Upbeat shows that won't make your ears bleed

LEDGENDARY rocker Ian Anderson — frontman of Jethro Tull — shocked the world of rock when he took up the flute. But this unusual addition has made the evolution of the band's sound even more iconic.

"The flute has been a major influence and offers a different tonal voice than the electric guitar in the world of rock," Ian said. "Even after all these years there is only me on the rock stage with the flute. Maybe there's only room for one in the rock world at one time."

Jethro Tull formed in 1968 and their sound has evolved from blues rock to progressive rock through to folk rock and electronic rock to its present day hard rock.

Ian said: "Boredom and whims are great forces of invention. I've always been restless soul never content with just one style of sound and I've been influenced by many things over the years including folk, classical and Indian music. I'm equally at home playing with Indian musicians as I am western jazz and classical artists — probably not rock artists though!"

Band members have come and gone but Ian has remained constant since its early beginnings when the band played under several different guises before being named after an 18th century agriculturalist.

Ian now tours with Jethro Tull and as a solo artist with accompanying musicians, and leaves the rock to Jethro Tull while maintaining an eclectic, acoustic sound for himself. He said: "Jethro Tull brings out the vociferous and the demonic. But I'm an accoustic musician really, so although my own shows are always upbeat, they don't make your ears bleed.

"When I tour as myself it gives me the chance to perform more eclectic music that is broader in its styling. My band has an entirely different set up to Jethro Tull with musicians from classical and jazz backgrounds.

"Back in 1968 we were so bad that club managers didn't want us back, so our agent used to make up different names for us almost on a weekly basis so we could get back in.

"I didn't know Jethro Tull was an 18th century agriculturalist until we'd become established. It's a good solid English name and he was an historical character that really lived, but initially I thought it was an amusing name and went along with it as I thought it was going to change like the others."

Ian is heading to Exeter Cathedral to perform a special concert concluding an end of year tour. All proceeds will go towards the Cathedral's Third Millennium Campaign.

"I do several charitable concerts a year all supporting cultural places I respect," he explained. "The Exeter concert is funded by myself so all the money from ticket sales will go towards the campaign.

"I strongly support the maintenance of the bricks and mortar of the church. Once they're gone, they're gone and they won't be making any more.

"These are buildings that weren't just slapped up like Dubai sky scrapers but were made lovingly to last, so we should be doing our bit to support them. "

As well as several Jethro Tull classics, there will be various Christmas and ecclesiastical songs alongside new material written for the tour.

Ian Anderson plays the Christmas Jethro Tull will be performed at Exeter Cathedral on Tuesday, December 22, at 7.30pm. Tickets are £25 available from Exeter Phoenix on 01392 667080, or £20 available from the cathedral shop on 01392 271354.