Why Jethro Tull's Ian Anderson Chose the Flute Over Guitar | The Big Interview

​‪@officialjethrotull‬'s Ian Anderson sits down with Dan Rather to talk about his love of classical music, how guitarists like Muddy Waters and Eric Clapton influenced him, why he ultimately chose the flute as his instrument of choice, and more on The Big Interview!
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#jethrotull

[@mr.mrs.d.7015]

Jethro Tull is still one of the best concerts Ive ever experienced

[@mackydog99]

Certainly was the best I've ever seen.

[@carbonunit57]

I've probably been to 80 concerts and Jethro Tull is one of best I've ever seen. Probably top 3.

[@msmegs93]

Me as well. And I’ve been to some of the best concerts ever from that era.

[@howlinhog]

Jethro Tull. Best concert I've ever been to.

[@rebeccasciutto2722]

I love watching and listening to Ian Anderson playing the flute. I've been a fan for 53 years and had the privilege of seeing him four times starting in 1973 when he was promoting Passion Play. We could even stand next to the stage and watch. I love Jethro Tull and have most of their albumns.

[@9jmorrison]

Jethro Tull (baptised 30 March 1674 - 21 February 1741, New Style) was an English agriculturist from Berkshire who helped to bring about the British Agricultural Revolution of the 18th century. He perfected a horse-drawn seed drill in 1701 that economically sowed the seeds in neat rows, and later developed a horse-drawn hoe. Tull's methods were adopted by many landowners and helped to provide the basis for modern agriculture.

[@Chafflives]

Thank-you. He also made some good music, 👍😬

[@stretch753]

"An unidentifiable thing" is what draws most musicians.

[@jesterman1302]

Ian's acoustic guitar playing is criminally underrated

[@patricbrayden4598]

One of my musical idols-- tight, complex time signatures, startling syncopation, mind-bending lyrics, and a medieval voice. I'm hearing Thick as a Brick in my head right now 😊.

[@socallars3748]

Tull is the only "progressive rock" band that I truly love. And I know Ian probably cringes when he hears the word "progressive," but it's said a lot about them. Yes, their music is technically complex but it also has a deeply organic nature, simultaneously sophisticated and raw. A wonderful gift from Ian to the world.

[@timothyclaffey9138]

First saw JT opening, along with Savoy Brown, for Led Zeppelin in the summer of '69 at The Kinetic Playground in Chicago. Unforgettable. All 3 bands. Then, several weeks later, same venue, Zeppellin supported by Santana and Lighthouse. Truly the golden age of live music!

[@johnjoestar4366]

Best band ever ❤ wish I could have seen them live in the 70s

[@sjladuke75]

Ian Anderson inspired my daughter to start flute lessons. She was just 7 when I took her to see him at the Bardavon Opera House in the Hudson Valley, NY. She loved playing flute & piccolo & eventually became first flute in Garden State Youth Orchestra in NJ, playing until she went to college/medical school.

[@jamesohara4232]

Wow. Very cool.

[@lostkeysofmerdenoms6507]

Does she still play ?

[@FerroEquus-262]

It wouldn't be Tull without the flute. Iconic band, iconic music

[@marcdavis2745]

I Saw Tull In 79 at TheMeadowlands StormWatch Tour Awesome

[@mackydog99]

The Stormwatch tour was so so awesome. Did they turn the stage into the deck of a three masted sailing ship?

[@belindahutchings9420]

He was so innovative in his composition, his lyrics and in his flute playing. Much of what he did as a self-taught rogue is now considered legitimate and advanced technique.

[@lousekoya1803]

Thank you so much !

[@jameslifetimelearner]

A cup of coffee is only as good as the water used for the brew - Anderson

[@lendifilippi5991]

Im blown away by the intellectualism of Ian Anderson! Truly a pleasant surprise! “Locomotive Breath” truly inspiring!

[@Elpuma1374]

I discovered Jethro Tull's music at a Record store in Rome, back in 1976 or so, and it was love at the first (sight) listening. I got my record and a Cassette, so I could listen to their music while driving on the Yugoeslavian Adriatic Coast on my way to Tirana, Albania, where I was working at the time. Thank you Mr Ian Anderson for all the happy times and musical entertainment you give to the world. Thank you Mr. Dan Rather for this wonderful interview: you too have been an idol of mine in the field of journalism.

[@DJS-mx8oz]

Legend creator.

[@chrismorgan7494]

Ian is a fabulous guitarist.

[@MT-or7lv]

Tull is such an amazing band. I love them!

[@maxkillian2262]

Who knew Walter white survived breaking bad and is hiding in plain sure as Ian Anderson

[@ToTallTim..]

Hahaha!

[@rosea9737]

Happy Birthday Ian! ✨✨💗✨✨

[@Pierre50mm]

Ian flute playing is awsome. Another kind of flute playing I love is the Irish whistle in Irish and celtic music. Great trad music.

[@michaelschneider-]

Excellent ...

[@ricenglish4556]

I love Rock and always have. Tull is my favorite band and I admire Ian and Martin Barre (lead guitar) more than anyone musically. I loved that early Rockabilly in the 50's with Eddie Cochrane, Elvis, Carl Perkins, and Johnny Burnette. I've tried that Muddy Waters, Bo Diddley, Buddy Guy, B.B. King and so on and so forth. For whatever reason, I just don't hear it. That includes Clapton, also. It just leaves me blank and motionless. Others love it and more power to them, but I have a hard time finding any melody there. Everybody likes what they like.

[@lindaellen808]

Love Dan Rather interviews.

[@pb12661]

Do you know what Dan Rather's favorite song is? What's the Frequency, Kenneth?

[@joeeyaura]

oh man i had no idea Andrew Lincoln was his son in law thats pretty cool.

[@christophercoughlin9493]

One of the best songwriters ever. Completely unique melodies and lyrics with interesting subjects. Songs in the key of intelligence you might call them.

[@storetai]

A passion play I’ve loved so much since it came out Creative courige never heard anything like it anywhere Mr..Stai

[@alanserjeant4947]

Cliff Richards imported the first Stratocaster into the UK for Hank Marvin.

[@UncleRidgley]

Ian is great on guitar

[@cadfael4598]

Hip hip Bouree

[@mellow5123]

Ever interesting Ian. And maybe not many know he's a staunch environmentalist.

[@dscarty]

Thanks to Rosand Roland Kirk for his influence on Anderson’s flute playing.

[@reidwhitton6248]

Rahsaan

[@ZBR_ProXP]

He always has to answer the same question

[@uweschmidt8772]

It's the same like Eddie Van Halen. Self-taught genius musicans are most known to stretch the boundries of their instrument by ignoring the rules.

[@trowerz]

People in the 70s played a lot of air flute✌️

[@philstevens9914]

He didn't, he chose both, and all kinds of other stringed instruments. But initially he concentrated on flute because it was easier to transport on a bus to rehearsals.

[@BillyOlson-o1v]

Ian Anderson has a very eloquent manner of speaking, very similar to Neil Peart....even his deep voice sounds the same.....

[@thefuzzboxx1018]

Wish they would get someone else to do these interviews.

[@ericajohnson7535]

he picked up the flute and nailed it in a few months. lol and people major in music, and can't play anything close to what he's doing.

[@worthington5687]

Love all his stuff but boooo for not crediting Johann Bach for penning Bourrée on 1969's Stand Up LP.

[@QuillerIris]

Hall Timothy Brown Donna Robinson Daniel

[@guntherultraboltnovacrunch5248]

“We would be as happy as Larry if it were not for the rats”.

[@ralphowen3367]

Why not ask him really important questions like: Have you ever received the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ into your life, and why or why not?

[@RobBob555]

Aww he lost his Scottish accent 😢

[@tomp996]

tull should have stuck with guitar, his music lacks in the minds of true rockers

[@carollewis3912]

I'm a true rocker and his music lacks nothing to me. He plays the guitar and the flute just fine.

[@daveferraro4009]

He's Ian Anderson. Jethro Tull is the band name. Obviously you know too little about this music to have an opinion

[@williamjueschke9960]

Ian is always interesting to listen to.

[@socallars3748]

I love watching and listening to this well spoken, older British/Scottish gentleman and remembering that he's the same guy as the grinning, leaping wildman that was his stage persona. What a gifted musician, as well as a gift to all music lovers.

[@cherylb2008]

I saw him and he was continually moving around on stage, playing the flute and singing. Very energetic Very talented I do have to laugh when I think of an interview with Glenn Frey saying when the Eagles toured with him, They called him “ leaping leotard “

[@FerroEquus-262]

The Eagles had half the talent of Tull, still great though just not in the same league.

[@worthington5687]

I've wondered if Ian has knee problems after those years of the Pied Piper persona. 😉

[@holidaygiftmall2517]

I first saw Ian Anderson and his band Jethro Tull at the Los Angeles forum in 1973. It was their Aqualung tour and they sold out 3 night in a roll. My seats were so close I could see his expressions without binoculars. One of my All-Time Favorite shows! ☮

[@daveferraro4009]

I saw the Aqualung tour. It was in '71. '73 was two tours later.

[@pCeLobster]

He's always asked the same questions and he always gives the same answers and he's always interesting.

[@fernandodelgado1680]

Ian anderson idolo total gracias a el toco flauta traversa ✌💪🎶🎵🎼🖒👍👏👏👏saludos de uruguay

[@angelaleishman1570]

Ian is a musical genius and a charismatic and theatrical entertainer.

[@christiangrundmann3204]

My upbringing was glam rock, now 47 coming I very much enjoy the music with more understanding as an guitar player myself, I always feel drifting away when I hear their music 🎼 ❤peace love rock n roll

[@jesusamaya8943]

Blew my mind to find out he played harp when I finally listened to early Tull 😎🍻

[@crackingthesky]

jethro tull os the best prog band ever breathe if you agree

[@gregrankin8073]

🫵😅

[@eyeofamon]

Turned out Ian is a better acoustic guitarist than Eric Clapton. And Martin Barre is a better electric.

[@burrbonus]

Dan Rather joins Jethro Tull. Details at 11.

[@trowerz]

On what frequency?

[@burrbonus]

@@trowerz : If 11 isn't the correct answer, maybe Kenneth knows.

[@ИгорьМорсков-и7х]

Величайший творитель в музыке Привет из России.

[@caryheuchert]

Good interview with Ian!

[@johnnewyorker1786]

good choice