Jethro Tull

Biography

Jethro Tull is a British rock band formed in Blackpool, Lancashire, in 1967 by Ian Anderson (born August 10, 1947, in Edinburgh, Scotland), who moved to Blackpool at age 12 and became the band's only constant member, leader, principal composer, lead vocalist, and flautist. Emerging from the British blues scene, the band started with roots in Anderson's earlier groups like The Blades and the John Evan Band (later John Evan Smash), playing blues, Motown covers, and blue-eyed soul before evolving into a quartet with guitarist Mick Abrahams, bassist Glenn Cornick, and drummer Clive Bunker. They gained traction on the London club circuit and at the 1968 Sunbury Jazz & Blues Festival, leading to their debut album This Was in November 1968, which showcased blues rock and jazz fusion.[1][2][4]

After Abrahams left in late 1968, Martin Barre joined as guitarist, marking a pivotal shift. The 1969 album Stand Up, incorporating English folk influences, became their first major success, topping the UK charts, followed by hits like 'Living in the Past' and the progressive rock-defining Aqualung (1971), blending hard rock, folk, and classical elements. The band underwent frequent lineup changes, including drummer Barriemore Barlow replacing Bunker, and later John Glascock on bass, producing classics like Thick as a Brick (1972). In the 1980s, they explored electronic rock with Under Wraps (1984) before returning to hard rock, winning a 1987 Grammy for Crest of a Knave. Known for stylistic shifts and Anderson's flute-driven stage presence, Jethro Tull has sold around 60 million albums worldwide.[2][3][4]

The band's legacy endures as one of progressive rock's most commercially successful and eccentric acts, with 11 gold and 5 platinum certifications, influencing the genre through innovative fusions despite lineup flux and challenges like Glascock's 1979 death and Anderson's throat issues. They continue touring and recording under Anderson's direction.[2][4]

Fun Facts

• The band name Jethro Tull honors 18th-century English agriculturist and inventor Jethro Tull (1674-1741), who pioneered the seed drill; their agent suggested it after studying history.[1][5]
• Ian Anderson and Glenn Cornick were so poor in Luton that they shared one can of stew or soup each evening while Anderson worked as a cinema cleaner to pay rent.[4]
• Jethro Tull briefly tried names like Navy Blue and Bag of Blues before settling on Jethro Tull, borrowed from the inventor, which proved popular and memorable.[1]
• Their first major break came at the 1968 Sunbury Jazz & Blues Festival, where persistent touring built a grassroots following that turned the crowd rapturous.[1][4]

Members

• Mick Abrahams - electric guitar, original (from 1967-11 until 1968-11)
• Glenn Cornick - bass guitar, original (from 1967-11 until 1970-12)
• Clive Bunker - drums (drum set), original (from 1967-11 until 1971-05)
• Ian Anderson - acoustic guitar, flute, harmonica, lead vocals, mandolin, original (from 1967)
• Martin Barre - acoustic guitar, electric guitar, recorder (from 1968-12 until 2011)
• Tony Iommi - guitar (from 1968 until 1969-01)
• John Evan - organ, piano, synthesizer (from 1970-04 until 1980-06)
• Jeffrey Hammond Hammond - bass guitar, treble recorder / alto recorder (from 1971-01 until 1975-12)
• Barriemore Barlow - drums (drum set) (from 1971-05 until 1980-06)
• John Glascock - bass guitar (from 1975-12 until 1979-08)
• Dee Palmer - keyboard, saxophone (from 1976-10 until 1980-06)
• Dave Pegg - bass guitar, mandolin (from 1979-08 until 1995)
• Mark Craney - drums (drum set) (from 1980-06 until 1981-05)
• Eddie Jobson - violin (from 1980-06 until 1981-05)
• Gerry Conway - drums (drum set) (from 1981-06 until 1983)
• Peter-John Vettese - keyboard (from 1981-06 until 1987)
• Paul Burgess - drums (drum set) (from 1982 until 1983)
• Doane Perry - drums (drum set) (from 1984 until 1991)
• Maartin Allcock - keyboard (from 1988-01 until 1991)
• Dave Mattacks - drums (drum set), keyboard (from 1992 until 1993)
• Andrew Giddings - accordion, keyboard (from 1992 until 2006)
• Doane Perry - drums (drum set) (from 1994)
• Jonathan Noyce - bass guitar (from 1995 until 2006)
• David Goodier - bass guitar (from 2006)
• John O'Hara - accordion, keyboard, piano (from 2006)
• Anna Phoebe - violin (from 2007)
• Scott Hammond
• Tony Williams - bass

Original Members

• Ian Anderson - acoustic guitar, flute, harmonica, lead vocals, mandolin, original
• Doane Perry - drums (drum set)
• David Goodier - bass guitar
• John O'Hara - accordion, keyboard, piano
• Anna Phoebe - violin

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Georgie Fame - influenced John Evan to switch to organ (early John Evan Band development) [1960s]
• The Animals - stylistic influence on early keyboardist John Evan (John Evan Band formation) [1960s]

Key Collaborators

• Martin Barre - longtime guitarist, key member post-1968 (Stand Up (1969), Aqualung (1971), ongoing) [1969-present]
• Glenn Cornick - original bassist (This Was (1968), Stand Up (1969)) [1967-1971]
• Clive Bunker - original drummer (This Was (1968), Stand Up (1969)) [1967-1971]
• Barriemore Barlow - drummer, former John Evan Band member (Aqualung (1971), Thick as a Brick (1972)) [1971-1976, later periods]
• John Glascock - bassist until his death (various 1970s albums) [1976-1979]
• Eddie Jobson - multi-instrumentalist on violin (A (1980)) [1980]

External Links

• Spotify
• Wikipedia
• MusicBrainz

Tags: #art-rock, #blues-rock, #classic-rock