A lifelong fan of the band (and a self-taught flute player) challenges a clever Gen Z guitar player to a first-hearing of several '70s-era Ian Anderson/Tull songs!
Your comments were fascinating. My previous experience with doing something similar to what you did with Brad was taking my daughters to see Tull. They’re both a bit older than you but it was interesting getting their reactions, both growing up outside the inception of Tull. Kudos to you for doing it and analyzing from a musical perspective instead of a generational one.
Thanks, Daniel! I thought I chose wisely tapping Tom for this, beforehand, but, he's blown me away by how clever and astute he was, here! I mean, you and I both, Daniel, know how WE grew up digging Ian and Gang, but it was cool laying out the output, here, in chrono order, and Tom did such a splendid job, enjoying what we KNEW he'd enjoy, but also capturing some of the stuff (the medieval lean, the flute usage, etc) it took ME reading the rock mags of the day to kinda "get"!
I trust we're not done.....I've already got Tom thinking of other artists we can treat similarly....stay tuned!
That was a great idea for this project. Kudos to you. When a person has been around awhile and has been immersed in the music scene, it’s almost inconceivable that younger people you talk to have absolutely had no knowledge of these bands. I work with a lot of young teens and that’s really amusing. It’s interesting though because I have no knowledge of a lot of their favorites. We educate each other.
That's what it's all about, Daniel! Plus, my/our age oughta be good for somethin'! Here, we can exploit those differences, and learn and be entertained by them, too! The moment we're in, now, is something I love exploiting....the different....wait for it.....centuries!!
I meet "kids" all the time, who have never set foot in the 20th century! I always love rubbing their noses in it: "Oh, man, you missed such an incredible century!!! It was da bomb, dood!!" A favorite ploy, too, is showing them my biz card (my "Brad Ramone" pic at the top of the FR&B website here), if we've just met and started a convo about music:
"Do you recognize who that is on the card there?" I'll ask. "The Beatles?" is a common reply! I mean, that's a scream, gotta say, and not making fun of them, but their world-view of 20th century rock has been squished down into the one visage of a moptop quartet their grandparents may have told them about!
And, for another giggle, I'll ask them if they recognize who that is second from the left. I'll literally get one of two responses...."Oh, dood, is that YOU? No WAY!" or, "No, no, not really. Who is it? Is it Elton John?" And, then when I tell them he's standing right in front of you, I'll also get the "No WAY!" response along with head-bobbing up and down from card to me!!
As you may have seen, Daniel, I've been eager to write about this century's newer artists (Roosevelt, The Midnight, The Struts....a Rooney one is coming soon), and love when I find one/some that are pop-centric to the degree it's crystal clear THEY'RE influenced by last century's legends and key artists!
After learning about Ian Anderson I completely agree he’s up there for worthy of a name. For me as someone born in 1999 I’m also looking at those who have stood the test of time.
When you consider that, names that come to mind that are just as famous amongst teens of the 80’s as they are now. Freddie Mercury stands out as the most famous rock star amongst my generation, as does Axl Rose, Mick Jagger and Paul and John.
Not necessarily saying they are better front men, as Ian Anderson is probably the most enthusiastic, charismatic and (importantly) authentic front man I’ve seen. But there’s something about a few other bands that manages to resonate with all generation in a way that few manage too, and I think that is important when considering the greatest.
Well said, Tom, and that's why I put in all those qualifiers! If you want the "best" lead singer and/or front man, that opens it up, and rightfully so, to dozens! As a front man, though, Ian's voluminous writing canon is, literally, second to none (especially when you add in his some 5 decades of composing fairly regularly)!
He plays a variety of instruments, as well; I'm hard-pressed to think of another front man who does anything other or more than blow on a harp once a decade. Ian plays flute, harmonica, several different saxes, including sopranino (which I'd never heard of before!), penny whistle, and, I'm guessing one or two more!
I also love your added adjectives to describe Ian: "Enthusiastic, charismatic, and authentic"! Great discussion, and I'm proud to have helped introduce you to one of those greats, adding to the list of the ones you mentioned, and others!
I've said it before, and I'll put it into print here: Ian is the single most creative, entertaining, hilarious, instrumentally dextrous, and compositionally prodigious front-person in rock history.
With those criteria, that CERTAINLY includes the ones you named...and, any/every-one else! Fine, Hall, ignore Tull, but, at least Ian deserves entry!
I love this so much! I was turned on to JT in 1972 when I was 12. The menacing terror that runs through me to this day when I hear Aqualung show up in Cross Eyed Mary is hard to muster or produce. This does it every time. Isn’t there Aqualung Jeopardy!?
One of my faves, too.....I wanted to have Tom "live" my Tull experience and get his reactions....as opposed to just tossing him all the "hits" or otherwise well-known tracks! I seem to recall "Witch's Promise" as a B-side I managed to find....and, of course, it ended up, I believe, on "Living in the Past." That whole 4th side (all this from memory...I could check, but don't wanna!) was filled with such cool, low-key, softer songs, like "Dr. Bogenbroom" and the others.
In that way (rare B-sides), while Tull may not have been as prolific as Genesis with non-LP B-sides, they kinda remind me of that! As a fan/collector, we had to be really careful and vigilant to make sure we "vetted" every new single! For Genesis, it was tracks like "Twilight Alehouse," an instrumental something like "Nomenom" (or close to it) and one other I can't recall! Thanks for reading, and the comment, A.S.! Don't be a stranger!!
Outstanding feature of the wonderful Jethro Tull, a foundation of my 19y self emerging from the Beatles. You captured the salient talents of Ian Anderson. Thanks!
Thanks, PT! Mad props to young Master Moloney, who did such a terrific job living-in-writing what we remember feeling back in the day when WE first heard Ian's and the band's magic!
so, so true. My brother introduced me to Jethro Tull while I was still playing flute in high school. I have a vast LP collection of those albums…….my first great music love.
Oh, I know.....I remember what my flute teacher (for my one lesson) taught me to practice embouchure (which I'm sure you know)....put your index finger or a pencil underneath your bottom lip to approximate the flute, and practice as if it were! That'll strengthen your embouchure without a flute being present!
Cello? No, not silly at all! Although, that switch reminds me of the one I made, just in the opposite direction! From about age 7 thru 10, I played the accordion...quite successfully, I might add, attending a couple of out-of-state (TX) recitals, and earning several ribbons and a couple of trophies! When I discovered the flute (with Ian's "help" about 3 years later), I joked with friends that, after lugging around a heavy accordion for all those years, I picked the lightest new instrument I could find!😂
Bouree……..my fav and i did try to accomplish his technique on my own. Got the flute (well used) in 1966 as a second hand from a college student my sister knew. I did well……until 1974 when i left it in my car overnight by mistake and someone stole it. At the time i was living on Cape Cod, Mass……and was working hard at living and learning about life and never got back to the flute. Didn’t get back to college until 1977……and moved away from making music. Now it’s all i think about……making music.
Great story, Wendy.....all except for the stolen axe! I wonder if what they say about bike-riding (you never forget how to) holds true for the flute!😉🎼
As a more "traditionally-trained" (I'm guessing) flute player, Wendy, did you find yourself learning Ian's more jazz-styled, rougher "over-blow" technique at all? Just curious. Ian was all I knew, so THAT's the sound I wanted to make, and learned the licks off the records with that in mind! It was far more of a struggle (but, I did it!) to tighten my embouchure to pull off "Bouree", which I did, I'm proud to say! Thanks for reading and commenting, Wendy! You're welcome, anytime, FRONT ROW & BACKSTAGE!
I dunno, Bob, but when I heard that, I jumped at the chance to collab with Tom, who did such a great job with his first impressions! A lot of us growing up in the 20th century had our music programmed for us, by FM and AM radio stations, and even the talk shows and dance shows on TV.
Nowadays, when Gen Z can program their own music flow, and the algo kicks in, it's easy to imagine, for a lot of 'em, a 21st century without Tull in it!
Wow! Thank you for all this Jethro Tull. They are one of my favorite bands of all time. Ian Anderson is mesmerizing when he's gyrating playing the flute. Don't remember any band using the flute as a lead instrument, but it was certainly unique. I saw the band in San Francisco at the Palace of Fine Arts Theater. And was invited to the after show party. Fun night. ♥️
Thanks for the note Susan! When did you see Tull (and attend that party) at the PFA? As for bands featuring flute as a lead instrument...rare, unless used for this song or that as a more up-front instrument, occasionally...like Chicago, perhaps Chase, and the Moody Blues, and some of the others I mentioned in the article!
Funny, I answered one of Tom’s questions (“bands you’ve seen the most and why”, to paraphrase), and I listed Tull. This musical adventure blew me away, and I’m grateful to both of you. I feel lucky to have witnessed Tom’s introduction and journey (fantastic insights!) and Brad’s trailblazing (and choices) were damn near perfect—The Whistler, love it!! My thanks to both of you. Tom, go see Ian live, if you can, with band or without!!
I only saw Jethro Tull once. My college roommate and I went. The concert venue was about 90 minutes away.
On the way out of campus, we stopped at the student center so I could get my mail. In the box was a Dear John letter from my girlfriend, not only breaking up with me but informing me she would be spending Christmas break skiing in Colorado with her new boyfriend.
I soldiered on, resolute in my determination to enjoy Jethro Tull. My determination was dimmed a bit when I was pulled over on the interstate and given a ticket for speeding.
On we went. Arrived in the town where the concert was happening, went to my roommate’s buddy’s place to pick him up. The buddy had a huge cooler packed to the top with ice and cans of beer. Things were looking up. Until the buddy lost his grip on the cooler and dropped it on my foot, breaking it.
So: I limped into the arena where Tull was playing, with a throbbing broken foot, an even broken-er heart, and a speeding ticket I couldn’t afford to pay nestled in my back pocket.
That's an amazing story, Tony....several stories, actually! Thanks for this. I think Ian would say that through it all, you were "skating away on the thin ice of the new day"! What year was this? I love perspective.
I certainly hope your life has traveled a more comfortable path since then! Laid out on paper, your mishaps sound like a sitcom script that could only end up with the muted-trumpet going, "wah-wahhhhh!" But, that's the beauty of time passage and life moving on!
Everyone who reads this (I know I'm doing this!) will be putting themselves in your shoes, and deciding, for themselves, at just which point they'd throw up their hands and give up on the night! Knowing myself, I can't imagine making it much past the heart-break, much less the foot-break or the speeding ticket! I can see myself just catching up on the show the next day with my buds, as they not only brought their own beers, but, signed my newly-attached cast!
I had to look up the date. October 1978, Von Braun Civic Center in Huntsville AL. Uriah Heep opened.
That girlfriend actually contacted me many years later just to say hello. I told her that story and we both had a good laugh. I wouldnt change a thing about that day. Our ups and downs make us who we are.
So: another concert in H’ville at the same venue in 1986. David Lee Roth on his first solo tour. Incredible band. Billy Sheehan, Steve Vai, Gregg Bissonette. I went with the same friend, John. My partner in crime. We were snorting cocaine off of our car keys. John grabbed some girl’s ass and her boyfriend gave John a really light punch in the chest and then said “hey, watch it.” Like he wasn’t even really mad, just giving a warning. After the show we became convinced there was a dive bar out in the middle of nowhere that we had to find, I whiffed a turn and plowed my car through a ditch, through a barb wire fence and into a pasture. Car was trashed, it was 2am, we had no idea where we were, it was pitch black, we were out of cocaine, it took hours to walk to a pay phone.
I really like Something’s On The Move by Tull. Badass guitar riff and Barlow’s drumming is creative, weird, technical, incredible. My only gripe is that the guitar solo at the end is too short before they fade out.
Wow....'78! That's still prime career time! I didn't know if, maybe, it'd be well into the '80s or '90s, and they're merging into their nostalgia period (as every band does...eventually)! And, Heep opening...pretty cool!
Thanks for all this, Tony....that '86 Roth concert story is almost as harrowing as the Tull! Gotta say, I'm thankful my concert experiences never involved cops or totalled autos! I do remember, at the time, hearing about DLR's touring band, and being suitably impressed (wondering if Dave was hoping/wondering if his former VH mates were seething with envy)!
Not sure I'd ever heard much of "Stormwatch"...certainly not "Something's on the Move," which, having just heard, I kinda like! I fell off the Tull wagon at the release of "Too Young to Die," although I did have and get the two albums before "Stormwatch," "Heavy Horses" and "Songs From the Wood."
Every once in a while, I'd read a review, or hear at a record store, friend's, etc, some new things by them, just to keep abreast, but I rationalized that Tull had been, for me, all I could've hoped for, growing up, and of course, this century, I adore Ian for all he's given me in those younger days, and just love hearing what he's doing now, as I know, now, he's doing what he loves, and not chasing those elusive sales numbers from active, original career days!
I also (now that I've read the Wiki "Stormwatch" page) never knew Ian played bass, much less on an album! Quite a band shake-up around this time, too, especially after that tour!
Thanks again, Tony! Don't be a stranger! You're always welcome, FRONT ROW & BACKSTAGE!
I’ve only ever dabbled in Jethro Tull’s music, particularly focusing on Stand Up (after a college friend introduced me to the song Fat Man over 30 years ago) and Aqualung. I definitely need to go fill in the blanks on their discography.
I knew they had a new album coming out this year but didn’t realize it had already been released. Have to give that one a listen stat!!
If/when you give "Curious Ruminant" a spin, Mark, feel free to scribe your first impressions of it, and we'd love to give it a home here, FR&B! I'd add some of my 2c, also, and your listening/writing about it would "force" me to give it a spin, too! I'd love to hear it, myself, but I usually need some writing collab "pressure" to nudge me!! LMK! Thanks!
Thanks so much, Michael....mad props galore to Tom, who really made this POP! If you're game to tell your "early Tull sighting" story, FRONT ROW & BACKSTAGE would be pleased and honored to be its and your host! You could compose it via DMs here on Substack (I see you have a site, yourself, here, so that'd be easy)! I'd be happy to edit it, and research for photos and supplementary info, etc. Lemme know whatcha think, OK? Thanks a bunch, Michael, for considering!
What a great post! My dad (who is Brad’s age) is a huge Tull fan. Unlike Tom, I grew up knowing about them and listening to them as my dad would play their music often.
Tom’s reactions were very interesting to read. I love how he zeroed in on both musical perception and the overall feel/vibe of each track.
I wonder how I would react to the band if I were listening to them for the first time as an adult. Amazing work, guys! 👏🏻
Thanks Andrew, interesting to hear from someone of a similar generation to me who is already aware of Jethro Tull. I’m not sure I know any of my friends who have mentioned them (but that doesn’t mean they are unaware of course). Interested to hear how you compare them to other musicians of the time if you have any strong opinions?
Cheers, Tom! I think the main reason I was aware of them is thanks to my father. In terms of how they compare to other musicians of the time, I think it’s this combination of folk, blues, hard rock and prog rock you picked up on 😊
Thanks so much, Andy! Your last sentence is what makes this article, and mainly, Tom's reactions, so fascinating! We get to hear from someone who's no older than this century about a band (and Ian) whom both of us have grown up listening to! The key was grabbing his responses as he heard each song, singly, and capturing his of-the-moment comments, and hearing his reactions of how the band grew musically and in performance!
It was interesting to see his perceptions. I, like you have been “all in” from the start, including the latest.
Thanks Daniel, it was a great read and really interesting to see Brad’s additions to my initial comments. Glad you enjoyed it
Your comments were fascinating. My previous experience with doing something similar to what you did with Brad was taking my daughters to see Tull. They’re both a bit older than you but it was interesting getting their reactions, both growing up outside the inception of Tull. Kudos to you for doing it and analyzing from a musical perspective instead of a generational one.
Thanks, Daniel! I thought I chose wisely tapping Tom for this, beforehand, but, he's blown me away by how clever and astute he was, here! I mean, you and I both, Daniel, know how WE grew up digging Ian and Gang, but it was cool laying out the output, here, in chrono order, and Tom did such a splendid job, enjoying what we KNEW he'd enjoy, but also capturing some of the stuff (the medieval lean, the flute usage, etc) it took ME reading the rock mags of the day to kinda "get"!
I trust we're not done.....I've already got Tom thinking of other artists we can treat similarly....stay tuned!
That was a great idea for this project. Kudos to you. When a person has been around awhile and has been immersed in the music scene, it’s almost inconceivable that younger people you talk to have absolutely had no knowledge of these bands. I work with a lot of young teens and that’s really amusing. It’s interesting though because I have no knowledge of a lot of their favorites. We educate each other.
That's what it's all about, Daniel! Plus, my/our age oughta be good for somethin'! Here, we can exploit those differences, and learn and be entertained by them, too! The moment we're in, now, is something I love exploiting....the different....wait for it.....centuries!!
I meet "kids" all the time, who have never set foot in the 20th century! I always love rubbing their noses in it: "Oh, man, you missed such an incredible century!!! It was da bomb, dood!!" A favorite ploy, too, is showing them my biz card (my "Brad Ramone" pic at the top of the FR&B website here), if we've just met and started a convo about music:
"Do you recognize who that is on the card there?" I'll ask. "The Beatles?" is a common reply! I mean, that's a scream, gotta say, and not making fun of them, but their world-view of 20th century rock has been squished down into the one visage of a moptop quartet their grandparents may have told them about!
And, for another giggle, I'll ask them if they recognize who that is second from the left. I'll literally get one of two responses...."Oh, dood, is that YOU? No WAY!" or, "No, no, not really. Who is it? Is it Elton John?" And, then when I tell them he's standing right in front of you, I'll also get the "No WAY!" response along with head-bobbing up and down from card to me!!
As you may have seen, Daniel, I've been eager to write about this century's newer artists (Roosevelt, The Midnight, The Struts....a Rooney one is coming soon), and love when I find one/some that are pop-centric to the degree it's crystal clear THEY'RE influenced by last century's legends and key artists!
The line for greatest rock front men/women starts behind Ian Anderson. That includes Jagger, Iggy and Morrison.
After learning about Ian Anderson I completely agree he’s up there for worthy of a name. For me as someone born in 1999 I’m also looking at those who have stood the test of time.
When you consider that, names that come to mind that are just as famous amongst teens of the 80’s as they are now. Freddie Mercury stands out as the most famous rock star amongst my generation, as does Axl Rose, Mick Jagger and Paul and John.
Not necessarily saying they are better front men, as Ian Anderson is probably the most enthusiastic, charismatic and (importantly) authentic front man I’ve seen. But there’s something about a few other bands that manages to resonate with all generation in a way that few manage too, and I think that is important when considering the greatest.
Well said, Tom, and that's why I put in all those qualifiers! If you want the "best" lead singer and/or front man, that opens it up, and rightfully so, to dozens! As a front man, though, Ian's voluminous writing canon is, literally, second to none (especially when you add in his some 5 decades of composing fairly regularly)!
He plays a variety of instruments, as well; I'm hard-pressed to think of another front man who does anything other or more than blow on a harp once a decade. Ian plays flute, harmonica, several different saxes, including sopranino (which I'd never heard of before!), penny whistle, and, I'm guessing one or two more!
I also love your added adjectives to describe Ian: "Enthusiastic, charismatic, and authentic"! Great discussion, and I'm proud to have helped introduce you to one of those greats, adding to the list of the ones you mentioned, and others!
Next stop......Rock Hall of Fame!
I've said it before, and I'll put it into print here: Ian is the single most creative, entertaining, hilarious, instrumentally dextrous, and compositionally prodigious front-person in rock history.
With those criteria, that CERTAINLY includes the ones you named...and, any/every-one else! Fine, Hall, ignore Tull, but, at least Ian deserves entry!
Nice job.. !!!!
Thanks Gary
Thanks so much, Gary! Needless to say, this was a blast to put together! Tom's a champ!💪
And not in the R&R Hall Of Fame....
Still a stunning realization! As I've said before.....Ian, if not the whole band!! Something!
I love this so much! I was turned on to JT in 1972 when I was 12. The menacing terror that runs through me to this day when I hear Aqualung show up in Cross Eyed Mary is hard to muster or produce. This does it every time. Isn’t there Aqualung Jeopardy!?
Great note, T.! That's a great intro to Tull...thanks for sharing this! You're always welcome, FRONT ROW & BACKSTAGE!
I had completely forgotten about The Witches Promise one of my favs.
One of my faves, too.....I wanted to have Tom "live" my Tull experience and get his reactions....as opposed to just tossing him all the "hits" or otherwise well-known tracks! I seem to recall "Witch's Promise" as a B-side I managed to find....and, of course, it ended up, I believe, on "Living in the Past." That whole 4th side (all this from memory...I could check, but don't wanna!) was filled with such cool, low-key, softer songs, like "Dr. Bogenbroom" and the others.
In that way (rare B-sides), while Tull may not have been as prolific as Genesis with non-LP B-sides, they kinda remind me of that! As a fan/collector, we had to be really careful and vigilant to make sure we "vetted" every new single! For Genesis, it was tracks like "Twilight Alehouse," an instrumental something like "Nomenom" (or close to it) and one other I can't recall! Thanks for reading, and the comment, A.S.! Don't be a stranger!!
Outstanding feature of the wonderful Jethro Tull, a foundation of my 19y self emerging from the Beatles. You captured the salient talents of Ian Anderson. Thanks!
Great to hear mate, awesome for you to be able to have such fond memories
Thanks, PT! Mad props to young Master Moloney, who did such a terrific job living-in-writing what we remember feeling back in the day when WE first heard Ian's and the band's magic!
so, so true. My brother introduced me to Jethro Tull while I was still playing flute in high school. I have a vast LP collection of those albums…….my first great music love.
my embouchure would need so much work…….but I would love to learn the cello now….silly?
Oh, I know.....I remember what my flute teacher (for my one lesson) taught me to practice embouchure (which I'm sure you know)....put your index finger or a pencil underneath your bottom lip to approximate the flute, and practice as if it were! That'll strengthen your embouchure without a flute being present!
Cello? No, not silly at all! Although, that switch reminds me of the one I made, just in the opposite direction! From about age 7 thru 10, I played the accordion...quite successfully, I might add, attending a couple of out-of-state (TX) recitals, and earning several ribbons and a couple of trophies! When I discovered the flute (with Ian's "help" about 3 years later), I joked with friends that, after lugging around a heavy accordion for all those years, I picked the lightest new instrument I could find!😂
Bouree……..my fav and i did try to accomplish his technique on my own. Got the flute (well used) in 1966 as a second hand from a college student my sister knew. I did well……until 1974 when i left it in my car overnight by mistake and someone stole it. At the time i was living on Cape Cod, Mass……and was working hard at living and learning about life and never got back to the flute. Didn’t get back to college until 1977……and moved away from making music. Now it’s all i think about……making music.
Great story, Wendy.....all except for the stolen axe! I wonder if what they say about bike-riding (you never forget how to) holds true for the flute!😉🎼
As a more "traditionally-trained" (I'm guessing) flute player, Wendy, did you find yourself learning Ian's more jazz-styled, rougher "over-blow" technique at all? Just curious. Ian was all I knew, so THAT's the sound I wanted to make, and learned the licks off the records with that in mind! It was far more of a struggle (but, I did it!) to tighten my embouchure to pull off "Bouree", which I did, I'm proud to say! Thanks for reading and commenting, Wendy! You're welcome, anytime, FRONT ROW & BACKSTAGE!
How is anyone, even a 25-year-old, just now hearing Jethro Tull for the first time?
I’m curious as to who else I don’t know about who was once considered one of the best. There’ll be a lot out there that get lost over time.
Yes, Renaissance, Frank Zappa, Jeff Beck, Dan Fogelberg, Squeeze, Simon & Garfunkel, Santana, Badfinger, Marshall Tucker Band.
That's an eclectic enough start!
Good point, Tom!
I dunno, Bob, but when I heard that, I jumped at the chance to collab with Tom, who did such a great job with his first impressions! A lot of us growing up in the 20th century had our music programmed for us, by FM and AM radio stations, and even the talk shows and dance shows on TV.
Nowadays, when Gen Z can program their own music flow, and the algo kicks in, it's easy to imagine, for a lot of 'em, a 21st century without Tull in it!
Well, it worked out in the end. Times have certainly changed.
And I love their version of Crazy Train. Wonder if Ozzy ever heard it.
Yes, that Bardcore version of "Crazy Train" was veritable hoot! I bet somebody brought it to Ozzy's attention! I wonder what Randy would've thought of that cover! Speaking of Randy, you might enjoy this, Susan: https://bradkyle.substack.com/p/my-1980-meeting-with-guitarist-randy?utm_source=publication-search
Wow! Thank you for all this Jethro Tull. They are one of my favorite bands of all time. Ian Anderson is mesmerizing when he's gyrating playing the flute. Don't remember any band using the flute as a lead instrument, but it was certainly unique. I saw the band in San Francisco at the Palace of Fine Arts Theater. And was invited to the after show party. Fun night. ♥️
Thanks Susan, mesmerising is definitely the correct word for Ian Anderson
Thanks for the note Susan! When did you see Tull (and attend that party) at the PFA? As for bands featuring flute as a lead instrument...rare, unless used for this song or that as a more up-front instrument, occasionally...like Chicago, perhaps Chase, and the Moody Blues, and some of the others I mentioned in the article!
You might enjoy this article I wrote a couple years ago about seeing Tull in '89 (I can't recall if I linked it above!): https://bradkyle.substack.com/p/audio-autopsy-1989-it-bites-eat-me?utm_source=publication-search
Thanks again, Susan, and you're always welcome FRONT ROW & BACKSTAGE!
It was probably 1993. About. Great show.
Funny, I answered one of Tom’s questions (“bands you’ve seen the most and why”, to paraphrase), and I listed Tull. This musical adventure blew me away, and I’m grateful to both of you. I feel lucky to have witnessed Tom’s introduction and journey (fantastic insights!) and Brad’s trailblazing (and choices) were damn near perfect—The Whistler, love it!! My thanks to both of you. Tom, go see Ian live, if you can, with band or without!!
Amazing, thank you mate! Really glad you enjoyed it and hope it opened up some old memories of yours
Sooo many!! I truly hope you continue listening to Tull (Songs From the Wood is less appreciated, but I love it, and on and on). Cheers!
I only saw Jethro Tull once. My college roommate and I went. The concert venue was about 90 minutes away.
On the way out of campus, we stopped at the student center so I could get my mail. In the box was a Dear John letter from my girlfriend, not only breaking up with me but informing me she would be spending Christmas break skiing in Colorado with her new boyfriend.
I soldiered on, resolute in my determination to enjoy Jethro Tull. My determination was dimmed a bit when I was pulled over on the interstate and given a ticket for speeding.
On we went. Arrived in the town where the concert was happening, went to my roommate’s buddy’s place to pick him up. The buddy had a huge cooler packed to the top with ice and cans of beer. Things were looking up. Until the buddy lost his grip on the cooler and dropped it on my foot, breaking it.
So: I limped into the arena where Tull was playing, with a throbbing broken foot, an even broken-er heart, and a speeding ticket I couldn’t afford to pay nestled in my back pocket.
Concert was good, though.
That's an amazing story, Tony....several stories, actually! Thanks for this. I think Ian would say that through it all, you were "skating away on the thin ice of the new day"! What year was this? I love perspective.
I certainly hope your life has traveled a more comfortable path since then! Laid out on paper, your mishaps sound like a sitcom script that could only end up with the muted-trumpet going, "wah-wahhhhh!" But, that's the beauty of time passage and life moving on!
Everyone who reads this (I know I'm doing this!) will be putting themselves in your shoes, and deciding, for themselves, at just which point they'd throw up their hands and give up on the night! Knowing myself, I can't imagine making it much past the heart-break, much less the foot-break or the speeding ticket! I can see myself just catching up on the show the next day with my buds, as they not only brought their own beers, but, signed my newly-attached cast!
Thanks again, Tony! You win the day!😁👍
I had to look up the date. October 1978, Von Braun Civic Center in Huntsville AL. Uriah Heep opened.
That girlfriend actually contacted me many years later just to say hello. I told her that story and we both had a good laugh. I wouldnt change a thing about that day. Our ups and downs make us who we are.
So: another concert in H’ville at the same venue in 1986. David Lee Roth on his first solo tour. Incredible band. Billy Sheehan, Steve Vai, Gregg Bissonette. I went with the same friend, John. My partner in crime. We were snorting cocaine off of our car keys. John grabbed some girl’s ass and her boyfriend gave John a really light punch in the chest and then said “hey, watch it.” Like he wasn’t even really mad, just giving a warning. After the show we became convinced there was a dive bar out in the middle of nowhere that we had to find, I whiffed a turn and plowed my car through a ditch, through a barb wire fence and into a pasture. Car was trashed, it was 2am, we had no idea where we were, it was pitch black, we were out of cocaine, it took hours to walk to a pay phone.
I really like Something’s On The Move by Tull. Badass guitar riff and Barlow’s drumming is creative, weird, technical, incredible. My only gripe is that the guitar solo at the end is too short before they fade out.
Wow....'78! That's still prime career time! I didn't know if, maybe, it'd be well into the '80s or '90s, and they're merging into their nostalgia period (as every band does...eventually)! And, Heep opening...pretty cool!
Thanks for all this, Tony....that '86 Roth concert story is almost as harrowing as the Tull! Gotta say, I'm thankful my concert experiences never involved cops or totalled autos! I do remember, at the time, hearing about DLR's touring band, and being suitably impressed (wondering if Dave was hoping/wondering if his former VH mates were seething with envy)!
Not sure I'd ever heard much of "Stormwatch"...certainly not "Something's on the Move," which, having just heard, I kinda like! I fell off the Tull wagon at the release of "Too Young to Die," although I did have and get the two albums before "Stormwatch," "Heavy Horses" and "Songs From the Wood."
Every once in a while, I'd read a review, or hear at a record store, friend's, etc, some new things by them, just to keep abreast, but I rationalized that Tull had been, for me, all I could've hoped for, growing up, and of course, this century, I adore Ian for all he's given me in those younger days, and just love hearing what he's doing now, as I know, now, he's doing what he loves, and not chasing those elusive sales numbers from active, original career days!
I also (now that I've read the Wiki "Stormwatch" page) never knew Ian played bass, much less on an album! Quite a band shake-up around this time, too, especially after that tour!
Thanks again, Tony! Don't be a stranger! You're always welcome, FRONT ROW & BACKSTAGE!
Really enjoyed this deep dive guys!
I’ve only ever dabbled in Jethro Tull’s music, particularly focusing on Stand Up (after a college friend introduced me to the song Fat Man over 30 years ago) and Aqualung. I definitely need to go fill in the blanks on their discography.
I knew they had a new album coming out this year but didn’t realize it had already been released. Have to give that one a listen stat!!
Great to hear, thanks Mark
If/when you give "Curious Ruminant" a spin, Mark, feel free to scribe your first impressions of it, and we'd love to give it a home here, FR&B! I'd add some of my 2c, also, and your listening/writing about it would "force" me to give it a spin, too! I'd love to hear it, myself, but I usually need some writing collab "pressure" to nudge me!! LMK! Thanks!
An impressively comprehensive post. I am going to have to spend a lot of time on this. I saw Jethro Tull live before the first album was released.
Thanks Michael, where was it you saw them perform?
At the Manchester University Union.
Thanks so much, Michael....mad props galore to Tom, who really made this POP! If you're game to tell your "early Tull sighting" story, FRONT ROW & BACKSTAGE would be pleased and honored to be its and your host! You could compose it via DMs here on Substack (I see you have a site, yourself, here, so that'd be easy)! I'd be happy to edit it, and research for photos and supplementary info, etc. Lemme know whatcha think, OK? Thanks a bunch, Michael, for considering!
I am working on something Brad and digging up lots of material.
Great to hear! Thanks so much!
I will get back to you Brad. I am in a Lebanese restaurant at the moment.
What a great post! My dad (who is Brad’s age) is a huge Tull fan. Unlike Tom, I grew up knowing about them and listening to them as my dad would play their music often.
Tom’s reactions were very interesting to read. I love how he zeroed in on both musical perception and the overall feel/vibe of each track.
I wonder how I would react to the band if I were listening to them for the first time as an adult. Amazing work, guys! 👏🏻
Thanks Andrew, interesting to hear from someone of a similar generation to me who is already aware of Jethro Tull. I’m not sure I know any of my friends who have mentioned them (but that doesn’t mean they are unaware of course). Interested to hear how you compare them to other musicians of the time if you have any strong opinions?
Cheers, Tom! I think the main reason I was aware of them is thanks to my father. In terms of how they compare to other musicians of the time, I think it’s this combination of folk, blues, hard rock and prog rock you picked up on 😊
Thanks so much, Andy! Your last sentence is what makes this article, and mainly, Tom's reactions, so fascinating! We get to hear from someone who's no older than this century about a band (and Ian) whom both of us have grown up listening to! The key was grabbing his responses as he heard each song, singly, and capturing his of-the-moment comments, and hearing his reactions of how the band grew musically and in performance!
Absolutely. Very interesting and thought-provoking, indeed!