Ian Anderson Says Jethro Tull Will Never Get Back Together

Ian Anderson is pushing back against those who want a reunion of longtime members of Jethro Tull, saying he prefers to work with the current lineup.

“I am rather bemused by the fan gossip surrounding who might be, or should be, at my side in concert," Anderson recently wrote on the band's official website. "All of the musicians in the current band have performed as members of Jethro Tull during the last decade. They are fine musicians, wonderful people and my closest friends."

In fact, Jethro Tull's lineup has been in flux from the very start, with Anderson leading an ever-changing group of members. But some -- such as Martin Barre (who joined a year after Anderson co-founded the band in 1967 and remained until 2011), Dave Pegg (1979-95) and Doane Perry (1984-2011) -- have become more popular than others. As Tull became a revolving door around Anderson over the years, the group was dotted with musicians like Mick Abrahams (who was in the band 1967-68) and Barriemore Barlow (1971-80).

Anderson began performing Jethro Tull tracks under his own name in 2011, and has now released a pair of sequels to the band's Thick as a Brick album as solo projects. And Barre issued his first album in a decade with 2013's Away With Words.

“There have been, arguably, 26 members of Jethro Tull over the years, a big extended family of musicians -- a family who are usually delighted to see each other again after a period of absence, but sometimes with the proviso that after a warm and welcoming cup of tea, they won't stay for lunch," Anderson wrote. "You know how it is. Each of them has brought great joy and musical success to me in their different and unique ways. But forgive us if we don't actually want to wake up in bed next to each other in the present day. I am sure they will feel the same -- especially after a veggie curry the night before.”

Anderson is keeping plenty busy, no matter who is by his side. He has announced a new project, Jethro Tull: The Rock Opera, just as Tull's Minstrel in the Gallery celebrates its 40th anniversary with a new reissue in May.

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