The 100 Greatest Bands of all time - #82 Jethro Tull

Who would have ever imagined what a great rock instrument the flute could be? Combine Ian Anderson’s mad performance and erudite lyrics with his virtuosic flautistry and throw in the powerful guitar of Martin Barre and you have Jethro Tull, one of the great progressive rock bands of the 70s. Starting in the late 60s with great songs like “New Day Yesterday”, they went on to create the 1971 classic Aqualung, one of the finest collections of songs released in the 1970s. I got to see them play live at Bumbershoot one year and they have definitely still got it.


Tull at the Fillmore in 1970. Love this song! It was a new day yesterday, but it's an old day now.





One of their first big hits.





The classic story of a dirty old man sitting on a park bench. Martin Barre gives one of the all-time great guitar riffs. Aqualung. Fantastic live performance in this video, too.





Cross Eyed Mary goes jumping in again. Man, what a great concert this must have been.





He is the God of nothing
If thats all that you can see
You are the God of everything
He's inside you and me

Magnificent performance from the Isle of Wight 1970. Ian really outdid himself here.





Martin Barre plays the hell out of this classic. Ian's flautistry is also very impressive. Love this song.





Another classic from Aqualung, here is Locomotive Breath.





Because I also love the Songs From the Wood album, we'll conclude our look at Jethro Tull with Ring Out Solstice Bells.