Jethro Tull is a British rock band that started in Blackpool, Lancashire in 1967. They began as part of the 1960s British blues scene and later created a unique sound that mixed hard rock, English folk music, and classical music. The band was founded and led by Ian Anderson, who wrote most of their music, sang the lead vocals, and played many musical instruments, including the flute. Over the years, the band had many different musicians join, including important members like guitarist Martin Barre, bassists Glenn Cornick, Jeffrey Hammond, John Glascock, and Dave Pegg, drummers Clive Bunker, Barrie "Barriemore" Barlow, and Doane Perry, and keyboardists John Evan, Dee Palmer, and Peter-John Vettese.

After performing in London clubs, Jethro Tull released their first album, This Was, in 1968. A major change in the band’s lineup happened when original guitarist Mick Abrahams was replaced by Martin Barre. The following year, the band’s second album, Stand Up, became the number one album in the UK. In 1971, the album Aqualung helped the band gain international fame and became their most successful album. Later, Thick as a Brick (1972) showed their strong connection to progressive rock. During the 1970s, the band released one studio album each year, often creating complex music and concept albums. In the late 1970s, the band’s style changed to focus more on folk rock. In the 1980s, after another major lineup change, the band’s music became more influenced by electronic rock. In 1987, the album Crest of a Knave brought the band their only Grammy Award, and in the 1990s, they explored music from different parts of the world. Jethro Tull has sold about 60 million albums worldwide, with 11 gold and 5 platinum albums. Rolling Stone magazine described them as "one of the most commercially successful and eccentric progressive rock bands."

The band stopped making new studio albums in the 2000s but continued to perform concerts until they ended their activities in 2011. After the band split, Ian Anderson and Martin Barre both started solo careers. Anderson’s band was sometimes called "Jethro Tull" or "Ian Anderson" solo. Starting in 2017, Anderson brought back the name "Jethro Tull" and released new studio albums in the 2020s. He presented the group as a continuation of the band under his leadership, not as a reunion of past members.

History

Ian Anderson, Jeffrey Hammond, and John Evan (originally Evans), who later joined Jethro Tull, attended grammar school together in Blackpool. Anderson was born in Dunfermline, Scotland, in 1947 and grew up in Edinburgh before moving to Blackpool in 1960. At Blackpool Grammar School, he earned O-levels in subjects such as math, physics, chemistry, English, art, French, geography, and Latin. He also studied for two years at Blackpool College of Art. In his teens, Anderson wanted to become "an artist, a painter."

Evans became a fan of the Beatles after watching them perform "Love Me Do" on Granada Television's Scene at 6:30. Though already a skilled pianist, Evans was inspired by the Beatles to learn drums. Anderson bought a Spanish guitar and taught himself to play it. He and Evans decided to form a band, and they added Hammond on bass, who brought a collection of blues records.

The group initially played as a three-piece at local clubs and venues. Later, Evans, influenced by Georgie Fame and the Animals, switched to playing the organ. Drummer Barrie Barlow and guitarist Mike Stephens joined from a local band called the Atlantics. Guitarist Chris Riley also joined, and the band became a six-piece "blue-eyed soul" group named the John Evan Band (later the John Evan Smash). Evans shortened his last name to "Evan" at Hammond's suggestion, who thought it sounded better. They hired Johnny Taylor as a booking agent and performed blues and Motown covers at gigs across northwest England. Hammond left the band to attend art school and was briefly replaced by Derek Ward, then by Glenn Cornick. Riley also left and was replaced by Neil Smith. The group recorded three songs at Regent Sound Studios in London in April 1967 and performed at the Marquee Club in June 1967.

In November 1967, the band moved to Luton, Bedfordshire, 30 miles (48 km) from central London, and signed a management deal with Terry Ellis and Chris Wright. They replaced Smith with guitarist Mick Abrahams but soon realized that managing a six-piece band was too expensive and disbanded. Anderson, Abrahams, and Cornick stayed together, recruited Abrahams's friend Clive Bunker on drums, and formed a British blues band. Cornick said Evan was invited to rejoin. Anderson shared a flat with Cornick in Luton and worked as a cleaner at the Luton Ritz Cinema to pay rent. Cornick recalled, "we were so poor that we would share one can of stew or soup between us each evening."

At first, the new band struggled to get repeat bookings. They changed their name often to continue playing in London clubs, using names like Navy Blue, Ian Henderson's Bag o' Nails, and Candy Colored Rain. Anderson remembered seeing a poster at a club and realizing the unfamiliar name was theirs. The names were often chosen by their booking agent's staff. One staff member, a history enthusiast, suggested the name Jethro Tull after an 18th-century agriculturist. The name became popular when the manager of the Marquee Club gave them a weekly residency after liking their performance. In a 2006 interview, Anderson said he did not know the name referred to "a dead guy who invented the seed drill" and thought the agent had made it up. He later said he would have changed the band's name if he could.

The band recorded a session with producer Derek Lawrence, resulting in the single "Sunshine Day." The B-side, "Aeroplane," was an old John Evan Band track with saxophones removed. It was released in February 1968 on MGM Records but miscredited to "Jethro Toe." The more common version of the single, with the correct spelling, is actually a counterfeit made in New York. Anderson met Hammond in London, renewed their friendship, and moved into a bedsit in Chelsea with Evan. Hammond became the subject of several songs, including their next single, "A Song for Jeffrey."

Anderson had a large overcoat given to him by his father, who said, "You'd better take this. It's going to be a cold winter." This overcoat, along with his flute, became part of his early stage image. Anderson bought a flute after becoming frustrated with his inability to play guitar as well as Abrahams or Eric Clapton. Their managers wanted Anderson to remain a rhythm guitarist, with Abrahams as the frontman. Anderson later said:

The group gained their first major break at the National Jazz and Blues Festival in Sunbury-on-Thames in August 1968, where they received enthusiastic praise and positive reviews in the music press. They credited their success to persistent touring, which had built a grassroots following that attended the festival and encouraged others to join. Cornick said, "From that moment on, we were a big band."

The group recorded their first album, This Was, between June and August 1968. Released in October 1968, it reached number 10 in the UK charts. The album included original songs and covers, such as the 1961 Doctor Ross blues "Cat's Squirrel," which highlighted Abrahams's blues-rock style, and

Legacy

Other musicians who were inspired by Jethro Tull include Iron Maiden's Steve Harris and Bruce Dickinson, W.A.S.P.'s Blackie Lawless, Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder, Dream Theater's John Myung, Blind Guardian's Marcus Siepen, Joe Bonamassa, the Decemberists' Jenny Conlee, and the folk doom metal band Blood Ceremony.

Rush's Geddy Lee said, "I was a big fan of Jethro Tull when I was very young. I hope that [my admiration] is shown in Rush. I was amazed by Ian Anderson. His way of performing was magical, and he used humor and style in a special way. We [of Rush] saw it as a challenge to create music that could be as exciting to watch onstage."

Gentle Giant's Derek Shulman believes Jethro Tull is one of the greatest bands in the history of progressive rock. After touring with the band in 1972, he praised them as talented musicians and as friends.

Nick Cave is a fan of Jethro Tull. He named one of his sons Jethro to honor the group. His band, Grinderman, performed "Locomotive Breath" during soundchecks. At Cave's request, Ian Anderson gave him the Album of the Year trophy at the MOJO Awards in 2008.

Although Jethro Tull has been around for a long time, has had success in selling music, and has influenced many in progressive rock, they have never been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Ian Anderson has said he does not want the band to be inducted, explaining, "I think it's wrong for us to be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame when so many great American bands are not included. These bands may not have sold enough records or been popular enough to be noticed. Jethro Tull is not connected to Americana, and Americana should be the focus of the Rock Hall."

Members

• Ian Anderson – vocals, flute, acoustic and electric guitar, and other musical instruments (1967 to 2012 and 2017 to the present)
• David Goodier – bass (2007 to 2012 and 2017 to the present)
• John O'Hara – keyboards, accordion, and vocals (2007 to 2012 and 2017 to the present)
• Scott Hammond – drums (2017 to the present)
• Jack Clark – guitar (2024 to the present)