Ex Jethro Tull Martin Barre & Eric Blair part 3 Paul McCartney, Phil Collins & Jeff Beck

[@stormwatch01]

Martin is such a polite and loyal person, he would never speak against Ian's ego. But if you can read between the lines ...

[@eribaldoyes3883]

I agree, although he was pretty literal this time! Epic.

[@johncook7281]

The line about 'A week with Paul McCartney maybe gave Ian Anderson a wake up call' Nothing to say against Ian here. He can do what he wants but He doesn't seem straight about it when he talks. I am not sure why. I clearly here Martin say he's a team player. And Ian had a voice change as comes to singers. It can be good if they both want to talk together to all the older fans. Just a Thought.

[@paulj6138]

Amen Amen and would we doubt that Ian had any regrets

[@brysencristian988]

I guess im randomly asking but does someone know a tool to log back into an Instagram account..? I was stupid lost my password. I would appreciate any assistance you can offer me!

[@brayloncohen9455]

@Brysen Cristian Instablaster :)

[@joeastromowicz8058]

Absolutely Great interview with Martin Barre. You need to watch all three episodes of the interview, then you will understand. Martin is truly a great human and musician as well. He knows i always wish him all the best that this world has to offer, and then some.

[@chukrock]

Having been a Tull fan since 1978 I finally got to see Martin in his solo band in November of 2019. He/they were actually better than I expected. I was blown away in fact. I never got to see Tull in the flesh. My band was booked to support them in Australia for the 'Under Wraps' tour but it never came to pass.

[@jacopomuneratti3178]

I wish Martin the best: he's a great guy and a fantastic player. Very well informed and polite interviewer too. Great job!

[@tonycurtin2376]

Martin is a terrific musician without a hint of an ego.

[@drvee1983]

I had the honor of meeting Martin Barre toward the end of Tull's reign after a performance. Super gracious, nice guy. A legend in his own right, and never " overplayed " a solo. They were crafted for the tune as only he could do it. Long live Tull.

[@casserinetoussaint9719]

Martin is a wonderful, really wonderful person: he could have been snarky, but he chose the high road. I was a journalist many moons ago and interviewed him. Lovely man. Blessings on him.

[@nsbd90now]

He totally nailed it with "Bill Wyman is one of the Stones" and "Tull as a brand crumbled to dust". Plus, Evans and Palmer probably actually wrote a whole lot of the music Ian Anderson gets credit for. As did Barre, of course. He seems like such a great guy. Amazing about the music in his dad and granddad and parental support. His band definitely does the music better than Ian's.

[@MrLuridan]

Jeez, dude! This is the best interview I've ever heard with Martin.

[@TheDailyVinyl]

great! so glad you asked the Phil Collins rehearsal question. fantastic! Love Phil.

[@Seaker24]

It’s a course on how to live life no matter what you do. Just do it well, be kind, live well. I always catch Martin when he comes around. His playing is fresh, never a show off or gymnastics, very very melodic. He also brings that wonderful sense of British humor.

[@olliguitar1580]

Jethro Tull's music in seventies was a great sounding, especially I liked mix of the acoustic and electric guitars (and mandolin), great riffs and guitar works, flute and Ian's great voice! The great combination! To me it was the best band in seventies (ever).Thank you Martin! And thanks for the highly interesting interview!

[@rightchordleadership]

Really enjoyed this insightful interview with Martin. Great glimpse into this wonderful musician and human being.

[@leolopez_0728]

Martin spent more than half of his life playing guitar for Jethro Tull (43 awesome years!) and is now enjoying his own success, can't be more happy for him! He is such an enormous intellectual and too modest for his great talent, good riddance Martin!

[@mattschwarz9285]

Martin is a humble and really nice guy, from every interview I've seen. That's probably why he was able to work with Ian Anderson for so many years - Tull only had room for one ego, and it was Ian's. Luckily for us, that ego was matched by his musical genius, and (particularly in the 70s lineups) his genius was matched by the musicality of the other guys in Tull. The brilliance of Barre's work with Tull is that he can hold down the riff when needed, play a brilliant guitar solo, decorate with fills and background guitar, or even sit out for a bit. This kind of variety and team-attitude is what makes Tull's music stand above any other rock music. I'll take Barre's playing over Page, Beck, Blackmore - you name it. (One other guitarist who seems to operate similarly is Iron Maiden's Adrian Smith - who also comes across as a pretty mellow guy and spends his off time in the outdoors, only fishing instead of running.)

[@Abbysum1]

Thank you for sitting down with Martin Barre! Great interview with the questions I would have asked. Ian should never have fired that lineup and certainly not Martin.

[@chrismanning2173]

I just can’t get enough of the interviews with Martin. Such a charming insightful gentleman. BTW, back in the ‘70’s in Detroit , you had to get your tickets for a Tull concert the day they went on sale or you were out of luck.

[@michaelryan6884]

Saw Martin's band in San Antonio in 2022 and he is just absolutely wonderful...it is so obvious he just loves being there and has a great time doing it and, as a listener, I got to benefit from that!

[@travelinben1966]

Great interview,and Martin is just the coolest guy ever.I’m sure he was bummed out alot when Glenn and Clive were gone.That line-up was far and away Tull at its finest imo.

[@andrewmair7371]

A gentleman & a scholar…☝️‘Onwards & upwards’ indeed for Mr Barre… a profoundly decent, unassuming & gregarious fellow 😊☝️& a very engaging interviewee… Cheers 🍻

[@ceekay9184]

For a lifetime JT-fan, with several books on the topic, who has seen and read countless interviews with band members, met and spoke to Ian Anderson and even interviewed Doane Perry at one time, these clips with Blair and Martin are right at the top. Fantastic to see Martin free enough to critisize some of Ian's decisions. Highly interesting to compare this interview with the one with IA on Rock History Music. Huge, huge respect to Blair for asking detailed questions - we all know enough about the big picture. 10 out of 10, all day long!

[@blairingoutshow]

THANKS CeeKay YOU ROCK !!!

[@rickblackers88]

A great guitar player,a genius,a real gentleman,this is Martin Barre!!

[@paulj6138]

I saw TULL play Florida I think 94 after IAN cracked his knee in South America He had to do the show in a wheelchair surprised he signed 2 Albums for me

[@jimmyjohnston4750]

Yes... and I love Him for that! and, I think that He is, one of the Best Prog Guitarist ever! I wish Him All the Very Best!

[@Basaljet]

About time we heard about this. It was the end of Tull in 79 Evans departure was the end nothing thereafter has compared and now Martin is shafted too while “Jethro Tull” the opera trades merchandise as a false package

[@paulj6138]

John was always terrifically animated on stage in his white suit and tie I saw them at CARNEGIE HALL Phoenix House Benefit THIRD Row I was tripping 😬😎 What a fun vinyl souvenir

[@michaelvout7813]

What a lovely man in addition to being a great musician

[@mdedina]

I saw Martin play a few weeks ago, he certainly is bringing new life to the music. I had stopped going to Tull concerts some years ago because the performances had gone stale. Martin’s band is more enjoyable.

[@whistlerwind7422]

Martin has made similar comments regarding the latter Tull performances. He said it was mostly due to the limitations of Ian's voice. And the band members at that time were embarrassed to be on stage some nights because Ian struggled so much. (He's not the only member to make such comments.)

[@MorseJohn]

Just stumbled upon your interview with Martin Barre and so glad I did! I’ve been in awe of his guitar playing for years, and now I see what a thoughtful good man he is. I first saw Tull, believe it or not, just about the time Martin joined the band... Yes, I’m old... ha! I was in Britain in 1968 studying abroad as they say (more interested in the broad than the studying 😉) when I saw Tull at a Festival at a very muddy Racetrack just south of London, probably about the time Martin joined the lineup. I was 19 at time and had spent much of my Sophomore year in the Bay Area going to shows - in particular at the Fillmore. Then I went off to 🇬🇧 and the hits just kept happening!! Those were the days my friend 😉

[@masonknives92]

Great interviews, thanks!

[@MrDeterioration]

Good interview. You know your stuff.

[@realthursty4953]

Notice how Martin says that all these people are great guys, wonderful people, etc. etc.? That's because Martin himself is the best and loves everybody. I met him once and he was as gracious as he could be; signed my CD sleeve of The Meeting. Doane Perry is the same way. Doane acted like it was such a privilege to meet me and it was so good of me to come to the concert.

[@ernestturriziani2489]

JETHRO TULL 1968 to 1975 were amazing. At the top.

[@magister8084]

The Phil Collins question is genius! Thanks! I have always wondered the same...

[@philbrown1474]

Nicely done interview. By the subject and in this case also the interviewer.

[@philbrown6787]

I saw a band in the mid seventies in KY that played 'Locomotive Breath'. Great guitar player and really good songs. I remembered that name because he had his name (my name, too) 'Phil Brown' silk screened on the back.

[@whistlerwind7422]

Steve Wilson has done an amazing job on his remixes.

[@NMRK91]

Great interview with a talented and thoughtful man.

[@ElmanAuthement]

What a great human being with such a great perspective

[@frankkolton1780]

"It's the player, not the gear". Amen. Any young players watching this take note. The time you spend obsessing over gear is better used for quality practice, especially in areas you're not good at

[@rodneylee4026]

I love Martin Barre's music. Good stuff

[@eribaldoyes3883]

Hi Eric. This is the first time I know anything about you, and let me say you made my day. Dude, the FIRST question you made to Martin was EPIC. It was a mistery to me for decades and no one ever asked him that before, about his thoughts of what happened to the band in 1980! It´s priceless to see Martin´s opinion on that. He has stated a number of times his desagreement with Ian in various subjects. I mean, the separation/replacement of Jethro Tull was a MEGA LOSS for humanity. Let me repeat myself, this interview is priceless. Thank you.

[@peterjohnson2257]

Lucky enough in life that I saw Martin last night in New Hampshire!!The whole band was great!!been a Tull fan for all 50 years and all I can say is Iian loss is our gain!!hope to play with you in our next lives!!!

[@jamiepastman5594]

the ultimate band member, ian was very fortunate to have Mr Barre. Firing him was inexcusable

[@saifonlawrence2044]

Most underrated musician ever.

[@packiejoegilheany1171]

Brilliant interview. In my mind, Martin is as much Tull than Ian.

[@ottoluotonen5953]

very nice interview!

[@Dolores5000]

Love him such a gent! Candor! And a brilliant career!

[@5HlNOBI]

Very nice man. Brilliant guitarist.

[@jacf33]

What a nice gentleman, i had the chance to saw him live in Chile, he put up hell of a show, very energetic!

[@justgivemethetruth]

finally martin is coming out with some candid comments on jethro tull.

[@whistlerwind7422]

He's been doing it for some time. At one point had mentioned a book coming out. I don't know if that ever came to fruition.

[@stevebailey1378]

What an absolutely fantastic guy Martin barre very talented knows what he wants and where he wants to be no egos here just a genuine honest polite bloke love him love his music

[@terrat3048]

I'm glad that he made this clear: the musicians in the 70s line-up were the real Jethro Tull in the same way as The Who or the Rolling Stones or other bands are made up by certain musicians and no others. Jethro Tull no longer existed after Stormwatch. John Evans, Barrie Barlow, Jeffrey Hammond (and John Glascock and David Palmer)... there was a flair and a panache about those guys that cannot be replaced and were the perfect complement to Ian Anderson's exhuberance. "It was wrong. There was nothing wrong with those musicians."

[@barryashby5394]

Wonderful interviews with a great guy

[@Tull1996]

I'd love to see (and I realize this is just fantasy) Martin, Clive Bunker and/or Barriemore Barlow, John Evans and Jeffrey Hammond get together for a short tour and/or recording project....I'd definitely pay to see that...

[@mattschwarz9285]

I think last year or so Clive Bunker and Dee Palmer joined Martin for some shows. But, yeah - I'd love to see any of these ex-Tullies get together and do their own thing. Ian's brilliant, but as he can't sing anymore, a classic lineup reunion with another singer might be the closest we can get to the old days.

[@noternunstoned]

It was great when the interviewer said "I bet your parents were proud" and Martin went on about his father not being able to afford music school. I bet that had a big effect o him, though proxy fulfilling his Dads' dream of a successful musical career.

[@thomasmarinovich5672]

Really well done

[@robertsessa3389]

I have met martin twice one of the most nicest guys

[@frankkolton1780]

Right after his dismissal from Tull, Martin wrote on his website how he had called up Ian Anderson because the TAAB II tour was coming up and he wasn't notified of practices or tour scheduling, that's when Anderson said he was going on "without him". "He told us nothing". My thoughts - How do you share a large portion of you life, living with someone on the road for 45 years and not have the respect and basic human decency to let them know face to face, well ahead of time what your plans are and that you are dismissing them? Martin removed his comment about week later, whether because he felt uncomfortable with what he wrote or possibly because some type of non disclosure agreement that he may of signed with the band stating he can't badmouth the the band or Anderson. The later may be a real possibility because none of the ex members have ever said anything critical of Anderson. Anderson has always been highly protective of the Jethro Tull brand image.

[@nsbd90now]

I definitely think there is a non-disclosure agreement with all of them that comes with a hefty check. I think it is because Evans, Palmer and Barre actually wrote a lot of that music.

[@tangosierra9649]

People should’ve been mistaking Martin Barre as being the person “Jethro Tull” instead of Ian Anderson

[@FrancescoBellringer]

why?

[@FrancescoBellringer]

@shane hunter i wouldn’t have high hopes for your teaching career, your comment makes no sense at all

[@kippsguitar6539]

Wow George Orwell and Martin Barre in the same room

[@aliengrey6052]

I once saw Ian Anderson present a hand made Manson tele guitar to Martin Barre as a birthday present and thought it a sign of the love and respect he had for Martin . What the hell happened. Here’s my take on it.I believe Ian’s voice was going and maybe it was a source of embarrassment for Ian and he hit out at the people around him. People always take it out on the closest people to them when they are hurting. I saw them in Torquay and Ian made some rather scathing comments about Doanne Perry’s weight ( he had gotten rather big) and I felt the writing was on the wall. The band had gotten stale. Comments were made by doanne Perry that Ian had dismissed them both without seeing them face to face. I felt that was very sad especially for Martin after such a long relationship. I think Ian needed some new blood around him but it was a cruel way to conduct business when you’re really great friends.

[@johnroberts3723]

Tull as we knew it has been dead forever long before barre was sacked!.

[@sav7568]

The Stones didn't dump Bill Wyman - he dumped them.

[@seed_drill7135]

Yeah, Bill Wyman left the Stones of his own volition. Keith was really ticked about it, actually.

[@paulj6138]

Brian Jones seemed no longer capable and then his sad end

[@davelogan676]

Ian said he was a Dark SOB..umm no question he was..

[@hamishmcdog48]

Martin likes to run? Me too! Love Martin. Ian is the man, I understand when one guy is in charge some may have some resentment but Martin is awesome. Saw him at the State Theater in Minneapolis in the 2nd row on his side. What a great show. Martin was fantastic.

[@andrewarthurmatthews6685]

Why is that microphone so large ?

[@Basaljet]

9.00 It's just about the percentage of his earnings and entitlement to royalties as an integral member of Jethro Tull. Better to have a few zero hours contract session players that can mark time in the background. But that's not a band.

[@arneberg9072]

"It was more flute ))))

[@liamcowden7830]

This is probably somewhat off-topic, but the content of the interview brings it mind...and it is something I have thought about a great deal but never tried to express in write, so here goes. Forgive me.. I very much dislike when bands continue to use band name when a major member or a majority of the members are no longer there. To me Jethro Tull is Ian Anderson & Martin Barre, some can argue Hammond\Glascock or Bunker\Barlowe...but without Anderson\Barre - they shouldn't ever call themselves JTull - come up with something else. I understand how hard it may be to get attention with a new name but to music lovers, those band names are, to a certain, "sacred" - they have real meaning. Not only do Black Sabbath is Osbourne\Iommi\Butler\Ward - Ronnie Dio, great singer and classic albums from that line-up, but not Black Sabbath. I liked how they finally turned to touring under the name Heaven & Hell with Dio fronting the band. The band touring as Slayer in the past couple years is not Slayer. Slayer Araya\Hennaman\King\Lombardo. They should have picked a name to record and tour. Blue Oyster Cult is Eric Bloom\Buck Dharma\Lanier\ and the Bouchard Bros. Grand Funk RR is Brewer\Farner\Schacher. I saw "Grand Funk" about 3 years back. Brewer was only one of the three on stage. It was a good show, Bruce Kulick played guitar, Max Carl sang...but it was not Grand Funk RR. The only band to really get it right was Led Zeppelin. Without Bonham, they knew that they product that would have been onstage was not really Led Zeppelin. They made have done a couple one-offs as Zeppelin with guest drummers but they never tried to "carry on" - even when they did tour, they called themselves Plant-Page.

[@JackTheladd]

Check the story about when Tony Iommi went for an audition, and tried to sit down with Ian when he was eating...Needless to say, Tony went straight home.

[@rocksteady9115]

Ha ha no one is allowed to sit with Ian, bad lad Tony

[@danlosgar9194]

It's funny hearing about bandmates getting let go while their leader was unfortunately losing his singing voice to some degree. Believe me, Tull was my favourite rock band from '69 until 2012 and now I can't listen or watch any music or video from Ian's re-formed Tull bands...'Just can't!

[@woofiedog7452]

Made me laugh when he said he had studied architecture. He treated this interview as though he was describing houses: first by describing foundations for us: of displaying his own solid self esteem - happier in the smaller but still significant sized band, as led by Ian, compared to giants like Led Zepplin- clearly the big, ruthless firing-happy cheese - yet he manages to somehow say that despite this great house that Ian was head of and of which he played a significant part - as did all the band members - it was basically a semi 3 bed living next door compared to the mansion down the road of which Martin was sometimes invited (as owned by Paul McCartney and Robert Plant). What that showed was that Ian was a big fish in a small pond, whilst he did better by sometimes being invited to be a smaller fish in a much larger one that far exceeded anything that Ian could lead. Well done Martin. You came across as a true gentleman and a confident one, unlike pussy willow Ian who is clearly arrogant and insecure and needs to feel big by getting rid of threats or just throwing his weight around needlessly.

[@davelogan9221]

Martin was as much or more of Tulls sound than Ian..Glenn Cornick as well as Clive Bunker.Ian was wrong to slight their abilities and parts On HIS SONG'S..

[@harpmanb]

Martin is such a nice bloke. Stardom's had no effect on him.

[@theloaner4378]

Disappointing edit in conversation when Blackmore is mentioned as liking J.C. on bass.Perhaps because Ritchie , in that same G.P. article Nov 78, brutally criticized Martins playing by saying "he hasnt learned to improvise too well, he seems to have a problem there with his fingers"...among other things.. I would like to hear what was edited out in that little segment.

[@stevehessburg8263]

Yeah, would be very interesting to have been a fly on the wall, just to see if my opinion of blackmore ran along parallel lines with mr barre. Obviously I've never met either of these fine guitarists, but i HAVE read and seen a few blackmore interviews, and they've left me with an opinion that while blackmore was undeniably a great player, that was exceeded only by his ego. I also think that at times his guitar work sounded a bit stiff and maybe too much emphasis was put on "finger speed " and many riffs lacked integrity? (Idk if that's the correct term). Sir Martin Barre would never be accused of being too mechanical by this listener. His fills, phrasing and tone have always been whatever he's wanted them to be-- excellent in all aspects, and after watching this series of interviews you can see why. I echo all the other comments and praise for both barre and eric blair for the end result . Hats off to both of you! Well done!

[@mattschwarz9285]

Earlier in this 3-part interview, Martin talks about how he can't just jump in and jam as fast as other musicians. Ritchie has always had extended jamming as part of his live act, I feel like Martin was always more of a thought-out, know-what-you're-going-to-play type musician. Both are great guitarists, but Martin is much more of a team player, and is much more consitent - when he needs to shine, he shines, when he needs to hold back, he holds back. Ritchie is a big ego - definitely great, but I've heard some stuff where he just keeps playing after he's run out of ideas. It's a different performance approach. As a listener, I definitely prefer to hear music that's planned out and perfected than extended, go-nowhere jams. I love bands like Cream and Deep Purple on album, but I find their live jams a little tedious (except Jon Lord's stuff - he was a brilliant improvisor, as well as a nice and humble man - maybe he and Martin Barre should've formed a band together called "Ego Free?")

[@theloaner4378]

@@mattschwarz9285 I agree with you man, but there is an edit of that segment I wouldve liked to hear.

[@dwightballard3868]

Ya totally agree- why dissolve Tull? John Evans was such an important part of the group- as many others who were let go. And I'm sorry but once Martin left, JT as I knew it was gone forever As much as I admire the incredible musician that IA is, I find the music since Martin's departure to be totally unlistenable. I met Martin once with other fans after a Tull show, and he was the nicest, most down to Earth person you could imagine. Well, there were many magical years being a Tull fan. Have to be grateful for the best musicianship in rock.

[@ernestturriziani2489]

AFTER 1968 IAN WAS THE MAIN COMPOSER AND THE BOSS. HE FELT IT WAS HIS BAND AND HE DECIDED WHO STAYED AND WHO GOT FIRED. HE FIRED GLENN CORNICK IN NOVEMBER 1970. GLENN WAS THEIR BEST BASS PLAYER. IAN DIDN'T LIKE HIM. IAN WAS THE BOSS.

[@kimonmatara6903]

I will never wrap my head around Barre’d expulsion from Tull. And for all the ridiculous spin, that’s what it was. The only word that springs to mind is “petty”. It’s just incredibly petty. And for what? For a better-oiled self-tribute act?

[@Basaljet]

It's about money. Doanne and Martin were contracted into a band. The current guys are probably on zero hours session arrangements. Nice guys but just marking time they are not a band. O'Hara certainly brings something. He fries other fish elsewhere, but doesn't get a free hand. So when Ian came up with new raft of otherwise bland pedestrian follow up material like Ecce Homo or whatever it is and TAAB2 nobody takes a slice. Evans Classical background and sad departure, Barries extraordinary drumming (for goodness sake Ian introduced "drum machines" which sounded lifeless and soulless) spelt the end together with Palmers influence that had been an increasing feature for the "Big Sound" in production. Noyce and Giddings were later lightweights who joined the disposable flotsam. It's not the way to treat people. Martin is too polite and gracious.

[@ottooldenhardt]

@@Basaljet -- a band I was in was luckily the opener for a band that used to open for Tull. I asked them about Ian and told them he was my idol. They told me that he is someone I probably would not want to meet personally these days, though he is undoubtedly great. I've chatted with Cornick (rest in peace) and Noyce-- both great guys. Giddings basically made Ian's Dances With God album

[@paulturzio1472]

And if you hear Ian's interview about the same - he'll say it was Martin's "inability to conform to modern Internet ways of communication". Let's face it, Ian wanted to continue for another 50 years, so he figures younger players will keep him alive that much longer. Perhaps his way of controlling the next generation of a Tull cover band. I digress... Martin was always as important to Tull's "broader" appeal once one got past the amazing Anderson writing and flute leads (Ian one of my all time favorites - period). But have you heard Ian's voice lately? Went to a show and there was a pre-recorded singer on a video. Walked out.

[@whistlerwind7422]

As much as I respect Ian's talents (one my favorite bands), he'll say anything to make himself look better. It's never his fault.

[@mattschwarz9285]

Well, if it's freed up Martin to write and record his own music and put on his own shows with a singer who can sing and a different selection of Tull classics, it's probably a win for Martin and Tull fans. I haven't been able to catch Martin yet, but I've heard he's great live and it's in smaller and more affordable venues - so again, a win for us!

[@1herbiekritzer]

Martin, Clive, Glen, John and Ian, my favorite band.

[@justgivemethetruth]

Love Martin's take on the song Sealion. But, sorry to say, Dan Crisp is not a good vocalist for any of Tull's stuff. I just cannot take his voice on those songs. Just like I cannot take even the Tull stuff now with Ian's voice.

[@whistlerwind7422]

Ian does use another vocalist for some of the material now, and he's pretty good. You can see it on TAAB2 dvd.

[@arneberg9072]

But way - I never expressed this b4 but it always been in my mind - why was Ian bullying Glascock ??!! Once I saw Jethro (well. acctually saw them 5 times ))) and Ian was mocky and clearly wasn't nice at all to Glascock. And this behaivour continues the hole concert true. A great great performance but this rude n' nasty horn against Glascock left a sour taste ---

[@olafsrensen9578]

Many talks about Paul Mcartney, and thats a right. But jetro Tull was much more interesting and Martin is a better player.

[@davelogan9221]

Ian was a real Wanker to fire Band..then it all went Bland musically.then when he left Martin behind I saw Tull in 2014 in Indy..and it was weak vocals and Guitar was not even close to Martin Barre..John Galway is Flute King..sorry Ian