Eddie Jobson's UKZ World Debut Concert - The Official Jethro Tull Website

Ian's Interview with Colin Hills' UK Fan Forum

Webmaster's note: Ian recently took a break Feb 2009 to answer a lot of UK (and other countries!) fans questions.

1. Given that some people consider that their roots are more about feelings rather than actual places - How Scottish do you feel? Patti, Co Fermanagh, N. Ireland: Ian: Hi, Patti. Scottish from the waist down. Dancing legs and a tight sporran. Chest upwards I am a Briton.
2. Jethro Tull came to prominence in the great British music"explosion" of the late sixties which saw not only Tull, but performers such as Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac, Free, Chicken Shack, Fairport Convention, Pentangle and many other great artists learning their trade in the clubs and theatres up and down the country. How do you regard those days from 40 years later and do you think that this "training" was beneficial and helped in forming your musical ideas into songs and album concepts. Graham, Cornwall: Ian: Absolutely vital, Graham. Getting the experience of performing and the feel for audiences of different backgrounds makes it easier to adjust later on when the big breaks come and the venues and audiences are larger. Also, learning from our early peers, as mentioned by you above, and developing in a way different to them while picking up from their strong points were good lessons.
3. What do you think of Tull tribute bands, eg. Cold Flame and the Dayglo Pirates? Amanda, New Mills, Derbyshire. (17 years old): Ian: Well, Amanda - I always feel a bit uncomfortable about people taking on the personality and style of someone they admire, but as long as it doesn't get too weird or obsessive, I guess it is OK. But I don't spend my spare time dressing up as Phil Collins, with or without the Gorilla suit.
4. I'd be interested to hear how you feel about the musical education you received while at school, and if it contributed in any significant way to your decisions to develop your musical capabilities and understanding and, ultimately, to choosing a career in music. Did you receive any formal tuition and did you gain any grades or other musical qualifications? Jeff, Folkestone, UK: Ian: Luckily, Jeff, I didn't have any musical education at school or anywhere else, so I was fresh as a daisy when it came to teaching myself with the benefit of the great records I heard as a teenager and, indeed, up to yesterday, in fact.
5. Might you sit still someday and write an autobiography? With all due respect of your privacy and that of your family, the story of your career(s), travels, prominent colleagues and statesmen, journalists, music industry types, artists in other fields, etc etc would, I'm sure, be interesting and well written. Bernie the San Francisco bicycle messenger!: Ian: Hey, Bernie: An autobiography would be dull without the scandal and hurtful things I could say about others as well as myself. I happen to think that relationships, past and present, personal and professional, are a bit sacred and not for digging around in for a quick thrill or a quick buck later in life. I often think about, usually with a smile, the people and events from my past but don't really think I have found a way to make such memories public without leaving out all the fun and scary bits.

6. My other great favourite is our own Horslips, a 'celtic rock ' band from the seventies who acknowledge to this day their debt to Tull and a certain flute player therein . Ever heard their music ? P.J., Dublin: Ian: Hello PJ: I remember the band and their music a bit as they played with us somewhere along the way. My interest in and appreciation of Irish music came a little later when I discovered the music of Planxty and all its associated members.
7. Digital distribution is clearly changing the way music is purchased and even produced. I've read that bands are considering releasing occasional singles and EP's online rather than producing full length albums. Is this something you would consider doing either on your own or with Tull? Ray, New Hampshire, US: Ian: Funny you ask this, Ray, as I have been talking to our record company friends about this for a couple of years and I see no reason why we should be stuck in this groove of thinking only about music in conventional vinyl or CD album lengths of 10 - 15 tracks. I rather like the idea that a new track every couple of months would be more fun for our fans and us too. We will have to see if we can make that work. But traditional record companies doing deals for physical distribution don't find the idea so appealing for commercial and logistic reasons.
8. What was it like to return to Dunfermline after all these years and play the Carnegie Hall during your recent UK Tour and what are your memories of the Carnegie Hall as a young "Dunfermline lad"? Gerry, Bath, UK: Ian: Well, Gerry, I didn't really remember anything of Dunfermline as I left there when I was three years old. But I felt a sense of origin and it turned out to be a nice little town. Enjoyable and rather special visit. I saw the house I lived in when I was born.
9. Seeing Barrie Barlow play with Tull at the Royal Festival Hall was a delight, and a reminder of what a fantastic musician he is - what was it like for Ian (on a personal and musical basis) to perform with him after nearly 30 years? Souk Lan, Malaysia: Ian: Hi, Souk Lan. It was good to see Barrie on stage again after so long and, as he hadn't played drums in a long time, he had some re-learning to do. But it really felt like old times for the two songs he played. He still has a great attention to detail and phrasing.
10. What makes you get up in the morning and work or tour. At 60 years of age, would you not wish to relax a little and perhaps adopt a more "sedately" lifestyle? Gerry , Bath, UK: Ian: I do relax a little, Gerry. But I try to get some strenuous walking exercise every two days and like to read, catch up on world events and very occasionally, go away for a brief vacation.
11. Who (apart from present and former members of Tull) has had the most influence on the band's long term success? (eg. Mr T.Ellis, Mrs S.Anderson, A.N.Other?) . Neil (Heriot Watt 'Reporter'): Ian: Hello, Neil. Certainly, Terry Ellis and Chris Wright had a major part to play in the band's initial success and John Gee, manager of the Marquee Club and John Peel both deserve much credit for their help in the first few months in getting us noticed. But I also admire the traditional band leaders like Frank Zappa and John Mayall, to name two, who had a very hands-on approach to the business side and for their nurturing of new talent within their bands from time to time.
12. I've been a huge fan since 1970 when I was 15 years old. I've followed Tull's career quite fanatically since I first saw you in concert in '72 (TAAB Tour). Being a guitar player myself, I was curious if you could tell us where you found such a small guitar with such a BIG sound? Who makes it, and where could I find one to take for a test drive? Larry, Houston, Texas: Ian: You have to have a pretty big pay-check, Larry, to get one of these like the one I play. It is a hand-made miniature parlour guitar which I designed and commissioned, based on an old French one form the early 1800s which I have at home. Andrew Manson made my stage version but he has and passed on the mold so you could get one made by Brook Guitars, http://www.brookguitars.com/ but it will take a year to build and cost you around $3500 or so.
13. I haven't seen much about it for quite a while so I was wondering if the "Rubbing Elbows" era has come and gone. Was it a passing phase or do you think you will be doing it again in the future? Larry , Houston, Texas: Ian: Oh, it's you again, Larry. I don't think I will do the Rubbing Elbows format again but I have some shows coming up in the USA in October and November which are more the acoustic stuff with a guest or two.
14. I very much look forward to hearing new songs from you (understatement!). Can you give us something to whet our appetites in terms of titles (even working titles), themes, or if I may be so bold, perhaps even a line/lyric from a new song? Brian , Belfast, UK: Ian: Secret, dear Brian, secret. I have a few songs in a rough state but the lyrics will change, a bit, I am sure.
15. To what extent is Ian's negative attitude toward 'A Passion Play' coloured by the critical reception it received? Would he feel more positive about it now if, on its release, its critical reception had matched its commercial success? David, Singapore: Ian: Not really, David. It has some good bits but doesn't lend itself to live performance in the way that parts of Thick As A Brick do. It feels a bit self-conscious and mannered in retrospect so maybe the critics were right.
16. If I were to invite you over to Ireland, escort you to my local pub where a music session was in full swing, buy you a guinness (I insist)Would you take part in the music session .... and enjoy it? Patti, Co Fermanagh, N. Ireland: Ian: No, Patti - I would be much too embarrassed to join in. It sounds a bit like group sex. And I don't really drink in company. Even Guinness. I am a lone drinker and not good in the company of loud revellers. An offer of a short walk in a quiet field somewhere, and I could be your man.
17. Do you get asked to contribute much old material or compose new material for soundtracks, if so any in the pipeline? Pat - Beckenham: Ian: Stuff here and there, Pat, but I think it is a specialised business doing movie and TV scores and not really my thing.
18. In your life/career as a musician do you have any regrets - if so, what were they and what would you have done differently? Pat, Beckenham, UK: Ian: The choice of the band name was not a great one but I didn't do history at school so failed to notice that we were named after a dead guy. And I very much regret having played a F# instead of an F in the intro to Bouree at the Royal Festival Hall in the early nineties.
19. Is there any old movie / video footage archived from 68 to 76 live shows that you are aware of and if so whats the chances of digging it out and releasing it. Pete,: Ian: Approximately a big fat Zero, Pete as all the existing stuff has been put out one way or another somewhere.
20. A number of great Tull songs were undoubtedly inspired by the time you spent on Skye when you owned the Strathaird Estate (Acres Wild, Dun Ringill, Broadford Bazaar, Mountain Men, Ears of Tin etc) Do you ever regret selling the Estate? And do you ever go back to Skye? Andy, Evesham, England: Ian: No, Andy - I don't go back to Skye, any old girlfriends, old clothes and old times. I am a forward-thinking kind of person who looks for the next challenge. On the next island, if necessary. The best memories are best kept on the mental back-up hard disk in the more cerebral and whimsical domains.
21. I noticed that often in new tours, along with longtime classics, some juicy nudges pop up here and there: 1995 saw the inclusion of "Nothing To Say and "Love Story", 1997 had "Teacher", 2004 "Hymn 43", 2007 "King Henry's Madrigal" and 2008 "One For John Gee" and "Living in these hard times"! I wanted to ask you, how do you rediscover those old gems hidden in the catalogue? And can we hope in live versions of "A Time For Everything" and "Big Dipper"? Pantagruel, Italy: Ian: Good day, fine Sir Pantagruel. We are always looking for "new" old things to play and testing out odd bits and pieces from the catalogue. "A Time For Everything" and "Big Dipper" haven't made the short list yet.
22. If you could pick five words - or ideas - that for you are the most meaningful, what would they be? (doesn't really have to be five...that just came from a game I used to play with my sister called 5 questions...:)). Becky, Bakersfield, California: Ian: Oooooh, Becky. That's a hard one... but here goes: Love, respect, divinity, laughter and the secrets of the universe.
23. Martin Barre has been a constant presence for 40 years...what is it about Martin that Ian likes on a musical and personal basis? Souk Lan, Malaysia: Ian: Hi, Souk Lan. I like his quiet dedication to his music and his sometimes stubborn adherence to the things in life he holds dearest.
24. When Ian is recruiting new band members, what qualities does he look for? David, Singapore: Ian: I look for musicians who have a real curiosity for new musical experiences and who are not afraid to learn something from everyone around them. It also helps if they don't have too much hair and are fatter than me.
25. Do you have got any funny tour stories to share? Pantagruel, Italy: Ian: Yes but not now as it is nearly dinner time. All right, once upon a time, Jeffrey Hammond-Hammond did a number two in his bed while asleep in a Holiday Inn in 1972. Don't go there.
26. Have you considered releasing through the website recordings of Tull live? King Crimson have been offering cds/downloads of their live work for a few years now, as has Pete Townshend -- and it looks like The Who website is gearing up for something similar. I, for one, would be a very happy subscriber! Mike, London: Ian: Well, Mike - we think about it but there literally hundreds and hundreds of live recordings to listen to on cassette, DAT and Minidisc formats and so little time....
27. Do you feel there is a certain amount of lost spontaneity in the way recordings are currently produced as opposed to having other band members present in the studio while recording? Dan, New York, USA: Ian: Hello, Dan. We have always tried to do it both ways. A mixture between relatively live playing and building things up from basics in the studio by overdubbing. Just the same today!
28. Have you seen any movies recently that you thought were particularly good? Katherine Healy, Washington DC: Ian: Slum Dog Millionaire is a great film. As I expect you already know, young Kathy.
29. How does your song composing process work? Are you a methodical 'time to sit down and write a song' kinda guy or do you have to jump out of the shower and grab a guitar quick before the idea is gone!? Col, Essex.: Ian: Both the above, Col. I just jumped, not out of the shower, but out of the office chair an hour ago with a great idea! Other times I get up early, sit down and get on with it in a disciplined and rather boring fashion. Whatever it takes.
30. Can you give us any hints on what we can expect from your solo dates later in the year? Jen, Essex.: Ian: Still thinking about it, Jen, as I have in mind to include some guests and to do a variety of the more acoustic Tull and IA solo pieces as well as quite a few new things. I might read some poetry and write something for a choir. Or maybe have a dancer. Not sure yet. It will all slot into place nearer to the time in the latter part of the year. I like a good surprise.

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