Ian Anderson Tickets

About Ian Anderson

Biography: While still young he along with his family moved to Blackpool in the north of England in 1959. After completing his schooling, he joined Art college to pursue fine art before deciding to try his hand at a musical career. The band Jethro Tull was formed in1968 after the merger of the John Evan Band and McGregor's Engine. Jethro Tull has come out with more than 30 albums, sold more than 60 million copies since their maiden performance at London's famous Marquee club. In the three decades following the formation Tull has performed more than 2500 concerts in 40 countries.

Ian is known throughout the world as the man who brought in the flute to rock music. He is the uncrowned prince of this genre and nobody has come forth to challenge him. Apart from recording for the band, he has also carved out a successful solo career. His four solo albums: 1983's eclectic-electric "Walk Into Light"; the flute instrumental "Divinities" album, "The Secret Language of Birds", released in 2000, and "Rupi's Dance" in 2003 have all done wonderfully well.

Anderson is a self-taught flautist, and Roland Kirk inspired his style of flutter tonguing, singing or humming from time to time while playing the flute. He also sometimes over-blows and hole-shades to make note slurring, and other attempts other unique and expressive methods on this otherwise simple instrument. Anderson has also recorded many songs on which he plays all the instruments and does all the engineering and production work too. His earliest entry into this one-man recording was evidently on the popular Tull piece "Locomotive Breath". It had happened by default, he was unable to convey his idea to the rest of the band verbally, he did everything himself.

Anderson' music is a beautiful and right mixture of folk, jazz, blues, rock and pop even though his lyrics are often complicated, mostly facetious criticism of the ludicrous rules of society and/or religion. Sossity, You're a Woman; Hymn 43; Thick as a Brick are just a few examples. He also blends lyrics with themes like folk, mythological and fantastic which can be herd in The Minstrel in the Gallery, Jack-in-the-Green, Broadsword and the Beast. His later songs deal with the day to day life; Old Black Cat, Rocks on the Road captures the daily occurrence of his life.

In 2006 he received two honors Ivor Novello Award for International Achievement, and an honorary Doctorate of Literature at Heriot-Watt University, on 11 July 2006 for his work and contribution to popular music.

Discography: • Walk into Light • Divinities: Twelve Dances with God • The Secret Language of Birds • Rupi's Dance • Ian Anderson Plays the Orchestral Jethro Tull