Jethro Tull

Even if their long career stalled at the start of the ‘70s, Jethro Tull would still go down in rock history for one crucial thing: They proved that the flute could be a killer rock ‘n’ roll instrument. Frontman Ian Anderson has wielded the instrument – a favorite among middle-school-band girls and wandering minstrels for almost a thousand years – like a madman onstage, aggressively blowing solos usually reserved for guitars or saxophones. But paired with the band’s era-spanning brand of prog-folk music – expertly displayed on 1971’s breakthrough ‘Aqualung’ album – the flute has become a weapon of mass destruction in Anderson’s hands. Despite the many lineup changes the band has gone through over the years, Jethro Tull’s records have rarely diverted from their ambitious paths. The group infamously won the first-ever Hard Rock/Metal Grammy in 1989, which isn’t as farfetched as detractors claim.

Ian Anderson – August 2012 Classic Rock Birthdays
Ian Anderson – August 2012 Classic Rock Birthdays
Ian Anderson – August 2012 Classic Rock Birthdays
It's not everyday that a flute makes its way into a rock 'n' roll group. However, Jethro Tull frontman Ian Anderson was able to not just fit in but somehow stand out with the unconventional instrument. Anderson birthed Jethro Tull with the idea of making it a blues rock band...
Win a Jethro Tull / Ian Anderson 24 CD Catalog
Win a Jethro Tull / Ian Anderson 24 CD Catalog
Win a Jethro Tull / Ian Anderson 24 CD Catalog
In celebration of Ian Anderson's newly released album 'Thick as a Brick 2,' you can win that record, and 23 other Jethro Tull CDs, courtesy of Total Assault and Ultimate Classic Rock. A complete list of the discs included in the prize can be found at the bottom of this article.

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