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Ian Anderson - last update January 2008

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Ian Anderson, known throughout the world of rock music as the flute and voice behind the legendary Jethro Tull, celebrates his 40th year as a recording and performing musician in 2008.

Ian was born in 1947 in Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland. After attending primary school in Edinburgh, his family relocated to Blackpool in the north of England in 1959. Following a traditional Grammar school education, he moved on to Art college to study fine art before deciding on an attempt at a musical career.

Tull formed in 1968 out of the amalgamation of the John Evan Band and McGregor's Engine, two blues-based local UK groups.

Still enjoying a lengthy and ongoing career, Jethro Tull has released 30 studio and live albums, selling more than 60 million copies since the band first performed at London's famous Marquee club.

After undertaking more than 2500 concerts in 40 countries throughout three decades, Tull plays typically 100 concerts each year to longstanding, as well as new fans worldwide.

Widely recognized as the man who introduced the flute to rock music, Ian Anderson remains the crowned exponent of the popular and rock genres of flute playing. So far, no pretender to the throne has stepped forward. Ian also plays ethnic flutes and whistles together with acoustic guitar and the mandolin family of instruments, providing the acoustic textures which are an integral part of most of the Tull repertoire.

Anderson has so far recorded four diverse solo albums in his career: 1983's "Walk Into Light", the flute instrumental "Divinities" album for EMI's Classical Music Division in 1995 which reached number one in the relevant Billboard chart, and the more recently recorded acoustic collections of songs, "The Secret Language of Birds", and “Rupi’s Dance”. New recordings are scheduled for rcording in 2008.

In addition to Tull concert tours, Ian Anderson appears more and more frequently in solo concerts with orchestras and in his other eclectic acoustic shows.

Anderson lives on a farm in the southwest of England where he has a recording studio and office. He has been married for 25 years to Shona who is also an active director of their music and other companies. They have two children - James and Gael - who work in the music and TV/film industries respectively.

His hobbies include the growing of many varieties of hot chile peppers, the study and conservation of the 26 species of small wildcats of the world and collecting mechanical watches and vintage Leica and other cameras. He reluctantly admits to owning digital cameras and scanners for his work on the photographic promotional images related to Tull as well as his solo career.

In 2006, he was awarded a Doctorate in Literature from Heriot Watt University in Edinburgh, the Ivor Award for International Achievement in Music and, in the New Years Honours List 2008, an MBE for services to music.

Ian owns no fast car, never having taken a driving test, and has a wardrobe of singularly uninspiring and drab leisurewear. He still keeps a couple of off-road competition motorcycles, a few sporting guns and a saxophone which he promises never to play again.

He declares a lifelong commitment to music as a profession, being far too young to hang up his hat or his flute, although the tights and codpiece have long since been consigned to some forgotten bottom drawer.

Ian chats about his career with India's Mid-Day in this 1/04 interview.



Wittering about Cats

Ian is a cat-lover, and supports the preservation of endangered small-cat species.

Caring for Kittens

From liter boxes to medical care, Ian covers the basics for proud, new parents of domesticated felines

A DVT Victim

Ian writes about his nearly fatal contraction of DVT and tips to prevent you from becoming its next target.

Guide to Indian Food

Ian loves Indian food and dishes up his tips for the novice and the well-seasoned gastronome.

Books on Tull

Ian's ode to the many valiant authors chronicling the band's history (in fans section).