Rock and Pop: Preview - Jethro Tull at Union Chapel
Published: 11 March 2010
by DAN CARRIER
• JETHRO Tull were typical of the British blues explosion of the 1960s, melding delta-influenced riffs with hippie-folksy work. It was the era of Hendrix and the Yardbirds, the Stones and Cream, British bands borrowing from the American blues songbook and guitarists of 50 years previously.
As with so many bands of the period, the line-up was fluid to say the least. Frontman Ian Anderson – who plays the flute – has been ever-present, while his backing team have come and gone and come back again. But the form remained the same, and soon Tull were internationally acclaimed. The band have sold more than 60 million records, won the odd Grammy, and produced 30 albums.
Now they are set to take the stage at the Union Chapel, Upper Street. on March 17 and while old hippies will need no introduction to the Tull, expect younger indie kids to flock to the gig to see a band of originators of 60s rock. They still sell out when they get together, and in their current incarnation still boast founders Anderson and Martin Barre. They are joined by drummer Doane Perry, John O’Hara on piano and accordion, and David Goodier on bass.