barre Band, and long may they exist, and long may they enjoy playing music. I’m not being pedantic. I always hate to hear, “Oh, you’ve left Jethro Tull.” I haven’t really. Ian wanted to finish Jethro Tull, wanted to stop the band completely.” Martin Barre announced his sixth solo album in 2015. Called Back to Steel, Barre says the album is a blues rock recording.[14] Barre once said that he tried not to listen to other guitarists so that he would not be influenced by them. He said he never took guitar lessons so that he would not sound like other players. However, one guitarist he has praised and recognized as being an influence is Leslie West, from the American band Mountain. His best-known guitar work includes “Aqualung“, “Cross-Eyed Mary“, and “Locomotive Breath“. Barre’s signature solo on the 1971 Jethro Tull standard “Aqualung” was voted by the readers of Guitar Player magazine as one of the top rock guitar solos of all time. Also, in 2007, this solo was rated one of the 100 Greatest Guitar Solos by Guitar World magazine. Still on Aqualung, Martin earned the 25th best solo ever in the USA and 20th best solo ever in the UK. Herald de Paris Senior Editor, Dr. Al Carlos Hernandez was honored to speak with Michael AC: What type of music did you listen while growing up? Who were your musical influences? MB: I started with the Beatles, Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Eddie Cochran, in fact, anything that came from America, as that was the cool music of the mid-60s there was very little guitar playing ,so every morsel was vital information . through the years I listened to Soul, Tamla, R&B and eventually Blues as all these genres became fashionable. AC: When did you decide to make music a career, what was the dream back then? MB: It was everyone’s dream as it was the only escape from the tedium of schooling and the drab years of post-war society !!I became a musician as I failed my first-year university in Architecture and couldn’t face returning to repeat the year. I packed a suitcase of food and moved to London…a week later I came back and then finally found a job as a saxophone/guitar player … the only one I could find. AC: Do you remember your first professional gig? MB: My first gig as a pro. was terrifying and I would probably rather forget it !!! AC: You are a multi-instrumentalist, how did the ability to play sax and flute inform your musical palate and contribute to your performance, arranging and composing of music? MB: I love having the possibility of playing other instruments, as it broadens horizons and prevents a musicians worse affliction, narrow mindedness. Understanding other instruments and players is vital in writing and arranging ,plus it’s a lot of fun to experiment with completely different sounds . AC: When you were in the Gethsemane band you were asked to Audition for Jethro Tull, what was it about Tull that peaked your interest? MB: Tull was the band I wanted to be from the first time I saw then. They had all the ingredients that I loved in music and my band ( Gethsemane) were struggling musically to play better music. I always have had an open mind with my approach to playing so when Tull changed from a blues band to its own music ,I had no problem with re-focusing and it was much better to have a fresh start from when I joined, as I was never ,specifically, a blues guitarist and wouldn’t have compared to Mick Abrahams at that time AC: 1971 Jethro Tull standard “Aqualung” was voted by the readers of Guitar Player magazine as one of the top rock guitar solos of all time? How did you feel about that? Does the Jethro Tull music still hold up in regard to originality and musicianship? MB: Aqualung was always just another album, at the time, so we never realized its importance, historically. It was a difficult album to record; so, the atmosphere wasn’t good in the studio. I just think that every band has a moment when it all comes together perfectly and that was ours. AC: Which do you feel is the Tull album that you are most of? MB: I don’t really have huge favorites but would say Benefit is one that I always loved we had returned from the USA and had huge confidence and a feeling of enjoying what we did to a great level. AC: What are some of your compositions during those years you are most proud of? MB: I have written riffs, chord ideas, instrumental sections, endings, solos etc. all the time with Tull. I never counted them or marked them, as I considered it part of my job. A guitarist needs to write his own parts and a band is a group of people working as one. AC: What are some of the memorable experiences playing with Jethro Tull all those years? MB: The touring over the years was a vast experience of hard work/joy/ hardship and amazing gigs and countries. We were totally wrapped up in the work and never indulged in Rockstar excesses…we were always too tired !!! I loved and still love travel, meeting people of such diverse backgrounds. I love the outdoors and running in it!!! so, I see a lot and drink in the atmosphere of wherever I visit. Although I’ve met many famous people; my friends are very ordinary and mostly not musicians, as I find them very genuine and I don’t want my life to be ruled by music. I was always humbled by artists that had humility and grace, but not all of them had that !!! AC: Tell us about your latest endeavor Excalibur IV – The Dark Age of the Dragon the Rock Opera Album. MB: Excalibur is a special project to me, as it gives me a lot of freedom, musically and it is just the possibility to relax, play a lot of guitar and be amongst some very, very nice people and, of Course, great musicians. I love the atmosphere the show creates and have found that when a lot of musicians must work together, everyone has to be a team player. The music is fun, and I love every minute of the gig. AC: You have accomplished a lot, many-many musicians look to you for inspiration, what are some of the things you would still like to do? MB: When I wake up in the morning, after a coffee, I pick up my guitar and play… that has never changed, and it will always be my work, my hobby and my friend. I keep a balance in life, keeping my health and family as important as the music. Music only works when the mind and body support it !!! When it is all said and done, how would you like History to remember you, what would you like your legacy to be MB: I have no regrets, life brings good, bad and everything in between. I have had so many good ones !! To be remembered…. that is not for me to say…I do my best every day for better or for worse; not perfect but I still learn
|
|
|
Post by JTull 007 on Apr 16, 2018 1:21:43 GMT
Promo video for The Meeting Tour with Martin Barre & Pat O'May Credit: patomay1 Found it !!! MARTIN BARRE PAT O'MAY THE MEETING TOUR LINK 1 LINK 2
|
|
|
Post by maddogfagin on Sept 18, 2018 6:18:05 GMT
www.syracuse.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2018/09/martin_barre_of_jethro_tull_fame_deep_down_i_am_a_gigging_musician_this_is_what.htmlMartin Barre of Jethro Tull fame: 'Deep down, I am a gigging musician. This is what I do.'Updated Sep 17, 8:32 PM; Posted Sep 17, 7:47 PM By Warren Linhart Contributing photographer Martin Barre was the guitarist for Jethro Tull for 43 years. He joined the band following their debut album "This Was" after founding member (guitarist) Mick Abrahams, who favored more blues-oriented music, departed over increased disagreements about the young band's musical direction. The next album, "Stand Up" garnered a lot of attention not only with critics but fans really took notice. Barre's increased confidence and style helped to increase the band's popularity. By the time "Benefit" was released in 1970, the band was poised for worldwide success which exploded when "Aqualung" came out in 1971. Barre's guitar sound and his ability to create melodies were a major contribution to that album and the band's success and though the band had changed members many times over the years, he and Ian Anderson were the only constants among musicians in the band. In 2011 however, Anderson, who controls the rights to the band's name, suddenly put an end to Jethro Tull. In the wake of this, Barre channeled his energy and began to focus more intently on his own music with his own band. With so much history and success behind him, he is relaxed and very comfortable with his Tull legacy and excited to continue to record and tour performing music that he has composed as well as bring more obscure Tull music to his performances. Meanwhile, Ian Anderson has continued to tour the world mostly under his own name as well as appearing with orchestras, soloists and string quartets but revived Jethro Tull in 2017 in celebration of the band's 50th anniversary (there was a stop at CMAC in Canandaigua last year.) Anderson has openly stated many times over the years that there would have been no Jethro Tull without Martin Barre, Ironically, the recent Tull revival did not include an invitation for Martin Barre. Barre will perform Saturday at Auburn Public Theater. Warren Linhart caught up with him and shares highlights from the conversation: W.L.: You are about to release a new album here in the U.S., "Roads Less Traveled". You've already toured Europe to introduce your latest work and will soon be coming to the U.S. How are the concerts going and are you seeing a lot of younger folks at your shows? M.B.: They're going great, thank you. Particularly in the last few years, we've developed a Martin Barre fan base as opposed to a Jethro Tull fan base. We're getting all age groups- parents bringing their kids along and in some cases, those "kids" are bringing their kids! It's wonderful to see. W.L.: There were a lot of memorable Jethro Tull shows, particularly in the 1970s. I recall the frenzy trying to get tickets, when a concert was announced -- the band would swiftly sell out Madison Square Garden and other major venues across the country. So you have this long history of playing in a major band, drawing huge crowds for many years and now are you are having as much fun playing in smaller venues? M.B.: Yeah, but I've always done it. Even when Tull was playing places like Madison Square Garden, I've come home and typically, like musicians do, I'd call some local friends together and we'd go play the bars and little clubs so there's no real difference to me. The interaction is so good -- it's a different sort of a enjoyment. The dynamic is every bit as good. I really like it when you can look at the audience, look into their eyes. They both have their merits, but I like the fact that you can do both, they're equally enjoyable. W.L.: Since the Jethro Tull days, you've been prolific. Your CD catalog includes music that would not have been released under the name Jethro Tull. You recorded a lot of instrumentals that were uniquely crafted. Your latest CD, "Roads Less Traveled" is about to be released here in the U.S. You've gotten into more song writing. M.B.: Yes, my earlier albums featured more instrumentals but now I've been focused more on song writing. I love layered vocals and harmonies -- such a wonderful thing to have. Hopefully the music is still an integral part. I've always written the music first and made sure that it stands up, and then I add vocals. W.L.: Surely you understand that you are forever linked with Jethro Tull, this is how most people recognize you. I'm sure you are proud of that and you should be. You've not abandoned your past. You've included a few Tull songs on your own releases in the wake of your tenure with the band. Was your intent to offer a different interpretation of those? M.B.: I didn't and don't want to get into doing a Jethro Tull songbook but there were songs that I wanted to present in a different kind of light, songs that wouldn't have been done in concert. I enjoyed re-arranging a few things to present them for a four-piece band and bringing them to the live gigs -- songs I know people have never seen in concert before. I don't want to be predictable. You know, 99 percent of people in the audience like that (predictability) but there will always be the 1 percent who will think I messed around with it. (laughs). W.L.: Well, it's not Jethro Tull doing those songs, it's the Martin Barre Band. M.B.: That's right, it's not Tull, it's my band now and I have to change it because I want it to have its own identity. W.L.: You've toured the U.S. with your band before. Your loyal fans will come out to see the show. How are you approaching this tour? What can people expect? M.B.: We'll be bringing a different show this time. I want people to approach the show with a fresh mind, we will be performing different music. In the latter years of Jethro Tull, the shows were essentially the same show every night. We'll be featuring songs from the new CD, some music from my other albums and also some different Tull material. W.L.: I've seen Jethro Tull many times over the years during the height of the band's popularity and can't recall you ever saying anything to the audience on stage. Anything said to the audience was always from Ian Anderson. M.B.: (laughs) Yeah that's because we weren't given any microphones! W.L.: Surely you must have some good road stories that you can share with your audience. I think it's neat when an artist on stage takes a moment or two during a show to explain a little bit about songs and tell a few stories. People like that. M.B.: Yes, I have stories! At my shows, I first found it very hard to talk because I'd never done it with Tull, but then the more I did it, the more I started to really enjoy it. I've seen bands that don't talk to the audience. I think... well they've come to hear the music but then I think that when you're being entertained at a live gig, there is more then just the music, there is the visual. I think the audience is wanting some information and that is part of presenting the music. Sometimes you make a joke, sometimes you're serious, but overall I want it to be a night of fun! The more I'm able to enhance the show I'm going to do it. In fact, I hope to bring an entirely new show to the States next year. I'm going out next year with Clive Bunker (drums) and Jonathan Noyce (bass)- both are Jethro Tull alumni. We're going to do the "Stand Up" American tour - 50 years of the music of Jethro Tull... but it is NOT Jethro Tull. W.L.: You've been prolific since the end of Jethro Tull and keeping up quite a pace. This year, we've seen a number of bands/artists announce that they are calling it quits (at least to touring)- Paul Simon, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Elton John, Rush, Ozzy Osbourne. Do you ever think about slowing down or retiring? M.B.: Yeah, I think about retiring... for about a minute (laughs). No, really, I am aware of my age and that I have a family that I really love to be around and that I spent a lot of my rock 'n' roll years away from them. But deep down, I am a gigging musician. This is what I do. I would never retire and the only thing I could see is doing it a bit less. Right now, I'm full on. I want to play and to as many people as I possibly can. W.L.: In the Tull days, it was full speed ahead, the pace had to be astronomical, Now you're with a band you've put together and you're traveling by van, similar to what it must have been like in your earlier days- traveling together and in close quarters. How's that to adjust to? M.B.: It's fine. We're having a great time. W.L.: Jethro Tull ended in 2011- for lack of a better word... quickly. Fans are wondering what's going on. Do you have a relationship with Ian Anderson at this point? M.B.: No, I don't. All I can say is that there's no Jethro Tull at this point and if anybody advertises a band called Jethro Tull it's misrepresenting what an audience is going to get. Right now, I've got a great band and if someone wants to do a project with me and my band, then that might be something worth pursuing. W.L.: You are frequently named as one of rock's greatest guitarists. That is quite an honor. What would be a crowning achievement for you at this point in your career? M.B.: Guitar players don't intimidate me like some did many years ago. Music then was more competitive. Now if I hear a really great guitarist, I'm happy and it inspires me to be better at what I do. At my age, I'm comfortable with where I'm at. I'm no virtuoso guitar player, I'm just trying to be a better song writer. If somebody was to come up to me and say 'I want to record one of your songs' or 'Would you write a song for me?' I think that would be like the best thing in the world. W.L.: If someone was to go see Springsteen, you know he's going to play "Born to Run." Tony Bennett always sings "(I Left My Heart in) San Francisco." Anybody that likes Jethro Tull knows "Aqualung" and expected to hear that at a show... and you're known for that song. Is that always in your set? How do you feel about this? M.B.: I don't want a song to own me. Sometimes we do, sometimes not. We make a new set list every night, as a band. If someone suggests it, we might do it, but not always. W.L.: Jethro Tull was a powerhouse music machine which was cared for with a lot of support behind it; booking travel, hotels, transportation, getting equipment from here to there, radio interviews, TV and other promotional ventures. How do you do that now that you have your own band and you're faced with making these decisions? M.B.: My wife and I book everything! I'm become very aware of all the things that are involved including social media. If I have a new album in my hand, I want everyone to know about it. Every means of communicating with people.I want to be able to do it to let people know about what we're doing. W.L.: Well, you will have a new album in your hand as you begin your current tour of the U.S. and your fans will no doubt be very happy to hear it. And speaking of booking, have you ever thought of writing a book or a memoir? M.B.: I started one years ago but never got back to it. I do think about it and some day I probably will. Right now, I'm thinking about my music. If you go When: 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 22. Tickets: $35 in advance/$40 to $55 at the door. Where: Auburn Public Theater, 8 Exchange St., Auburn, NY. Details here Warren Linhart is a concert photographer/journalist, and production staff member of NewsChannel 9 in Syracuse
|
|
|
Post by bunkerfan on Sept 18, 2018 18:47:56 GMT
W.L.: There were a lot of memorable Jethro Tull shows, particularly in the 1970s. I recall the frenzy trying to get tickets, when a concert was announced -- the band would swiftly sell out Madison Square Garden and other major venues across the country. So you have this long history of playing in a major band, drawing huge crowds for many years and now are you are having as much fun playing in smaller venues? M.B.: Yeah, but I've always done it. Even when Tull was playing places like Madison Square Garden, I've come home and typically, like musicians do, I'd call some local friends together and we'd go play the bars and little clubs so there's no real difference to me. The interaction is so good -- it's a different sort of a enjoyment. The dynamic is every bit as good. I really like it when you can look at the audience, look into their eyes. They both have their merits, but I like the fact that you can do both, they're equally enjoyable. Great interview and this, for me, sums up Martin Barre for what he is. A man who loves to play for his fans no matter how small the venue. Thank you Martin and I hope to see you and your band very soon
|
|
|
Post by maddogfagin on Sept 22, 2018 6:34:57 GMT
www.ondamusicale.it/index.php/oggi-in-primo-piano/15198-martin-barre-oltre-i-jethro-tullWednesday, 19 September 2018 06:34 Martin Barre: beyond the Jethro TullMartin Barre , born Martin Lancelot Barre was born in Birmingham on November 17, 1946, is famous for its militancy in Jethro Tull by Ian Anderson , for over 40 years, starting from the album " Stand Up " in 1969. After " Benefit " of 1970, the band acquired a great popularity thanks to the timeless " Aqualung " of 1971 ( see article here ). In 2011 Ian Anderson , who held the rights to the band's name, suddenly put an end to Jethro Tull and then resume in 2017 . During that time the guitarist was certainly not holding hands and started to focus more on his solo career . After the performance at the Auburn Public Theater , Barre was interviewed by Warren Linhart. Below is a small excerpt: You are about to release a new album here in the United States, "Road Less Traveled" . You have already taken a tour in Europe to present your latest work and soon you will come to the United States. How are the concerts going? Are you seeing many young people in your lives? "They're doing great, thanks. Especially in the last few years a fan base of Martin Barre has developed instead of one of Jethro Tull. We see all age groups, parents who bring the boys and, in some cases, those "boys" who bring their children! It's wonderful to see ". Since the days of Jethro Tull you have been prolific. Your catalog includes some musca that would never have been published under the name of Jethro Tull. You have recorded many tools created in a unique way. Your latest CD, "Road Less Traveled" , is about to be released here in the United States and you started writing more songs. "Yes, my previous albums were more instrumental, but now I focused more on songwriting. I love multi-level voices and harmonies, they are a wonderful thing. We hope that music is still an integral part. I always wrote the music first and made sure that it stood up, then I added the voice ".
|
|
|
Post by maddogfagin on Sept 23, 2018 6:24:29 GMT
poststar.com/news/local/q-a-with-jethro-tull-guitarist-martin-barre/article_27797842-7ad6-5ab1-a370-8e15d6e64a3f.htmlQ&A with Jethro Tull guitarist Martin BarreDAVID BLOW dblow@poststar.com 21 hrs ago Guitarist Martin Barre will perform at the Strand Theater in Hudson Falls on Sunday. Martin Barre’s fingers created the unmistakable guitar work in the iconic Jethro Tull anthem “Aqualung,” and on Sunday he will be playing with his own band as the Strand Theater’s biggest name since its rebirth in Hudson Falls. He chatted Thursday about five decades on the stage and life as a rock guitarist. Q. You’ve played stadiums and arenas all over the world and will now be playing a 350-seat 1920s-era theater being brought back to life by local music-loving volunteers. Tell me why that’s cool to you? A. If you had just described a venue like you did and asked, ‘Would I like to play there?’ I would immediately say yes because that all sounds really nice to me. Everybody likes to play to big crowds and we do festivals and they’re exciting, but they’re less personable. A really nice place where everyone is comfortable and happy to be there and in the right mood to be entertained and have an amazing evening, that’s my sort of a venue. Q. Describe for me why, after 50 years, jamming on your guitar on stage still excites you. A. It’s in my blood. I love playing, I love guitars, I love writing music and I love performing. It’s hard work, but there’s an adrenaline thing no matter how exhausted or how long the day is. The second you walk on stage it lifts. It disappears in a second, and you’re back in a world where you enjoy what you do. I just love playing so much. I don’t think it will ever leave me. I love listening to live music and love playing it. Q. I interviewed Charlie Daniels earlier this summer, and he surprised me when he said he doesn’t really listen to much music because he’s always thinking of new songs for himself. What do you listen to a lot these days? A. Classic rock is my sort of go-to era and I’m obviously biased. I look back at the Peter Green Fleetwood Mac years, The Eagles, Don Henley, Stevie Winwood. I like all the great songwriters, Neil Young. I listen to a lot of new stuff, but there’s very little out there that really grabs me and has any substance. You hear a good song on a CD and then be very, very, very disappointed by the rest. I think it’s all about disposable music. Easy come, easy go. I like the guys in it for the long run, the guys investing their lives in what they do, and you can tell by the music they write and perform. Q. If you could play onstage and trade guitar riffs with anyone, living or dead, who would it be? A. I’m a big fan of Robben Ford and would to love meet him and play guitar with him. I guess somebody like Joe Bonamassa I know would be enormous fun. He’s a fabulous player. I just like the way he’s melodic, tasteful and controlled and pushes the envelope a little bit. But I will play with anybody and the least comfortable I am and the more challenging it is, I quite enjoy it. Q. So my daughter is a 21-year-old singer-songwriter-pub musician who wants her original songs out for the world to hear. What would you tell her? A. Wow, well she’s in a better position than I was at her age. She’s got social media, YouTube. I have a couple girls who sing with my band in the UK and Europe and they’re that age and singer-songwriters and very, very good and they literally record themselves singing a song in the living room and put it on YouTube and keep their fingers crossed that a lot of people are going to see it and spread the word. They’ve got more chance of getting in front of an audience than I would have in the ‘70s or ‘80s. Q. I read that you and Jethro Tull frontman Ian Anderson don’t talk these days. Does that bother you? A. It’s a long time now and there’s no animosity. We’re both doing what we want, I guess, though I’m not sure what Ian’s doing. I’m in a very happy place. I’ve got a fantastic band. I can pick and choose the set list. I’m writing and recording my own albums and I have complete freedom. Q. I know you’ve been around and worked with other rock legends like Hendrix and McCartney and God knows who else. Which were you most in awe of? A. Have to be Paul McCartney. He was my hero and obviously a huge iconic figure. To meet him would have been intimidating but to work with him was just incredible. He’s a very generous and likable person and just a fabulous musician. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I’m so glad I was able to do it. Q. Favorite guilty pleasure food on the road? A. I’m gluten-free and vegetarian. I’m a bit of a health freak. I go running whenever I can. I’m sort of fit by default. The running keeps my brain fresh. The gluten-free keeps me away from all those lovely chocolate chip cookies and pies I love. I don’t do it by choice, I’m one of those gluten-free people that has to be gluten-free. I eat a lot of salads. But I eat well and I like California chardonnay and I’m happy. Q. You’ve been married for over 40 years. That’s insane for a rocker. What’s the secret? A. (Laughs) I don’t know. She’s sitting in the restaurant as we speak. She comes on the road, works with me, and is an incredible supporter of what I do. She’s dedicated her life to what I do. I have massive respect for her. She, like any other woman, needs things and her comforts and her shopping, and that all comes into it. We make sure we have proper lunches and she gets to do the things she wants. It’s about sharing and listening, I guess. I’m no expert. Q. What’s your favorite track on your yet-to-be-released album, “Roads Less Traveled” (set to be released in October)? A. I don’t have one. I really like them all. If you’re looking for heavy riff, “This is My Driving Song.” If you want a song with the girls on it, “And the Band Played Only for Me,” but I’d stand by all of them as really good tracks. Q. I read somewhere you’re a huge Neil Young fan. Me, too. I love “Powderfinger” for a rocking tune and “See the Sky About to Rain” for a mellow one. How about your two favorites? A. Well, “After the Gold Rush,” any track off that album. “Southern Man,” the chords. But I love them all. Q. What should Tull fans and Martin Barre fans expect from your Strand show? A. I think they’re both going to be happy because there’s a lot of every element of what I do, a lot of solo work and lot of Tull work. I promise them a nice surprise. We change them constantly. We just have a night of fun music. It’s all about entertainment.
|
|
|
Post by steelmonkey on Sept 23, 2018 17:17:00 GMT
I gave Julie Barre a favorite Neil Young live boot duplicate I made last time they played in Oakland. her response indicated it would be consumed and appreciated. My admiration for MB is quite limitless but he isn't gonna get any Don Henley related gifts. Nope....in fact, nothing in any way related to the dreaded Eagles. I can't draw any direct lines, but I blame them for Trump.
|
|
|
Post by maddogfagin on Sept 24, 2018 6:24:41 GMT
www.deutschlandfunk.de/Freed from the yoke of the fluteIn addition to chief and flute player Ian Anderson, guitarist Martin Barre is also instrumental in the success of Jethro Tull: song-like playing, mostly short and always original solos, the sound is extremely complex. On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of Jethro Tull, "Rock et cetera" honors a great man who has never come to the fore. By Fabian Elsäßer LINK
|
|
|
Post by maddogfagin on Sept 25, 2018 6:43:17 GMT
www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/whatson-story/8921471-ex-jethro-tull-guitarist-keeps-the-aqualung-alive/Ex-Jethro Tull guitarist keeps the aqualung aliveWHATSON 10:56 AM by John Law When the subject comes up — and it inevitably does every interview — Martin Barre has this to say about Jethro Tull: "There is no Jethro Tull." Sure, singer Ian Anderson may still have a band by that name, but guitarist Barre believes neither has a claim to it. Both of them were essential to Tull's classic prog-rock sound, and fans aren't seeing the real band if they aren't on stage together. "I can call myself Jethro Tull, and you might buy a ticket and you'll turn up and say, 'Hey, where's the flute? I want my money back!' Equally, Ian can call himself Jethro Tull and the audience will turn up and go 'Where's Martin? We want our money back!' "There will never be a band that is Jethro Tull. It might be the name, but it won't be the essence." Which is Barre's way of saying no, he isn't part of the current Jethro Tull 50th anniversary tour. Despite being the band's influential guitarist since 1969, part of classic albums such as "Aqualung" and "Thick as a Brick," Barre was not invited back to the lineup when the band reunited last year. Instead, Barre is touring in support of his latest guitar-driven solo disc "Road Less Traveled," heading to the Seneca Queen Theatre in Niagara Falls Thursday. "It didn't end nicely," he says of his Tull tenure. "It was messy and it was unpleasant and I had nothing to do with it. But out of all that mess and negativity came certainly two bands. I don't know what Ian's doing, and I'm too focused to want to know. "If I'm checking on what he's doing, what songs he's doing, it's going to affect me. Nothing's going to affect me, I'm going to do exactly what I want, exactly what I think is right. I have a totally open book as to what I can do and the band can do." There's plenty of Tull in Barre's set list, seeing as how he was essential to their sound. Originally a psychedelic blues band in the late '60s, Barre's addition in 1969 transitioned the band into more folk and prog-rock, which paid off with the spacey, musically diverse "Aqualung" in 1971. It set the template that made the band heavy touring favourites throughout the '70s. Barre doesn't back down from the songs, even with Anderson playing them under the Jethro Tull moniker. "I've got a great band who play Tull's music better than any Tull lineup in the past," he says. "We have a lot of fun and we have a great time playing. "(Fans) definitely know what they're going to get with me, because it's the Martin Barre Band. That means, I'm in the band and I've got a band with me. There's no misrepresentation. I don't want to talk about the other side, but I hear a lot of people who go to see other shows and they feel like they're not getting what they paid for." Now 72, Barre says his hands are still up to the challenge of any Tull tune. In fact, he's adding guitars to some of them, making them rock harder than they ever have. "It's a blank canvas in my world, and if I can play "Fat Man" (from 1969's "Stand Up") and make it a rock song, and it works, then that's how we're going to do it," he says. "I'm not bound by rules, but I have respect for the music and the songs. I don't make fun of them, and I don't think I do anything detrimental to them." He has one other ace to fall back on — outside of Jethro Tull cover bands, there simply aren't any bands that sound like Jethro Tull any more. It's a genre Barre is rightly proud of. While people sneer at the term 'classic rock,' he sees a generation of musicians playing a style of music that simply isn't on pop culture's radar any more. Whereas Jethro Tull used to sell millions of albums, now Barre is "amazed and grateful" to simply see his new songs get some airplay. "It's a whole niche, and it's a big niche," he says. "It goes all the way from Led Zeppelin to Paul McCartney, Elton John, Eagles. There's a lot of guys out there still hitting the road and playing good music, playing great concerts. "That's power. The people are empowering us by buying tickets. Long may it go on."
|
|