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Post by steelmonkey on Sept 26, 2014 3:59:34 GMT
The following letter was e-mailed to Ian Anderson's American publicist in hopes she will see fit to forward to him: Tull fans with tickets 'It's For You' :
Mr. Anderson.
I write not on my own behalf, as i was fortunate enough to see the current tour in Seattle and Oakland, but on behalf of Tull fans downstream this tour. As the sole American moderator on the most popular, dignified and enduring Tull site ( The Jethro Tull Fan Forum) and a Tull fan of over 40 years ( you may remember me as the bicycle messenger who named a company 'Steel Monkey Messenger Service'), I know of what i speak.
With all due respect: SNAP OUT OF IT and restore the full H. E. concert ASAP.
1.) You have sorely mis-assessed the ticket buyers on this tour. These are not casual Tull fans out for a night of memories or introducing spouse and kids to music from their past.. Do the math...the1,000 to 2,000 people in each metropolis who bought H.E. the week it came out are occupying the same number of seats in each venue.
2.) The LARGE majority of people spending 85-100 bucks on this tour are expecting every note of the new album. They are the same people who were so satisfied with every note of TAAB II the past two years.
3.) You may be right about summer festival goers preference for a little new, a little old and a lot of Aqualung but those are not the people holding tickets for the next few weeks in the USA. Lifelong Tull fans who are amazed and unanimous in their opinion that the past two albums are equal to or better than anything you have ever done are holding tickets in the USA.
4.) Don't you read reviews? The response to the full H.E. has been 100% positive. The lines about the audience getting livelier or louder during part two notwithstanding...how can you not appreciate and respond to two years of monolithic, positive feedback by press and fans to your new material?
5.) As an American, west coast Tull fan, who for years and years learned of songs dropped as the tour progressed ( Look, you still owe me, off the top of my head: European Legacy, Acres Wild, AWOL, Lost in Crowds and god knows how many other songs that disappeared as the boys and you were headed west), I am not a stranger to the Tull habit of trading new songs for 'New Day Yesterday' and am so grateful I caught two of the first four gigs this year.....but the forum is livid with fans bemoaning the change from all H.E. to the mini-version and Bouree and TAAB in lieu.
6.) H.E. NEEDS Turnpike Inn and Browning to be complete...as well as every other song. RELENT, RESTORE, and I wish you health and success in all you do.
Bernie Kellman aka STEEL MONKEY
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Post by onewhiteduck on Sept 26, 2014 9:00:54 GMT
Great letter Bernie.
100% spot on
Keep up the great work.
OWD
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Post by nonrabbit on Sept 26, 2014 10:02:29 GMT
It's a great letter.
U N F O R T U N A T E L Y outside our Tull world it's a cold and uncaring world.
HE is not appreciated by all and I think it's down to (maybe) indications as to what the various different types of audiences want.
He can make mistakes but he's been sizing up audiences for years.
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Post by JTull 007 on Sept 26, 2014 12:21:17 GMT
Thank You Bernie for this important letter to Ian Anderson.
I suppose we all get cynical in our older years, but Ian Anderson needs to open his mind. This is 2014 and the Real TULL Fans have heard "Bouree" and "TAAB" a million times.
Who else would spend so much on a TULL TICKET in this day and age?
When it says HOMO ERRATICUS on the album, who else would buy it?
When people go to see a band that has had more members than a High School Re-union, WHY?
Because we LOVE the new album and want to experience what the BRITS did in April and May!
I don't speak for everyone in the U.S. but for everyone who cares enough to spend REAL MONEY on TULL.
WAKE UP and ROCK with HOMO ERRATICUS LIVE in it's ENTIRETY... PLEASE. 1000 times PLEASE.
Love to everyone that agrees and LONG LIVE IAN ANDERSON TULL..........
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Post by nonrabbit on Sept 26, 2014 13:21:32 GMT
Thing is it's not just "Real" Tull fans (whatever that might be) that buy tickets. People come to a venue with all sorts of ideas,curiosities and passions.
Some will love everything, some will go to moan about the fact that Martin's not there and the curious will want to hear a bit of everything.
I would like to get some facts about sales of HE in the US and compare it to UK sales. However it's a complicated business trying to understand the dynamics of musical appreciation.
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Post by maddogfagin on Sept 26, 2014 13:45:54 GMT
I have had a reply from TullCentral and below is the reasoning as to why a couple of songs have been dropped.
So, in my words, it seems that many people in the audience had not bought the Homo Erraticus album and were therefore unfamiliar with it.
There have been some shows on the tour where seats that had been occupied in the first half were seen to be empty in the second half and the decision was made to drop a couple of Homo Erraticus songs at the end of the first half and replace them with some that were more familiar and better known to the audience.
"It is sad that we had to do it, believe me."
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Post by steelmonkey on Sept 26, 2014 14:05:23 GMT
Maybe the seats were empty because true Tull fans crawled off and died happy ? I know the other side to the story...I understand the rationale...but last tour the decision was made and stuck to that the new material would get a full and complete play...the only compromise was the addition of Locomotive Breath as an encore,,,,so why the caving in this year on material that needed cohesion as much as Brick II ? Anyway...I never thought Ian would read my letter and 'snap out of it'? ( Or did I ?).
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Post by Teacher on Sept 26, 2014 15:17:56 GMT
Not even counting the gas it will take to drive the 800 miles from Wilmington to Charlotte to Durham to Richmond and back to Wilmington next week; I have spent over $1,000 this year on tickets and lodging to see and hear Ian Anderson perform Homo Erraticus.
I did this because I was so excited about the new music and the once in lifetime chance to see it performed in its entirety. I guess this means absolutely nothing. So I will go and sit through Bouree and TAAB for the millionth time, and I will sadly miss much of the new music that I bought tickets to see, but enjoy the event just the same.
I sure hope I don’t see any empty seats during the second half.
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Post by steelmonkey on Sept 26, 2014 16:42:51 GMT
My status at Tull Central has surely gone from 'pest' to 'shoot on sight'.....oh well, Ian always claimed to appreciate frank criticism from the New Day guys. I appreciate the acknowledgement and can live with 'It's sad that we had to do it, believe me'. Just to remain ornery....I didn't see any empty seats for the second half in Seattle nor Oakland....but my mental state after HE live and a perceptions may have been altered by sheer joy. ( no drugs nor drink, pinky promise)...I mean...it's Tull in 2014....some fans have dialysis, curfew in the old age home and just plain energy crisis.
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Post by aqualung56 on Sept 26, 2014 18:30:25 GMT
I am a long time Tull fan, and I attended the Seattle show. I hate to admit it, but I found HE to be a snoozefest. I'd have much rather have had another hour of Tull songs. I love the nice surprises in the 2nd set (Teacher, Critique Oblique) and would have liked to have seen more like that
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Post by bassackwards on Sept 26, 2014 18:33:00 GMT
I have had a reply from TullCentral and below is the reasoning as to why a couple of songs have been dropped.
So, in my words, it seems that many people in the audience had not bought the Homo Erraticus album and were therefore unfamiliar with it.
There have been some shows on the tour where seats that had been occupied in the first half were seen to be empty in the second half and the decision was made to drop a couple of Homo Erraticus songs at the end of the first half and replace them with some that were more familiar and better known to the audience.
"It is sad that we had to do it, believe me." [/quote Thanks for sharing! But the response that a couple of songs were sacrificed is not accurate unlast show was an anomaly. That show lost seven songs and in TM Pied Piper 13 hours ago Quote Thanks for sharing Maddog. Could u respond to.the powers that 7 songs were dropped at the last show not just a couple. This in my opinion completely butchered a great work which probably could have survived pretty well losing two or three pieces. Could you share this fact for us with the powers that be? That's nearly half the album!
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Post by bassackwards on Sept 26, 2014 19:11:13 GMT
I have had a reply from TullCentral and below is the reasoning as to why a couple of songs have been dropped.
So, in my words, it seems that many people in the audience had not bought the Homo Erraticus album and were therefore unfamiliar with it.
There have been some shows on the tour where seats that had been occupied in the first half were seen to be empty in the second half and the decision was made to drop a couple of Homo Erraticus songs at the end of the first half and replace them with some that were more familiar and better known to the audience.
"It is sad that we had to do it, believe me." [/quote Thanks for sharing! But the response that a couple of songs were sacrificed is not accurate unlast show was an anomaly. That show lost seven songs and in TM Pied Piper 13 hours ago Quote Thanks for sharing Maddog. Could u respond to.the powers that 7 songs were dropped at the last show not just a couple. This in my opinion completely butchered a great work which probably could have survived pretty well losing two or three pieces. Could you share this fact for us with the powers that be? That's nearly half the album! Sorry I butchered the last post Maddog. The last paragraph is all I intended.
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Post by bassackwards on Sept 26, 2014 19:17:13 GMT
Sorry I butchered the last post Maddog. The last paragraph is all I intended. Why would the seats b empty in the second half it that's what they came to see ?
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Post by aqualung56 on Sept 26, 2014 19:27:40 GMT
Why would the seats b empty in the second half it that's what they came to see ? In Seattle, several people around us walked out during the first set. Several more did not come back after the intermission
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Post by bassackwards on Sept 26, 2014 19:35:11 GMT
Also, while I'm on a roll and completely bored at work, I just want all to know I've been bragging to all my musically inclined friends that my guy, ian Anderson, has the balls to play his new album. Now I have to qualify that if 6 or 7 pieces are cut. Good move to put a few hits in the first half but why butcher the new album? Lose 2 pieces, add "Bouree" and some "brick" to the first half, shorten the 2nd half and bada bing bada boom! Perceived problem solved. Everyone is happy! This non professional advice is offered free of charge and worth every penny. If your listening Ian, kidding aside, we love you and I will have a great time whatever you offer to us
Jerry in Georgia
PS. Maddog please feel free to forward this to the powers
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Post by steelmonkey on Sept 26, 2014 19:42:55 GMT
Right....drop the teeny songs and maybe New Blood....sneak Bouree or bit o' brick into the first set. I mean, the ads were not cryptic...New album plus best of. Bouree, of course, can be inserted anywhere in the context of a flute solo and Brick could go with 'Better Things' so ADD Tull fans get a hint of the familiar with their HE vitamins.
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Post by steelmonkey on Sept 26, 2014 19:47:44 GMT
I do acknowledge that Ian gave it some thought before changing the set and I do understand competing preferences. The resolution, as far as I'm concerned is simple. Severe USA Tull fans are responsible for attending concerts either early in the tour or in England/Germany...and bottom, bottom line: I hope Ian 'hears' the sincere, if hysterical, positive feedback re: current material. In the words of the next generation 'it's all good'.
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Post by nonrabbit on Sept 26, 2014 20:28:14 GMT
Also, while I'm on a roll and completely bored at work, I just want all to know I've been bragging to all my musically inclined friends that my guy, ian Anderson, has the balls to play his new album. Now I have to qualify that if 6 or 7 pieces are cut. Good move to put a few hits in the first half but why butcher the new album? Lose 2 pieces, add "Bouree" and some "brick" to the first half, shorten the 2nd half and bada bing bada boom! Perceived problem solved. Everyone is happy! This non professional advice is offered free of charge and worth every penny. If your listening Ian, kidding aside, we love you and I will have a great time whatever you offer to usJerry in Georgia PS. Maddog please feel free to forward this to the powers jethrotull.proboards.com/thread/669/tull-fan
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Post by Teacher on Sept 26, 2014 22:11:56 GMT
Well let me just add, while I'm at it today. Although I am disappointed about the changes, I would not miss this trip for anything. The music will be fantastic; whatever they play. I'm always happy to be a true fan!
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Post by steelmonkey on Sept 26, 2014 22:44:07 GMT
Okay...we had our tantrum...but we don't want Party Leader to get mad at us !!!!!!! If 18 minutes of TAAB and Bouree are the worst things that happen to us this year I guess life is still sweet. But I'm glad I got the whole enchilada...IT WAS REALLY GOOD.
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Post by bassackwards on Sept 27, 2014 0:55:36 GMT
Okay...we had our tantrum...but we don't want Party Leader to get mad at us !!!!!!! If 18 minutes of TAAB and Bouree are the worst things that happen to us this year I guess life is still sweet. But I'm glad I got the whole enchilada...IT WAS REALLY GOOD. I agree Senior Monkee. I am one grateful and happy Tully!
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zombywoof92
Journeyman
A Minstrel in the Gallery ...
Posts: 74
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Post by zombywoof92 on Sept 27, 2014 2:13:53 GMT
Eh, I'm okay with this. As the TaaB tour missed me, it'll be nice to see a bit of that (even though I was looking forward to the full HE). On the other hand, he could drop "Locomotive Breath", "Aqualung", and maybe even "Living in the Past" and I could live with it in exchange for newer material - I can safely say I'm pretty sick of those tracks!
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Post by Equus on Sept 27, 2014 6:27:26 GMT
Well let me just add, while I'm at it today. Although I am disappointed about the changes, I would not miss this trip for anything. The music will be fantastic; whatever they play. I'm always happy to be a true fan! Yes, we have to look at the positive side of this, but I am really sad on behalf of the real American fans... I still don't understand why Ian have decided to change the tour so drastically... What he did during the Thick As A Brick, one and two, tour was a amazing... He didn't cave in... Dodge City here I come...I just don't understand this change of horses... Finally Ian did the right thing... We got Thick As A Brick, and Thick As A Brick 2 live... Finally. Songs have been repeatedly played live again, and again, to the point where some of these otherwise brilliant songs were becoming unwelcome... Not really unwelcome, I hope, but we know what this band is capable of, and what they can deliver... The split between Martin and Ian hurt a lot of fans, but it have done them both a lot of good... Ian started to write new songs, and have come up with unfathomable great music... Martin has a new band as well... Not bad for two old farts... So, lots of great music... More than we could ever expect... (...I'm still not sure if I'm dreaming...) So, Thick As A Brick 2, and now Homo Erraticus... This January Ian will start working on a new album... We got the magnificent Thick As A Brick, Live In Iceland, The Jethro Tull, A Passion Play, An Extended Performance, and soon The Jethro Tull War Child, The 40th anniversary theater edition... Martin Barré's Order Of Play... (...I know I didn't name it all...) Anyway... Ian touring the world with great and challenging music...but why does America always get the smaller package?
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Post by bunkerfan on Sept 27, 2014 6:38:20 GMT
In Seattle, several people around us walked out during the first set. Several more did not come back after the intermission So several people paid $99 to walk out?? Sounds like several didn't like HE and several didn't like 'Best Of' so why did they go in the first place? The only concert I can remember walking out of was Roy Wood's Wizard at Torquay Town Hall back in the 70's. They were terrible!
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Post by bunkerfan on Sept 27, 2014 6:53:16 GMT
Eh, I'm okay with this. As the TaaB tour missed me, it'll be nice to see a bit of that (even though I was looking forward to the full HE). On the other hand, he could drop "Locomotive Breath", "Aqualung", and maybe even "Living in the Past" and could live with it in exchange for newer material - I can safely say I'm pretty sick of those tracks! I'm ok with TAAB being added because it does fit in with the 'Best Of', but HE should be played in full and maybe the second set should be changed on a regular basis because there's a lot of material out there that Tull have done over the years and fans want to hear.
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Post by onewhiteduck on Sept 27, 2014 8:47:42 GMT
Anyone got sympathy for me?! Joke - I missed The Turnpike Inn, Tripidium and After These Wars and Bouree (did'nt matter) and Farm on The Freeway. I couldnt go for a pee/pint as there was no interval. Personally I'd be hugely pissed off because HE is a fantastic album, which needs to be played in full to complement the history it is telling/interpreting. Its all about the money, honey.
I mentioned this before but I walked out of Roger Chapman/Family support set for Tull in 2005 ( Liverpool) dreadful.
OWD
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Post by maddogfagin on Sept 27, 2014 9:12:43 GMT
Anyone got sympathy for me?! Joke - I missed The Turnpike Inn, Tripidium and After These Wars and Bouree (did'nt matter) and Farm on The Freeway. I couldnt go for a pee/pint as there was no interval. Personally I'd be hugely pissed off because HE is a fantastic album, which needs to be played in full to complement the history it is telling/interpreting. Its all about the money, honey. I mentioned this before but I walked out of Roger Chapman/Family support set for Tull in 2005 ( Liverpool) dreadful. OWD Every sympathies with you and also the US fans now missing out on some of HE. We walked out on the Mahavishnu Orchestra at the Fairfield Halls (1971 ?). An absolute load of b******s.
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Post by nonrabbit on Sept 27, 2014 9:35:07 GMT
Much sympathy ducky and while we're on the subject what about me? I'd be as well living in Nepal as far as concerts go! I'll need to have a couple of nurses to accompany me to my next concert as my heart might give out. This talk of bad concerts has got me travelling down Youtube - can't find those bad concerts - pity, but got me reminiscing about Family. I had Bandstand and forgot what a beautiful song My Friend The Sun was. Couldn't find the Torquay concert Aqualung 56 but found a weird and most boring TV documentary on Roy Wood introduced by none other than Jim Bowen :-) worth a few minutes viewing! Super Smashing.
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Post by bunkerfan on Sept 27, 2014 11:38:37 GMT
Much sympathy ducky and while we're on the subject what about me? I'd be as well living in Nepal as far as concerts go! I'll need to have a couple of nurses to accompany me to my next concert as my heart might give out. This talk of bad concerts has got me travelling down Youtube - can't find those bad concerts - pity, but got me reminiscing about Family. I had Bandstand and forgot what a beautiful song My Friend The Sun was. Couldn't find the Torquay concert Aqualung 56 but found a weird and most boring TV documentary on Roy Wood introduced by none other than Jim Bowen :-) worth a few minutes viewing! Super Smashing. It was me that posted about Roy Wood. I couldn't get myself out of the light blue.
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