Guest Blogger: Music Hour with Dad

Today's pick from dad:

OK todays music blog is about a band I've had the pleasure to see, admire and even interview (which means party with late after a concert.) The band is Jethro Tull.

First a little history - Ian Anderson started in 62 in Blackpool England in a white soul band. They didn't do very well and changed their name frequently to get bookings in London. Someone at thier booking company was a history buff and booked them under the name of an 18th century agriculturist [the inventor of a seed drill which, credited as one of the pioneers of the agricultural revolution, says K, who learned this in High School history class] "Jethro Tull." The club manager liked it and it was the first re-booking they had so the name, some said, started their success. Of course, ironically their first album came out with the name misspelled "Jethro Toe."

Second guitarist came in Tony Iommi from a group "earth" who then changed their name to "Black Sabbath" (we all know them now thanks to reality tv). Then in 68 came Martin Barre from Noel Reddings' "Fat Mattress (Noel of course from Jimi Hendrix fame) Martin was the second longest member next to Ian Anderson.

When I saw them in Detroit at the small but infamous Grande (pronounced grandee) Ballroom in the 60's, they were the opening act for a Famous Detroit band "Mitch Rider and the Detroit Wheels" (stories about them at a later blog). They came out and killed the (my opinion) rock & roll capital of the US. I think it was the beginning of the end for Mitch, also my opinion.

I have to mention the flute, and this came right from Ian Anderson himself, in the beginning he wanted to get the band recognized and was at a pawn shop looking at guitars. Feeling that he would just be another guitar palying rock dude he saw a flute in the window and decided it was something that would set him apart. Mission accomplished. I for one felt his flute solos were mesmerizing.

They became one of the top drawing rock acts of their time. Personal story: flash forward to 1972, I'm at the fabulous Forum [L.A. Forum in Inglewood?] for a concert and down in front with my camera doing some shots of Tull. My freind Steve somehow got back stage and I, with my camera, managed to get in a back door and ended up in a room with Martin Barrre, Jeffrey Hammond (who Anderson called Hammond-Hammond cause his mother's maiden name was also Hammond, they were childhood pals by the by), John Evan and Barimore Barlow. Later they were joined by Ian Anderson who they told me didn't hang with the rest (he didn't party).
We had a great time, although I was asked to shoot pictures of the wives and girlfriends (they told me "nobody ever gets them in the pictures")--a chance of a lifetime for an amateur like me; however I had run out of film at the show, so they started calling me "Mr. Photographer." Being mocked by rock super stars somehow did not damage my fragile ego.
*Short note: Steve, who was by then pretty stoned, corraled Ian Anderson, who clearly didn't like smashed Americans, and proceeded to spill the free champagne all over his shoes, at which time he yelled "Mr. Photographer come get David Bowie away from me! (He called Steve David Bowie because Steve was questioning him on his favorite rock star, as though all englishmen know each other.) [naturally]

This part of the story is my favorite and I swear its true: I had to work early the same day and we left and went out on the street surrounding the Forum. We met a group of hippies out at a corner and began to tell them the backstage story at which time they of course said "sure you did" and laughed. Just then a limo pulled up and the window went down and it was Martin Barre. He yelled "Mr. Photographer are you coming to the hotel?" the looks on the previously sarcastic faces were priceless. Sorry I had to work. I ofter wonder what I was thinking; I was making 6 or 7 bucks an hour hauling shampoo at Redkin Labs in Van Nuys ay the time. Midwest work ethic I suppose.

By the way, Martin Barre was my favorite guy, just an average guy, single and normal and fun-loving. He came up to me at the post concert party and said "I think that bird over there is giving me the green light, what should I do?"
Like it was going to be difficult for him to hook up with a groupie, really?