Guide Note

Jethro Tull is a Grammy winning Progressive/Classic Rock band from England whose defining characteristic is usually considered to be the flute playing of lead singer Ian Anderson.

The band formed in 1967 and released their first album in 1968, entitled "This Was". Jethro Tull started out with more of a Blues type sound, but by their second and third albums, "Stand Up" and "Benefit", they began incorporating more of a progressive rock element into their music.

Their fourth and most famous album, entitled "Aqualung" (1971), was Tull's first concept album. "Aqualung" told the story of a shady bum who sat on park benches and eyed little girls with bad intent. Throughout the 1970s, Tull continued to release concept albums, such as "Thick as a Brick" in (1972), "A Passion Play" in (1973), and "Too Old to Rock 'n' Roll: Too Young to Die! in (1976).

In the late 1970s, Jethro Tull created a trilogy of folk rock albums, which had a more woodsy and whimsical feel to them. They released "Songs from the Wood" in (1977), "Heavy Horses" in (1978), and Stormwatch in (1979).

In the 1980s and 1990s, Tull shifted once again to more of a Hard Rock vibe which focused on Martin Barre's electric guitar. In 1987 they released "Crest of a Knave", and the album won the first ever Grammy Award for "Best Hard Rock Performance" in 1989. The win angered many Heavy Metal fans who did not consider Jethro Tull to fall within that genre.

The band still tours, and Ian Anderson and Martin Barre frequently release solo albums.

Fast Facts

1. Formed: 1968
2. Named after famous agriculturist Jethro Tull who invented the Seed Drill
3. First album: This Was (1968)
4. Labels: Chrysalis, Eagle Records, Roadrunner Records, EMI, Capitol Records, Island Records
5. Anderson plays US made 2100 and 3100 Powell Flutes while recording, and tours with the Powells and Sankyo Silversonics. While fiddling around, he uses a student model Yamaha Flute

1. Ian Anderson - Lead Vocals, Flute, Acoustic Guitar, Mandolin, Mandocello, Harmonica, Bamboo Flute
2. Martin Barre - Guitar
3. David Goodier - Bass Guitar
4. James Duncan / Doane Perry - Drums
5. John O'Hara - Keyboards

1. This Was (1968)
2. Stand Up (1969)
3. Benefit (1970)
4. Aqualung (1971)
5. Thick as a Brick (1972)
6. A Passion Play (1973)
7. War Child (1974)
8. Minstrel in the Gallery (1975)
9. Too Old to Rock 'n' Roll: Too Young to Die! (1976)
10. Songs from the Wood (1977)
11. Heavy Horses (1978)
12. Stormwatch (1979)
13. A (1980)
14. Broadsword and the Beast (1982)
15. Under Wraps (1984)
16. Crest of a Knave (1987)
17. Rock Island (1989)
18. Catfish Rising (1991)
19. Roots to Branches (1995)
20. J-Tull Dot Com (1999)
21. The Jethro Tull Christmas Album (2003)

1. Bursting Out (1978)
2. A Little Light Music (1992)
3. Living with the Past (2002)
4. Nothing Is Easy: Live at the Isle of Wight 1970 (2004)
5. Aqualung Live (2005)
6. Live At Montreux 2003 (2007)