Ian Anderson interviews

[Tull50]

Jun 21, 2016 16:47:58 GMT stevep said:

Thanks for posting the Tenerife interview. I am a big Tull / IA fan but have to admit that IA certainly rambles on a bit too much for my liking.
Poor translator must have struggled to follow what he was on about, let alone trying to translate it into Spanish.

Surely you are right, although in Tenerife there is much talk in English because of the large amount of tourism...

[JTull 007]

I want people to know my name before I die    TULL LINK 
(Interview with Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull)
Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull concert in Bulgaria
On September 3, 2016 at the Antique Theatre in Plovdiv Ian Anderson, frontman, vocalist, flautist,
songwriter and composer of one of the greatest bands of all time Jethro Tull, will perform with
the best of the nearly 50-year history group.

We are extremely honored that one of the people we most admired, agreed to give an exclusive
interview OFFNews and grateful for the assistance of the organizers of Tangra Mega Rock.

Mr. Anderson, I am honored to speak with you. In Bulgaria we are delighted that we will be able
to see you in Plovdiv after about two months.
Your concert is advertised as "Ian Anderson performs best Jethro Tull" - this way you will be?

That's right, I mean this kind of show in a simple and direct context.
This is the show that intend to export this summer, particularly outdoor concerts - in amphitheaters
and festivals. Wherever this happens, the show will always be "the best of Jethro Tull."
It will include songs that I wrote - some of them before (takes a breath) - Forty-five years.

Let time pass quickly, does not it? But speaking of the songs of Jethro Tull,
I read somewhere that you are actually retired two years ago. You will confirm this?

No, that was not true. What happened was that before 2011 Doane Perry - drummer and
Martin Barre - guitarist, played the last of his concerts as members of Jethro Tull.
In a tribute to them, I felt it was more appropriate to use no more name Jethro Tull.
Both were members of the Chamber for many years - in the case of Martin since 1969
but other musicians who now play with me and that will play in Plovdiv, were members
of the band for the last (thinks about it) - 12 years. They all have played as members of Jethro Tull,
so that staff can rightly be described as Jethro Tull. But you know, after all these years
when describing what will be the concert, I now prefer to use their personal name.
I want people to know my name before I die.

But people know your name ...

I do not think this is necessarily true. I guess the real fans know my name and know that
I am the one who wrote the songs that I was and producer and manager, and the man standing
in front and singing and playing the flute and acoustic guitar. The fans know that.
But I think those nine-tenths of the iceberg that lie below the surface and have heard of
Jethro Tull is not necessarily know my name and my role in the composition. So I look for
a way to make people realize that this is me and this is my music, whether it is conducted
in the name of Jethro Tull or Ian Anderson. Using the name Jethro Tull now I somehow facilitate
people so that they know what music to expect.
However, when I do a solo album or perform solo material,then I call it music of Ian Anderson
and not Jethro Tull, precisely because it is no longer a repertoire of Jethro Tull.

If you go to a concert advertised as a performance of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, or a symphony
or concerto by Mozart, then you know that Mr. Mozart can not actually be on stage nor Mr. Beethoven.
Maybe they both spend time together at Starbucks - in another dimension, in another time,
in heaven or hell, whatever - where they decided to go.

In the case of these people, we know that what we are talking about is not the composer and the repertoire.
Similarly, if you see the music of "The Dark Side Of The Moon", played, for example,
of "Australian" (lowercase) "Pink Floyd" (in large letters), you know that you will listen to the music
of Pink Floyd performed by a tribute band. So should always insight into the meaning of the message.
More important thing for many people is that they hear repertoire, hear "this" music.
But if you listen to the same music performed by Ian Anderson and other musicians, all of whom
were members of Jethro Tull, you know that you are getting something much more authentic and real.

So, the situation is as follows - in Plovdiv you will hear the music of Jethro Tull performed
by members of Jethro Tull, including Ian Anderson.

I'm 68 years old and would like people learn my name before I die,
because many of them know only the name Jethro Tull.

I understand your great, you were thorough about it. And yet - is there any possibility to
recreate once again Jethro Tull as a composition? Next year, I think, to have a jubilee.

The name "Jethro Tull" not gone. No need to regenerate anything else. The name "Jethro Tull"
remains - it is here. Some people may remember - I've said earlier, I do not foresee longer issue
new albums with new music that go under that name.

Besides the concerts, which perform usually are not only under the motto "Jethro Tull".
There are cases in which the organizers still announce the concerts as "Jethro Tull",
but that is to sell more tickets easily.

This is done everywhere. But I do not need to restore Jethro Tull - the composition persists.
"Jethro Tull" as the name is here, and also in the history books by their covers on the tables ...

But to your question about fifty anniversary of Jethro Tull - he will actually be in 2018.
Because we started as a composition in February 1968

And if ever mention the anniversary or jubilee tour of Jethro Tull - how could I choose from
26 other members of Jethro Tull - how can I decide which ones should be back in the composition?
Tell me, how could I ever do it? It is impossible to choose these four musicians who represent a whole era.
The only way I can do it is to use musicians who can play everything that music - and these
are people who will play with me in Bulgaria in September. They know the whole repertoire, familiar music ...

Speaking of these musicians, I think, at least to me, that you first have in their composition
foreigner - guitarist Florian Opahle. He plays with a heavy electric sound, at least that I saw on YouTube.
And he is playing and acoustic guitar?

Yes, he sometimes plays the acoustic guitar when we do acoustic gigs or concerts in places where we
apply a different approach. But usually he plays electric guitar and also played with me for twelve years.

It seems to me that he was born in the eighties ...

Yes, once he was a young man, but he ceased to be.

And that is still alien does not enter you into conflict with the British spirit and eccentricity,
or maybe through him you wanted to infuse fresh stream in the composition?

Where I come from I do not use the word "foreigner" - it sounds not very friendly, it sounds even
a little hostile, it separates people. He is from Bavaria, Germany, he is a citizen of the
European Union and at least so far I am also one.

As mention this - let us remember that on June 23 we have important political event in the UK
(the referendum on leaving or staying in the EU). I realize that this is a political issue and
this matter is very sensitive, but let's look at it from a cultural and social side.
Would you comment on that and do you have regarding the subject that you would share with us?

I could write to you or a very long article for a newspaper or a short book
on the issue of our membership in the EU and the EU's future amid the situation in Europe,
which is constantly changing. But you know, I should not do that. This is not my profession,
I'm a musician - I'm not Bob Geldof. I'm not one of those "innocent" and "engaged" pundits
who seek to get involved in politics and at the same time trying to maintain their level
of musicians - what unfortunately Bob can not do. I know this because I spoke with him last week.
We played together a show in Spain and he said it very difficult governed tours and concerts,
because people consider it more of a political activist, not take him seriously as a musician.
To this I could only tell him: "Whose fault is it, Bob? This situation not to blame either the
audience or the organizers of the concerts. " One chooses what to do in this world.

And right now, I can only say one thing about the referendum - it is part of our democratic process
and it allows UK citizens to decide whether they would like to stay in Europe,
or would like to leave Europe. My only advice to them is "vote". I will not tell them how to vote,
I just tell them "vote because you have the opportunity to exercise their democratic right".
Many of us who wish to remain in Europe, are considered "Europeans". However, this spontaneous
reaction does not correspond to the complex situation. We have such developments in Europe that
many people are worried about changing her character - economically due to increased mobility
of people seeking benefits regardless of whether they are refugees from war zones or political
or economic migrants who benefit the situation, to break down doors and penetrate inside.
These are matters of great emotional intensity in Germany, France and other countries, including the UK.
Europe is a place that is changing, but if we can achieve a Europe that is subject to supervision
by responsible management and administration of justice that reflects fairly the interests of all sides,
then most of us in the UK will want to remain part of Europe. Many people are very worried about
our lack of control over their own affairs. But I will tell you - even his wife did not say -
how I will vote, nor will tell their children. I think these things are too personal.

However, I feel it is very important for Europeans to understand that in general
the majority of Britons, proceeding from personal experience and from what I hear talk
generally want to remain part of Europe. We feel this issue in this way.
Yet it is not so simple - somewhere around 50 percent of the population would vote to leave.
Perhaps these people think that this will be a protest vote that will enable us to
achieve a negotiated better relations with Europe or will force Europe to realize that
there are other countries in the union, who want to change relationship with him.

Sure to give deeper political problem and a strong division, but in general, we all like in
Europe relatively free economic freedoms that we have - to buy and sell goods from each other, traveling, etc.

I think if you still have a vote in favor of Brekzit, things will not change that much.
For the foreseeable future this will not affect the people of Romania or Bulgaria or other
countries in other parts of Eastern Europe who come here to work. Virtually nothing will change
in substance. We know that we need temporary workers to pick fruits and vegetables in our fields,
we know that we need many people in catering, hotels, restaurants - people who come from Eastern Europe.
These people are part of our society. I do not think anything will change. Whatever happens,
we will not get there we start to get on ships and get them mostly only outside.

Nobody should worry about whatever it was that they have concerns about changes in practice.
But the people of Britain will decide. And many of them, albeit reluctantly, will decide to leave,
though not actually want it. But they believe will ultimately be in a better position.
I can not do anything to affect their decision - am neither a politician nor Bob Geldof.

Thank you for that answer.
Would you allow me to draw your attention to another burning question - a lawsuit in
Los Angeles on an alleged case of plagiarism. For me personally it is difficult to say
whether there are more similarities or differences between one of your song - "We Used To Know"
(from the album "Stand Up", 1969) and an extremely popular song for a hotel in the West Bank,
or between " stairway to Heaven "and" Taurus "(Spirit of the composition).

In the musical range has only twelve notes and there is a likelihood, if one analyzes some of
the songs that I wrote, to find similarities with one another. You can analyze the sequence of
chords of the song you have in mind, and my song and say it's the same thing.
But the melody is different, the text is different and Eagles wrote this song called "Hotel California",
which is far better than my song. If somehow what I wrote, influenced them, I'll be proud of this.
But I will not begin to hunt for any yanked money from them.

And now appear an organization which has decided after so many years chasing Led Zeppelin
to get some money - I'm afraid I do not feel sympathy for these people. I think these worms must
be returned in their holes and closed sh ----- they mouth! Frankly, rather late they are remembered.
If they had a real reason, or a serious argument had to do two weeks after the release of the
album of Led Zeppelin as "Stairway" was played on all radio stations in America and these people
would not have missed to notice it. Then he had to say something.

So quite honestly, I do not sympathize with them and I think that Jimmy Page has the right to
defend its position and say,
"Okay, this is something for so long that I do not remember I heard this other song.
We wrote a musical piece and this is our piece, it's true. "
It seems to me that I am on the side of Jimmy Page and Led Zeppelin, mainly because I think
it's been many years to be legitimate action on behalf of those who wrote another song.
When people grow old, or izdiveyat, or die, their heirs are looking for ways to earn money.
I think what these people are doing is very fraudulent and dirty.

And when it comes to you, you've never been pursued with such claims - Your music is so original
and Willie Dixon, for example, can not go against you and say "you took this or that from me."

(Laughs) Maybe I'm a little smarter and cover good influences on their music.

No one will claim to a reef diving, for example ... - this is one of the most original things
that have happened in music in the early seventies.

Yes, it is, along with "Smoke On The Water", "Sunshine Of Your Love" and this whole heap of
great songs with very simple riffs.
Poor old Beethoven must have collided head, wondering "why I did not think about this riff?"

Well, but Ritchie Blackmore admitted that he himself "owed" Beethoven lot of money ...
But, speaking of diving - how did the idea for this song? What was first invented - guitar riff
or vocal - initial phrase "Sitting on a park bench", for example, is strictly reef one played before?

That's exactly right. Together with (the late BR) Glenn Cornick, bassist Jethro Tull, we shared
a hotel room, I was in a Holiday Inn somewhere in America, and his strumming acoustic guitars.
Then came this riff and I thought I should write a phrase that follows the reef,
and so I developed the song - get to the introductory verse, played on acoustic guitar.
Of course, when it came time to record, I wanted it to be a song that has an immediate impact.
So instead of playing the opening riff on an acoustic guitar, I decided to build this great
guitar motif as something that can have a major impact as an introduction to the song.
When you get there to arrange the song and to rehearse and record in the studio, I already
had a good idea how this should look like. So do most of his songs - trying to get them ready before
you go into the studio and to outline their general form, to know in advance what each has to play.
Not in all cases try to do this, but most times I have previously sufficiently clear idea of ​​how it
should look the song. (Laughs) I'm the one who should have such an idea, namely because I am
the producer of the recordings, it's part of my job - to write songs, arrange them, producing,
playing my games when they record. I have to do this on the run - to get into the studio with
a very safe and healthy idea. This concept can in principle be changed while rehearsing or in
the process of recording, for example if any of the composition offer something different.

But generally speaking, I try to get into the studio with a very clear idea, because there you
can hang out and expect other people to contribute, or to wait for that day you yourself
suddenly and miraculously come out with something new for the arrangement or recording.
I try to plan things in advance to have a clear idea before me and the guys to get in the studio
whether it's for our work in 1969 or today. Usually I have previously very safe idea where to go with a song.

When we talk about the protagonist of this song - Mr. Aqualung, and I think that's him on the cover
of the eponymous album without a single photograph of the composition. This man is wearing a coat
and overcoat you ye took up the scene in those times ...

Yes, it is. The man who drew the cover was a painter of watercolors whose works our manager
Terry Ellis saw in a US magazine. He decided that it was this person is suitable to make the cover.
This artist came to London, take some pictures of me and composition while rehearsing for another tour.
So - he came, did the pictures back to back, making their drawings and sent them to us.
I do not like them. I was so against drawing the composition, which is the inner two pages,but really
did not like outer cover. There he had painted the main character in such a way as to look like me.

[nonrabbit]

Thanks for posting Jim.

Ironic really that although music unites and as usual Ian gives a great answer re unity and separation however the next question is about plagiarism in music.
Where does influence end and so called plagiarism start? I don't think their is such a thing as musical plagiarism.

[JTull 007]

Jun 27, 2016 12:15:07 GMT nonrabbit said:

Thanks for posting Jim.
Ironic really that although music unites and as usual Ian gives a great answer re unity and separation
however the next question is about plagiarism in music.Where does influence end and so called plagiarism start?
I don't think their is such a thing as musical plagiarism.

If you copy lyrics it becomes easy to understand the problem.
All music is an interpretation of sounds and rhythms which we absorb from the day we are born.
There is nothing new but there those who wish to gain from what others have accomplished for years.

[Deleted]

Anderson: Ue poco democratica Il 15 luglio il concerto ad Arco
Gio, 07/07/2016 - 17:12
GOOGLE translate:

Anderson: EU undemocratic
July 15 concert at Arco

Ian Scott Anderson, Scottish born in 1947, is one of the legendary figures of rock (progressive but not only). With its Jethro Tull wrote memorable pages and continues today with its iconographic flute to bring his music around the world. Among the milestones of his new tour, under the name of The Best of Jethro Tull performed by Ian Anderson, also of 15 July at the Arco Climbing Stadium.
By the return to Italy of the Scottish leprechaun began our interview, realized with the collaboration of Rita Seneca, who also addressed the pressing issue of Brexit.
Mr. Anderson, how do you feel coming back to Italy?
"I feel old, but in the end that's okay because even many Italian fans have a few more years. For the public, our concert means being together with other peers. But another part of those who come to listen to me is very young, so for them it is a different experience, perhaps for the first time are to know the classic rock produced in the 70s and 80s, and for them, in a sense, I have to try to stay on the stage returning young and are happy to make a type of work that gives me the opportunity to do that. "
On this tour many of the classic sounds of the boundless catalog of the band: as selected them?
"I have a huge choice and I can count on different lists, each made up of hundreds of songs. Usually, for a show like this, a "The best of", choose from a list of about 60 songs and almost every show we change the lineup. "
Also we hear songs of Jethro less known or that have not been played live frequently?
"There will be some pieces that we've never done before: probably 3 or 4 songs that have not been performed live but most of the songs will be familiar to the audience. At the end is the right balance to be achieved when you take the stage this kind of show: run the most famous pieces with some tracks less known but is still part of our history. Everything is mixed and dosed a bit '. It must also take account of the fact that the public expects to hear some things and if you do not do could be disappointing for them. "
She expected such a result in the referendum for the Brexit?
"Frankly, no. I thought there was a higher percentage who would vote to stay in Europe but actually in the polls many people were afraid to admit that they would vote for the exit, did not want to be labeled as racist. The implication that carried the vote for the "leave" was being labeled as racist or anti-immigrant. This is ridiculous, I live here and I know, the vast majority of the British, loves Europe and loves to be part of Europe, what we like is not to be part of the gold mine of Brussels, they do not like democracy are there primarily for the sake of power and glory, and do not care about the interests of Europe. We want to be part of Europe, but we do not want to be part of the European Union bureaucracy, because this does not represent the interests of individual countries.
We have not only Britain but there are also Italy, Spain and many other countries where you see that most of the population has lost the feeling and who do not feel that Europe represents them as they would like. Europe needs to change, I think eventually Britain has given a signal to that change so that it is part of a system that cares about the real interests. We are not against immigration, we are not against being responsible with respect to the phenomenon of refugees, of course everyone wants to help. What we do not like is being treated by the Brussels bureaucracy as children. "
Precisely in this time of social and political crisis, do you think that music can still play a role?
"Music has always played an almost therapeutic role, trying to be a sort of paracetamol to take away pain. But I do not think that musicians are the answer in times of social and political division.
In my class we are many to be quite "stupid", we do not have the intellect or knowledge to be able to communicate. You do not have to force ports on a public level by making public your feelings. The stars of pop, the film should not tell you which side to take, or to be the subject of Brexit who to vote for. My answer to those people is "Keep it for yourself!". I have no time for a David Beckham or whoever you tell me who or what to vote! Many famous people take positions because they enjoy to be on Twitter or Facebook but do not think that's a positive thing. "


Remember to share this with your friends.

[JTull 007]

Jul 7, 2016 21:39:34 GMT @tootull said:

Anderson: Ue poco democratica Il 15 luglio il concerto ad Arco
Gio, 07/07/2016 - 17:12
GOOGLE translate:

Anderson: EU undemocratic
July 15 concert at Arco

Mr. Anderson, how do you feel coming back to Italy?

"I feel old, but in the end that's okay because even many Italian fans have a few more years."

He expected such a result in the referendum for the Brexit?

"Frankly, no. I thought there was a higher percentage who would vote to stay in Europe
but actually in the polls many people were afraid to admit that they would vote for the exit,
did not want to be labeled as racist.  The implication that carried the vote for the "leave"
was being labeled as racist or anti-immigrant. This is ridiculous, I live here and I know,
the vast majority of the British, loves Europe and loves to be part of Europe, what we like
is not to be part of the gold mine of Brussels, they do not like democracy are there primarily
for the sake of power and glory, and do not care about the interests of Europe.
We want to be part of Europe, but we do not want to be part of the European Union bureaucracy,
because this does not represent the interests of individual countries.

We have not only Britain but there are also Italy, Spain and many other countries where you see
that most of the population has lost the feeling and who do not feel that Europe represents them
as they would like. Europe needs to change, I think eventually Britain has given a signal to that
change so that it is part of a system that cares about the real interests.
We are not against immigration, we are not against being responsible with respect to
the phenomenon of refugees, of course everyone wants to help. What we do not like
is being treated by the Brussels bureaucracy as children."

"The stars of pop, the film should not tell you which side to take, or to be the subject of Brexit who
to vote for. My answer to those people is "Keep it for yourself!". I have no time for a David Beckham
or whoever you tell me who or what to vote! Many famous people take positions because they enjoy
to be on Twitter or Facebook but do not think that's a positive thing."
     
                            Remember to share this with your friends.

For some reason I think Ian may have been in favor of BREXIT.
Not that it matters now but he seems to sympathize with those who did.  I'm surprised...

The other part about 'Feeling Old' is also surprising when he makes so many of us feel 'YOUNG'.

[Deleted]

Ian Anderson: My Best And Worst Gigs Of All Time

[Deleted]

We caught up with Ian Anderson ahead of his visit to Kent...

Jethro Tull's Anderson: What's the Very Essence of Prog Rock

[Equus]

Aug 3, 2016 12:30:53 GMT @tootull said:

We caught up with Ian Anderson ahead of his visit to Kent...

Jethro Tull's Anderson: What's the Very Essence of Prog Rock

Ha, ha!! Is there more of this??

[bassackwards]

Aug 3, 2016 13:05:39 GMT Equus said:

Aug 3, 2016 12:30:53 GMT @tootull said:

We caught up with Ian Anderson ahead of his visit to Kent...

Jethro Tull's Anderson: What's the Very Essence of Prog Rock

Ha, ha!! Is there more of this??

Yes, there is more TT. It continues into the credits with the music from the actual album. It's actually quite an interesting contrast. you have the cartoon version of brick which is easily lampooned and then you have the actual music which shows the beauty of the actual piece.

[argentull]

www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocwEGhJ_WmA

[Equus]

Aug 3, 2016 15:18:41 GMT bassackwards said:

Aug 3, 2016 13:05:39 GMT Equus said:

Ha, ha!! Is there more of this??

Yes, there is more TT. It continues into the credits with the music from the actual album. It's actually quite an interesting contrast. you have the cartoon version of brick which is easily lampooned and then you have the actual music which shows the beauty of the actual piece.

Bring it on! bring it on! If it's possible! What's up with the TT? Is that the begining of another Stonehenge?

[Deleted]

Aug 4, 2016 19:17:22 GMT Equus said:

Aug 3, 2016 15:18:41 GMT bassackwards said:

Yes, there is more TT. It continues into the credits with the music from the actual album. It's actually quite an interesting contrast. you have the cartoon version of brick which is easily lampooned and then you have the actual music which shows the beauty of the actual piece.

Bring it on! bring it on! If it's possible! What's up with the TT? Is that the begining of another Stonehenge?

Great! Always knew Equus was TT.




Do you still see me even here?

...NO-ONE (but someone to be found).

[Deleted]

Aug 3, 2016 15:18:41 GMT bassackwards said:

Aug 3, 2016 13:05:39 GMT Equus said:

Ha, ha!! Is there more of this??

Yes, there is more TT. It continues into the credits with the music from the actual album. It's actually quite an interesting contrast. you have the cartoon version of brick which is easily lampooned and then you have the actual music which shows the beauty of the actual piece.

Lost in the shuffle;>) This is actually a great observation regarding contrast.

Cheers!
TT

[Equus]

...Oh...by the way... it's not TT, it's ET... How hard can it be??

Year... just blame the guy in the dress...

[Deleted]

Aug 5, 2016 9:08:03 GMT Equus said:

...Oh...by the way... it's not TT, it's ET... How hard can it be??

Year... just blame the guy in the dress...

OK - no longer Typical Trouble, now Extra Trouble, got it. APProved!

Here's your I.D. (Ideal for identifying one and all.)
Invest your life in the memory bank ours the interest and we thank you.

[Equus]

[maddogfagin]

Jethro Tull's Ian Anderson: The Blues Roots Of A Prog Hero
Features / 1 hour ago / by Jo Kendall



He’s known as the wild-eyed, flute-playing leader of progressive luminaries Jethro Tull. But Ian Anderson started out with rock’n’roll, the blues and the John Evan Band.

This article first appeared in The Blues #10, November 2013.

teamrock.com/feature/2016-08-25/jethro-tull-s-ian-anderson-the-blues-roots-of-a-prog-hero

[JTull 007]

Ian Anderson: The British are the second most boring nation of Europe.
But our watches always say the right time ...  TULL LINK 
Tuesday, September 27 2016 00:15 Written by Harry Symvoulidis

The most legendary flute in rock 'n' roll comes to Athens for a Jethro Tull best-of set
(Saturday, October 1 at Technopolis) so we found the opportunity for a conversation that
went from winter coats and the most bizarre Grammy music in history to cats and peppers,
reaching to the new Prime Minister of Great Britain

We soon expect to Athens for a special Jethro Tull show.
But how do you pick the 'best' of Jethro Tull ?

I have a list of my 100 best songs from 1968 onwards. And choose 20, based on the representation
of different periods of my music and all styles of which have passed since then until today.

Often they ask you to tell how the flute was an integral part of the band's sound.
However I cannot remember to have read a lot of details about that sizeable overcoat,
which featured both on your early performances. What is this story?

My father gave it to me in December 1967. At that time we did not have good relations
and said simply "Better to get it ... for the winter" is heavy. And it was indeed! So I wore
this big coat on a daily basis-even on stage. And so was the image hallmark of early Jethro Tull.

Your father also plays another role in the whole history of the band, since you were
in your primary inspiration of jazz by his own records.
What did you love more than these, in your childhood in Dunfermline?

In Count Basie, the Duke Ellington, in Benny Goodman, but also the very early Elvis,
the Johnny Duncan and the Blue Grass Boys. More after in my life came Cliff Richards
and the Shadows, the Beatles, the Stones ... And everything changed completely.

Journalists always ask for Aqualung and other great albums that you made in the 1970s,
but I would like to ask about Under Wraps - the disk that is usually your fans choose
as the 'worst' work.What do you think about this album, 32 years after its creation?

I think we had some great songs, but the fans reacted strangely to most electronic instruments.
Now I think I should have used real drums and fewer samples, but at that time the whole technology
was very new and like so experiment with it and pull out to create new music directions. Sorry...

And with that Grammy for best hard rock / metal performance that won for 1988 Crest Of A Knave,
beating Metallica? Did you ever learn the details of what happened?
Did you ever discuss this with Metallica?

5,000 members of the National Academy Of Recording Arts And Sciences voted then
-through their infinite wisdom; whereas Jethro Tull had not only been nominated in this category,
but also won. Most, and I among them, of course, were surprised. Not as much as Metallica, of course
... We have not discussed, however, basically we have never met. They look nice, however young.

As a songwriter, you always open your eyes and ears to what was happening around you.
You are a man who reads newspapers to be informed about what happens in the world?
What would you sayabout the recent British developments -the referendum
and Theresa May who went to Number 10 Downing Street ?

I read several newspapers on a daily basis in order to track the various political views.
And I see the news on TV. I Brexit as the expression of a democratic vote. It is not legally binding,
but it is the voice of a majority of people-and this must be respected. My own assessment is that,
following the negotiations for the next months, we will have a realistic response from the German
and French and will move on to something that resembles Brexit lite.
Something like continuation of trade with the European Union, our continued participation in the
budget but regain control of our borders and the right to decide on the basis of our own legislation.

For now, of course, the French would reject in high tones so, partly because they have
elections in 2017 and Hollande fears losing power and will shift into the hands of the far right.
However I think that all plans for a rapid transition to a federal Europe will fail, because
what is now needed is real reform within the European Union.
Now, in the wake of the British referendum, we see more and more European leaders to ask.

As for our new Prime Minister, is a strong and responsible woman -not the new Margaret Thatcher.
Employs the development of a more equitable society and the definition of our current relationship
with the rest of Europe. Meanwhile the referendum did not change anything spectacular,
only in the world of those involved in the exchange, banking investments, the management
of funds; the world ie hyperkapitalistikon multinational navel-gazing and other entities.
                         Thick, greedy cats.          The ugly side of capitalism.
They have manipulate the financial stability of the British pound, causing concern across Europe.

Calm down, Britain is not going anywhere. your good neighbors will remain, come what may.
Just to have our own passports and our money, as before. Nothing else will change.

What else do you do in everyday life, apart from newspapers?
What do you enjoy when you crave a little distance from the music and bustle of celebrity?

I never stop playing music.
But I enjoy and look after my peppers, I like to ride with my cats in the evening.
Oh, we British are the second most boring nation of Europe. But our watches always tell
the correct time and paying our taxes. And we have the most enviable record in Europe for
the most successful cultural, ethnic and religious integration of the last 70 years.
So do not consider us racists, please. Come stroll in London and you will immediately
see that this is the most multicultural city in the world.
And come now, the pound is cheaper! The best time to be a tourist.

[bunkerfan]

I'm assuming this will be on a Greek radio station on 30th Sept..

[JTull 007]

Sept 29, 2016 14:07:47 GMT bunkerfan said:

I'm assuming this will be on a Greek radio station on 30th Sept..

 Starting early here at 9:00 am TULL Expresso      TIME LINK 
         
                            LIVE Radio 98.7 Online LINK  

[maddogfagin]

Sept 30, 2016 0:58:36 GMT JTull 007 said:

Sept 29, 2016 14:07:47 GMT bunkerfan said:

I'm assuming this will be on a Greek radio station on 30th Sept..

 Starting early here at 9:00 am TULL Expresso      TIME LINK 
         
                            LIVE Radio 98.7 Online LINK  

Interview with Ian Anderson (Jethro Tull) to show Progressive Room with Panos Nousia
2 hours ago Interesting Stories , Interviews Radio 9 Views

Today the show Progressive Room hosting a musician who than it looks "is not too old to rock n Roll and he is too young to die" , a musician who introduced the flute to rock music and epoch with live performances .

Ladies and gentlemen we have the honor and pleasure to introduce you to Mr. Ian Anderson.

- Welcome Ian to our show. Thank you for having responded to our call.

- Thank you very much. Welcome I found you. Happy to be with you.

- Ian a few days ( the interview took place September 16 ) will play in Athens ( October 1 ) and immediately after you start your tour in America. Tell us something about the central idea of your tour and what we should expect?

- I think, after all these years course what you should expect are the best moments of Jethro Tull including some not so well known tracks from our first album and maybe 1-2 new songs. This is a fairly accurate production with screens and video and other guest musicians, which during our tour occurs indoors (s). Athens then than we know will play outdoors (Technopolis) and for this reason will experience a small part of this Show, without projectors and video monitors. An additional reason for this is that the production cost is high. You have to tell you also that our remuneration is also quite low compared with the normal, significantly reducing the fees of my music, and know the poor economic situation of your country. I will not earn money from this concert but only to cover the basic costs of my musicians and employees, such as their safety. However I am quite happy that I will play in Athens

- The Greek audience in particularly loves. What experiences have on your concerts in Greece?

- I have played several times in Greece over the years, yy I can say that the Greeks are like other fans in the world. Empirically I could mention that differs so common in some countries such as Japan or India, but if it is to compare the audience of Greece, Italy and Spain will not find specific differences. They are people who love and enjoy much music expressing strongly with the culture and language. Also sharing the same currency, the euro, in contrast to us in England we have not euro. I can say that Greece is a European country and the audience like the European public, and thankfully unlike the cuisine of other countries, when I am in Greece enjoy my meal.

- Ian, some malignant argue that the old generation of Rock should retire because their music is no longer fit in the world. What would you answer them?

- I am glad that I belong in the same category with musicians such as Neil Armstrong and Charlie Parker. You know when you think the history of music with all its kinds glad to make up and I have a history of the person and yes I'm still alive and gambol on stage. I think music is concerned and depending on the time period which is written and presented, not but you can delete the great music such as that of Jimi Hendrix or members of Cream, is still alive and it is good and healthy to play in the days us.

- It's alive Rock n Roll nowadays?

Clearly it is alive. I did not then expect that rock music will keep changing in the way out by the end of 60, then in the decade of 70, 80 and 90. The Rock continued to evolve and change but the last 20 years do not expect that will keep the character of otherwise we would call it somewhat differently, not Rock. Listening to Rock today, and especially the Hard Rock or Progressive bands, not so different from that of the 70s, we see new fresh faces, different hairstyles but in music do not see dramatic changes. When you hear a current metal band and Black Sabbath or Deep Purple, I do not think that they differ so much. The area of ​​the Metal scene has not changed much since then, the differences have to do with style but with which technology and of course has changed. Since the analog audio and Fender, Gibson and the Hammonds, the Synthesizer in the late 70's, and at the time we arrived in today's digital sound which is very advanced compared to 35 years ago. Digital recording from 1997, sorry since 1996, I think it is long.

- So Ian would say that you are satisfied with the evolution of music from the age of 70 today.

-The Most exciting period in the development of Rock and Pop it seems was the decade of 70 as at the beginning of this decade, the Blues moved to Rock and then to Progressive with bands like ELP and Genesis and immediately after at the means by the end of the decade appeared Punk which denatured in Post Punk with bands like the Stranglers. It was an important decade that happened many great changes that took place very quickly, in a very short time. The Rock became more eclectic, observing many different genres such as Folk, the Jazz or even church music to the encounter. All this of course was a very fertile ground for people like me, to start their music career.

-Symmeteiches Productions of Jethro Tull ?

The Jethro Tull was formed in 1968 with the first recording be performed in a small studio in Chelsea in London. From my side at that time I am trying to learn as quickly as I could then handle the equipment in order to participate in any future production of a disc from beginning to end. In the Stand Up our second album which was recorded in 1969 I was able to know much more and have an active role in production. Immediately after Aqualang met the famous producer of Beatles George Martin asking him some advice on this topic. I asked him what moves should I do in order to improve the production,

" Do I I found a producer to empoutisei us with his ideas; " I said.

" Continued to do what you do, be you by your disk manufacturer " replied

I will always remember this meeting with George Martin who encouraged me to the producer of the disc of Jethro Tull.

- To be honest with you, when I first saw on the TV at the age of 15 years, I thought, "Who is this psychopath? But it is terrible "

What's on your mind when you are on stage?

- When I'm on stage myself, I do not take the role of perfomer, use my character and personality strengthening a little more. If you meet me behind the stage you will see that I am a quiet and simple man, just the stage I can say that I increase the volume and become more shine the headlights. This of course only happens on stage, can not and does not need to happen in my real life. Ie 2 hours a day glow from the lights and the remaining hours I'm a simple and quiet man who likes to deal with the company, to eat and to drink alone and very often asleep and alone

- That you feel as an ordinary person

In a way yes, I have not machine or car, do not drive, use the public transport, bus and London Underground. I am a classical type of transportation, can not stand the complexity and the problems I have katanalontas car and a lot of fuel going here and there. In my home I have internet which I use mostly for work mou.En ultimately yes I am an ordinary everyday person you see standing at the bus stop looking at his watch

-Teleia Ian !! You released an album entitled, " Songs From The Wood's " (= Songs of the forest). You get used to writing only in a forest as a your own secret ritual?

- Hmmm ... I would not say that. I live in town, and when I work and I write I am in my house looking out the window the trees and birds offering my calmness and concentration on the music but know it can look out of my window a serene and beautiful landscape and get out my a strong and hard progressive synthesis. That is the view is not synifasmeni music that will write at that time, is a more practical attitude and approach to stay away from city noise (cars, workers, etc.). Many times it is hard to write music here in London, for example this year I lost my calm in studios because they work next door. Before I invite worked on some parts of my new album trying to concentrate, but it did it because of the builders and the sounds of hammers and drills. I'll leave in a bit to get back home and continue there work passing it as my flute without fear of annoying sounds.

- During the effort introduction of Jethro Tull , play as support to Jimi Hendrix, the Led Zeppelin , the Vanilla Fudge and many others still. Do you remember anything particular from that era?

- What I remember is that always learned from all these musicians that I came in contact. We were on tour with Led Zeppelin in 1969 and 1970, it was not to learn something by watching them on stage, I learned very important things. I learned the dynamics that you have to have on stage, I learned from the changes of Jimi Paige, both in speed (slow - fast) and the capacity of playing (calm - loud). I learned a lot and also by the Robert Plant with the most basic to is that you will never become a singer as good as that (laughs). Many times you know are taught by the negative aspect of a thing. , Robert was so charismatic singer, huge talent with multiple skills and special style which I do not I could do, so we focused on my music and in the direction that will evolve playing flute and writing songs that I knew that I can sing them.

- Have you ever regret your refusal to play at the festival Woodstock ?

- No I have not regretted. If I remember well I had proposed two days before, when we were in New York, during our second tour in America. The refused to our manager, I said no I do not think we will participate as it will be a festival of Hippies with naked people taking many drugs, which would result to equate us with this stereotype which did not want to happen and was not . I think it was the right choice for our career, besides the Jethro Tull was not prepared for something as large as Woodstock, did not know what success you knew or the shooting of the film would follow such an example. We relied on our instincts. As I said it was too early for us to play to so many people, at that period we learned and we were looking to find our taps. Ultimately yes I think we made the right decision, otherwise maybe we followed and we similar career to that of Ten Years After, who am while experienced great success after participating at Woodstock but in later course was forced to constantly play pieces since not having significant development. They never managed to change their identity for the duration of their lives

- Right! Ian What gives you balance in life?

- Balance in life means to sleep a few hours a day, to be in an environment where you can work, playing music, I go walking with my cats, eat a nice meal, drink a nice beer or a whiskey. All these give you a good balance in life but it is different from what should I have when I'm on stage because there will have to balance your physical condition and your presence by playing musical instruments singing along something which is difficult and have an obligation to succeed. You namely to achieve balance and naturalness in the result. Classical music does not play in a symphony orchestra being seated, I am in a rock band playing in big tents in front of many people and speak strongly. So you have to find that kind of balance on impressions where your appearance should not overlap the music and vice versa. Even today in this age of the audience waiting to go up and down on stage and stand on one leg so I need to get the physical condition to do it.

- O Greek philosopher Plato had said, " Music is a moral law. It gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and charm and gaiety to life and everything . " You feel like Plato?

- For me, music is a primitive form of human expression of human intelligence and logic to something that makes him feel good. In humans like to participate in something, to see, to hear, even to participate with you in the display, and then just turns into a social celebration. I enjoy music when I'm with people but when I'm on stage I have in my mind that I celebrate something with them, always in the context of their culture. The music festival is, this is, I want to be with people celebrating together this expression of music. I would say that is a combination of the "I" meets interculturalism. But there, two hours a day I want to be with people, but other times I want to be alone (laughs), I can afford to'm crowded all day

- The Charles Bukowski had said "what matters is how well you walk through the fire" How many times have you walked into the fire Ian ?

- Uh I do not remember to have walked through the fire many times in my life, I might say 2 times. Were periods of my life I had the feeling and thinking for hours, even whole days the possibility of my death, this has happened 2 times in 69 years my life. I will pass through fire anymore because I'm pretty responsible person and my watch health by a small checkup every three months to make sure that all is well, and every time I make a big to xanavevaiotho that do not run anything and calm for coming months. To walk through the fire on a physical level is not such a serious matter but emotional level so it is difficult and fortunately I have not tilt in this direction. I am the style of the beloved uncle will call for barbecue and have confidence that it will not in rezilepsei and promised that he would not wear a ridiculous shirt (laughs)

- Ian born in Scotland, a country with a great history and mythology. If alive today, William Wallace what would you say?

- (Laughs) The William Wallace was a character of Scottish history who fought for the independence of Scotland and hope to be somewhere right now and sees us. I am a supporter of the union of Scotland and England, which counts 300 years of life. 2014 although the Scots have lost the independence referendum returned two years later and say " ooo we repeat the referendum on the independence of Scotland " which is very sad In my view. My father was Scottish and my mother Englishwoman and I am the result of this union, two separate countries with different identity and a different culture, but you know, basically we are together and we work quite well .. Even in a situation where the United Kingdom is outside the European Union will continue to work well both economically and culturally, but also in more practical issues but being part of Europe. But we want to enact our laws, we have control of our borders and be a truly independent nation. We do not trust what is happening in Brussels, as I and many Greeks respectively, building a strong economy and spending a long time in which we are both inside and outside Europe. Expressed through the vote of Democrats, our desire to get outside the European Union, not mean that we want to abandon Europe. We want us to be the masters of our country and not the people of Brussels who enact laws to create a Europe without identity. We believe in this idea, we believe the national identity of the Member stating the laws and regulations independently. This is exactly what the British people voted personally would prefer to stay in Europe pushing them not to take these decisions but after so many years of efforts we realized that there was something so I decided to go outside. What exactly is democracy, the majority decides and we should respect that decision as democratically happened in Scotland but they said it again (laughs). You know many people say democratic, but practically not tolerate the majority decisions

Sorry but I have to close because I have an appointment at the hospital for the standard checkup

-Okay Ian. Thank you very much that you were with us today. We wish you every success in the concert that will give Athens

-Thank I very much, will be waiting in Athens. Immediately after the concert will go to the studio to do the mastering of the new album to be released in February, after I leave for tour in America and then make a few appearances again in November in Europe. I can tell that by Christmas I will be quite busy. The last stop of my summer tour will be Athens in a very beautiful place, saying "Goodbye to the summer"

Thank you very much for the discussion we had

-And Due thank you Ian. Dear Mr. Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull

Hello you Ian !!

- Thanks! Hello !

[maddogfagin]

Ian Anderson - Interview
11/25/1989

www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2008/06/ian-anderson-interview.html

In late 1989, Jethro Tull were wrapping up their American tour in support of the Rock Island album. On the Saturday morning after Thanksgiving, Ian Anderson sat with Scott Muni in New York to record a World of Rock radio show. In this 45-minute interview, Ian makes good on his recently received honorary Ph.D. with lectures on oilseed rape, Christmas guilt, homelessness, the man agronomist Jethro Tull, and the American personality. But when they remember to talk about Jethro Tull and rock n' roll, there are some great stories and insights. Highlights include introductions to some classic and current Jethro Tull hits as Ian plays DJ, how the band accidentally got stuck with their name, and what Ian thinks about Richard Marx….

00:00 - Introduction by Scott Muni

00:46 - The naming of Rock Island / urban loneliness

03:11 - Fascination with trains / EU vs. US

04:40 - Fields of oilseed rape

06:11 - The current tour wrapping up

06:41 - Christmas ambivalence and guilt

08:09 - Four Jethro Tull "alternative" Christmas songs

10:30 - Martin Barre's sit-ups and marathons

12:01 - Dave Pegg, Doane Perryand, Martin Allcock / Fairport Convention

13:36 - Returning to Jethro Tull's blues roots on Rock Island

15:46 - Origins of (getting stuck with) the name "Jethro Tull" / the man Jethro Tull

18:57 - Playing fan favorites / timeless quality to Jethro Tull hits

20:15 - Guilt (and royalties) for the homeless ("Aqualung," "Strange Avenues")

23:00 - Preparing for duty as DJ (Scott Muni's earphones / sleeping naked)

25:02 - Ian Anderson's dark secret

25:37 - The worst place to hear a rock concert / Pete Townshend's hearing loss

26:21 - Shea Stadium concert (7/23/76)

28:25 - "The Rattlesnake Trail" / The American personality

30:06 - Americans are all Lee Marvin

30:41 - Moving from the city to the country / Songs from the Wood

32:24 - "Songs From The Wood" / 1987 WWMR broadcast

33:42 - The agelessness of rock n' roll

35:52 - Opening for Led Zeppelin / A call to find tomorrow's legends

36:43 - A rhetorical question regarding Richard Marx

37:17 - A lack of great new bands / the audience's responsibility for challenging bands

39:53 - "Kissing Willie" / cover bands better than Jethro Tull

40:48 - The Jethro Tull box set commemorating 20 years / "Part of the Machine"

43:22 - Outro / How many songs, how many albums

[maddogfagin]

www.heraldscotland.com/news/14804985.Jethro_Tull_star_Anderson_says_he_still_considers_himself_a___39__quot_dour_Scot_quot_/



Jethro Tull star Anderson says he still considers himself a '"dour Scot"


Jethro Tull star Ian Anderson in 2015

16/10/2016

JETHRO TULL star Ian Anderson has revealed he deliberately erased his accent as a child, but still considers himself the epitome of the "dour Scot".

Anderson became famous for playing the flute on one leg while sporting a codpiece as part of the psychedelic, '70s prog rock band.

But the Edinburgh-born musician told the Mail on Sunday that he didn't come out of his shell until he moved to Blackpool with his family when he was 12.

The 69-year-old said: "I started to play music and after a terror-stricken first appearance at the Holy Family youth club in front of a few Catholic schoolgirls, I found my expression and ability to project — something I didn't think I had in me.

"But I spoke with an Edinburgh accent and my classmates called me Jock and thought as little of the Scottish as my primary schoolmates had thought of the few English boys in our class who were constantly teased and bullied."

Though he has lived in Gloucestershire for the past 22 years, he still considers his Scottish roots a big part of his identity.

He said: "I probably epitomise the dour Scot, a Presbyterian, Gordon Brown-like figure who tut-tuts in the background, occasionally gets cheerful if I've had a glass of whisky and sports some of my lunch down my tie."

He also said he wasn't that sociable and doesn't like crowds, saying he and Jethro Tull band members were "like nuns" compared to famous hedonists of the day like Jimi Hendrix, David Bowie and Elvis Presley.

He has just embarked on a World Tour with the band and will release a remastered version of their second album, Stand Up, next month.

But he said is more than happy to take more of a back-seat these days, compared to son-in-law Andrew Lincoln, star of TV show the Walking Dead.

He added: "I'm used to being ignored when I'm with him. They think I'm his driver or maybe his dad."

[maddogfagin]

www.pressreader.com/

Elvis, Bowie, Lennon, Hendrix and me ... by the prince of prog rockers
The Scottish Mail on Sunday 16 Oct 2016 By Peter Robertson

WITH his long hair, wild eyes and flamboyant minstrel costume complete with codpiece, Ian Anderson loved to keep his audiences mesmerised as he stood on one leg playing the flute amid a sea of dry ice and bathed in psychedelic lighting. In the heady 1970s, the Scot and his band Jethro Tull, with their own unique brand of progressive rock, were every bit as successful internationally as Led Zeppelin, Elton John and The Rolling Stones.

Now, more than four decades on and having notched up 60 million sales worldwide of their classic albums, they are still touring. But Anderson, 69, sports a more ‘sensible’ look these days, conservatively attired in black, with a neatly-trimmed goatee.

Next month, Jethro Tull will release a remastered version of their second album, Stand Up.
Tomorrow, the band will play in San Diego, California, as part of a world tour that comes to Europe next month and ends in New Zealand in April.

The venues are smaller now, but Anderson, who once refused to meet a drug-addled Elvis Presley because he disapproved of substance abuse, says he is ‘embracing the anonymity’ of an aging rocker.

He is now happy ‘playing second fiddle’ to his son-inlaw, British actor Andrew Lincoln, the lead character in The Walking Dead.

Anderson said: ‘The other night we were in a restaurant and a couple of female staff came rushing out afterwards. I assumed they were going to ask for my autograph or want a photo, but it was Andy they were after – and they were quite happy to let me take the picture of them with him.

‘I’m used to being ignored when I’m with him. They think I’m his driver or maybe his dad.’
Anderson, who has never learned to drive and does not own a car, has always enjoyed the anonymity of being away from the spotlight.

He said: ‘I love to blend into the background, whether in a train station, on a bus or in Sainsbury’s. At big gigs, I could go out and walk among the audience. It’s a wonderful feeling when you get away with it.’

Anderson’s career took off in the late 60s when he went from cleaning cinema toilets in Luton to lead singer, songwriter and flute-player with Jethro Tull, whose early engagements included supporting Jimi Hendrix.
Despite the infamous excesses of the rock scene, Anderson has never taken drugs – which influenced his decision not to meet Elvis in Las Vegas in 1969.

He recalled: ‘Elvis was addled with drugs, he was overweight and he was out of his box. We were wheeled in to see him perform at a casino, then to my horror we were commanded to meet him afterwards.

‘I thought, “I don’t know what I’d say to him. He’s used to people saying how wonderful he is, but he wasn’t; he was c**p, he forgot his words, he stopped during songs, he didn’t know where he was, probably drunk, drugged or both”.
‘I didn’t want to have to lie and say, “Loved the show”, because it was awful. So I politely declined on behalf of the whole band, though the others were miffed as they did want to meet Elvis.

‘When you see people stoned it’s never a pretty sight – they go down in my estimation because they behave badly.

‘If you compared Jethro Tull to Led Zeppelin, we appeared like a bunch of nuns. Most of the guys liked a drink and some – though not in my presence – would have a joint if it was being passed around at a party. But I’m not a sociable person and wouldn’t feel good about a soggy joint getting passed hand-tohand. Besides, I felt taking drugs was taking a risk. I probably have an addictive personality and might not be able to handle it.’

Next year will be Jethro Tull’s 50th anniversary. But Anderson, who will also be 70, is not planning to celebrate either landmark. ‘It’s just not my thing,’ he said. ‘I don’t like crowds. I’d rather celebrate with two or three people over a quiet dinner. I hate to sound like a party-pooper, but I feel so uncomfortable about attention, especially as they’ll be thinking, “Poor old bugger, he’s lost all his hair, none of his old trousers fit him any more”. I’d rather sit in the garden with one of the cats.’

His ‘garden’ is a 400-acre estate in
Gloucestershire, where he has lived for the past 22 years and which he shares with his second wife, Shona, formerly a PA to Beatles Ringo Starr and George Harrison. It’s a long way from his childhood in Dunfermline and Edinburgh. He said: ‘I wasn’t into dressing up at all and was totally terrified of anything that involved being in front of other people and expected to perform.’

He didn’t emerge from his shell until the family moved to Blackpool when he was 12. He said: ‘I started to play music and after a terror-stricken first appearance at the Holy Family youth club in front of a few Catholic schoolgirls, I found my expression and ability to project – something I didn’t think I had in me.

‘But I spoke with an Edinburgh accent and my classmates called me Jock and thought as little of the Scottish as my primary schoolmates had thought of the few English boys in our class who were constantly teased and bullied.’
Anderson deliberately erased his accent but admits today: ‘I probably epitomise the dour Scot, a Presbyterian, Gordon Brown-like figure who tut-tuts in the background, occasionally gets cheerful if I’ve had a glass of whisky and sports some of my lunch down my tie.’

While daughter Gael, a former PA to Gwyneth Paltrow, has been married to Lincoln since 2006, son James has worked for his father for 15 years, currently as his agent.

Anderson admits to having been slightly underwhelmed by Miss Paltrow: ‘She seemed a very nice girl, but a bit ethereal, detached and distracted. I can’t say I know Gwyneth the movie star.’

Named after an 18th Century English agricultural pioneer, Jethro Tull have sold tens of millions of albums, including Stand Up, Benefit, Aqualung and Thick As A Brick.

They supported Jimi Hendrix in Sweden in 1969, the year before his death aged 27. The re-release of Stand Up comes with a DVD of the band on that tour date.

Recalling meeting Hendrix outside a press conference in Stockholm, Anderson said: ‘I asked, “Shouldn’t you be in there?”. ‘He said, “Oh man, I don’t wanna go in, it’s too scary”. We had some small talk, finished our cigarettes, then I said, “Come on, we’re gonna have to do it, let’s go”. So we went in. Sadly, I never spoke to him again.’

While producing a track for Steeleye Span, Anderson persuaded David Bowie to play saxophone.

He said: ‘To my astonishment, he turned up. But he was very professional and nailed it in one take. I met him a few years later and thanked him for doing it as a freebie. He looked at me in horror and said, “You mean I didn’t send you an invoice?”. Then he laughed and I realised he was pulling my leg.’

ANDERSON would later double his fortune salmon farming on Skye for two decades. He said: ‘I’m glad I got out when I did but I can hold my head up and say, “I did my bit for my country”. We had 400 employees in our fish farms and factories but it got to be a bit scary as there was no insurance if things went wrong. We would have lost our shirts. It was time to move on.’

Having been awarded an MBE for services to music in 2008, Anderson said: ‘I’m a big supporter of the Royal Family and feel we’re really going to miss the Duke of Edinburgh when he goes. He’s been one of those politically incorrect naughty people who even the most staunchly antiroyal can’t help but like.’

Anderson has given serious consideration to his ideal finale. He said: ‘That would be like Tommy Cooper or Eric Morecambe dying mid-act, finishing up doing the thing you love doing. Mine would be a nice gig, followed by a late-night curry I shouldn’t have, then the paramedics coming just a little too late.’

Jethro Tull’s Stand Up: The Elevated Edition is available on November 18 on Parlophone.

[Deleted]

Interview: Ian Anderson 2016


The Life and Times of Jethro Tull

[Deleted]

Ian Anderson brings 'Jethro Tull' to Luther Burbank Center

[maddogfagin]

The Spokesman-Review

www.spokesman.com/stories/2016/oct/27/jethro-tull-the-band-meets-jethro-tull-the-man-in-/


British musician Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull performs during a concert in Nicosia, Cyprus,
Saturday Feb. 19, 2011. (Petros Karadjias / Associated Press)

THURSDAY, OCT. 27, 2016, 10:31 A.M.
Jethro Tull the band meets Jethro Tull the man in stage show
By Nathan Weinbender

If you go
“Jethro Tull”
Written and Performed by Ian Anderson
When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday
Where: Northern Quest Resort & Casino, 100 N. Hayford Road, Airway Heights
Cost: $65-$95, tickets are available at www.northernquest.com or [phone].

It turns out that the British prog rock band Jethro Tull and the 18th-century agriculturalist Jethro Tull have more in common than just a name.

Ian Anderson, the group’s longtime frontman, says he didn’t know much about Tull when his band was formed (the name was actually suggested by a booking agent in the late ’60s). And while those similarities are relatively minor, there are quite a few of them.

For instance, Tull had musical ambitions when he was young, but his parents made him attend law school. The song “Wind-Up,” which closes Jethro Tull’s 1971 album “Aqualung,” begins with the lyrics, “When I was young and they packed me off to school.”

Here’s another: Anderson says Tull suffered from bronchitis as a teenager, which is unintentionally echoed in the band’s signature song, “Aqualung.” And Anderson has frequently explored themes of agriculture and farming in songs like “Farm on the Freeway” and “Heavy Horses,” which obviously lines up with Tull’s work.

“In many cases, it’s a little uncanny,” Anderson said during a recent phone interview. “It seemed like a good opportunity to come up with a theme for a live concert that would embrace the use of modern technology with videos and special guests, make it more of a theatrical event.”

Anderson’s research into the life of Jethro Tull inspired the musician’s current stage show, which he’s bringing to Northern Quest this weekend. The set list features some of the best-known tunes in Jethro Tull’s catalog, but those songs are structured and paced in a way that serves as a musical biography of the real Jethro Tull.

“It’s essentially a best of Jethro Tull show, the mainstream Jethro Tull repertoire that most of our fans will recognize,” Anderson said. “I’m really telling (Tull’s) story through the songs I’ve written over the years.”

Anderson has written a handful of new songs specifically for the live show, many of which serve as transitions in the story. They also touch on 21st-century political, religious and sociological issues, especially GMOs and corporate agribusiness. While much of Jethro Tull’s music was concerned with such socially relevant themes, Anderson is clear that he’s not out to lecture anybody.

“I think the trick is you’ve always got to give them a popular appeal,” Anderson said. “There’s no point in using (songs) to hector an unwilling audience. You’ve got to make it musically entertaining. If you can’t get people tapping their feet and nodding their heads in time to the music, you’re not going to seduce them into paying attention to the subtlety of lyrics.”

Jethro Tull went through numerous lineup changes over the years, officially calling it quits in 2012. Anderson has a full schedule outside of touring as a solo act: He’s finalizing an album of string quartet arrangements of Jethro Tull songs, and he plans to start work on a new studio album soon.

“It’s nice to keep busy at my age,” he said. “You don’t want to fall off the bicycle, best to keep pedaling. The danger is if you fall off the bicycle you won’t be able to get back on and pedal off into the sunset, which, of course, I’d like to do.”

Anderson’s stage persona remains the same as it was back at Jethro Tull’s creative peak: He bounds about the stage, often with his flute, and tears into the songs with a crazed zeal. Although he’s the only member to remain with Jethro Tull during its entire four-decade career, Anderson says he doesn’t think of the band as his own.

“There have been 26 different members of Jethro Tull over the years, and I think that’s, in a way, part of our strength,” Anderson said. “I tend not to think about Jethro Tull as a band identity, because you can’t encapsulate all 26 members in your head. It’s like this big extended family.

“It’s rather like your favorite football team. The people who are kicking the ball about and whatever they do in American football, which I can never understand, they’re not the same guys who were there 20 years ago. So it’s an ever-changing rotation of talent, and that’s the way I think of Jethro Tull.”

[steelmonkey]

String quartets AND a new studio album....now we're talking !

[Deleted]

Take that.

Oct 28, 2016 16:06:38 GMT steelmonkey said:

String quartets AND a new studio album....now we're talking !

Take this for you, steel:

“You don’t want to fall off the bicycle, best to keep pedaling. The danger is if you fall off the bicycle you won’t be able to get back on and pedal off into the sunset, which, of course, I’d like to do.”