48 Hours June 20, 2013

A work in prog

Ian Anderson (front) with his touring band: “I don’t pay attention to other people’s music and haven’t since my late teens or early 20s.” 26 Jethro Tull’s evergreen founder is a man of many opinions perform dressed like a psychedelic and he’s not afraid to offer them. Charley Lanyon discovers Mercutio, his straggly shoulder-length hair going in all directions. Standing on one why is not your average ageing rocker foot, wearing tights and a codpiece, flute proudly held high, he became the ACONVERSATION WITH Ian Anderson, around doing whatever drugs they were unofficial symbol of the band. Two of the flautist frontman of prog rock oddballs doing,” he says. He says he has no use for Jethro Tull’s biggest hits, Aqualung (1971) Jethro Tull, can be a disorienting drugs at all, although he admits he “used and Bungle in the Jungle (1974), show just experience. A 20-minute interview easily to smoke cigarettes” and still enjoys “a how hard it is to categorise their sound. stretches into an hour and questions as beer and a glass of whisky”. Aqualung, a character sketch of a seemingly innocuous as “What do you do Whatever wild days he may have had broken down and possibly paedophilic to relax when not on tour?” elicit opinions are behind him – Anderson says his friends homeless person, is built around a heavy on everything from overpopulation to these days are mainly “clergy, politicians, guitar line that makes it sound like an early groupies, from the dismal state of the writers and farmers” – but when it comes Black Sabbath song. Bungle in the Jungle is Anglican Church to the “draconian” feed to music he has no intention of slowing abouncy and eccentric flute-driven song regulations constraining commercial down. He thinks his rocking gets better as replete with sound effects of lions roaring. salmon farmers. he ages: “I am much more moved by what I Perhaps Anderson’s style is ever- Those familiar with Anderson’s music write today and play today than what I changing because he doesn’t actually listen will not be surprised at the breadth of his wrote back then. I was fumbling then. I’m to music himself. “I don’t want to dilute my interests or the passion of his opinions. an experienced musician now.” music,” he explains. “I don’t pay attention While casual concert goers may become Jethro Tull got their start in England in to other people’s music and haven’t since distracted by Jethro Tull’s theatrical stage 1968. Anderson, who had been in bands my late teens or early 20s.” shows, and Anderson’s tendency to play toying with blues and soul music, wanted Most the group’s tour is dedicated to the flute standing on one leg like a theatrical performances of their 1972 possessed Elizabethan flamingo, true fans concept album and –who are many and diehard – are drawn to Anderson’s solo follow-up Thick as a Brick Anderson’s lyrics, which are sometimes 2: Whatever Happened to Gerald Bostock? confrontational and often inscrutable. I am more moved (2012). But Tull fans will be pleased to hear When we speak, Anderson is in his by what I’m writing that the Hong Kong show will be one of a studio in England rehearsing for the few special tour dates at which the band tour and spending time with his and playing today will play a retrospective set of its most granddaughter. Discussion about than what I wrote popular songs. Anderson says the show music and Jethro Tull history quickly features “the most loved and hated gives way to the state of the world, back then. I was songs of my career”. religion and politics. When asked why fumbling then This trip will be Anderson’s second to he chose the flute he says he liked it Hong Kong, but don’t expect to see him on “because it was shiny” and he could the tourist trail. He is a reluctant traveller no longer afford the payments on his who prefers a night in his own bed to a day guitar. He doesn’t, it seems, have in a faraway city. He has a “get in, do it and much to say about his chosen instrument. to try something entirely new to set go home” approach to touring. Instead, the 65-year-old would like to himself apart from the welter of white Still, he confesses, “It will be a shame talk about his grandchildren and what he blues bands in Britain. He succeeded. not to see the enormous changes in Hong sees as the biggest crisis facing the planet: In the intervening decades Jethro Tull Kong over the past 20 years.” overpopulation. “I have two children and would feature a perpetually shifting roster Even though he has only been here two grandchildren and I hope it stops at of musicians and explore music styles from once, he talks about seeing Hong Kong like that. I’m a passionate believer in jazz to folk rock, from world music to hard seeing an old friend: “I think I’ll say, ‘Boy, responsible parenting, which means I’m –or what is described on their website as you’ve grown taller!’” really quite opposed in a moral sense “medium hard” – rock. [email protected] to large families.” The band became famous for its Anderson is at pains to stress that he is theatrical stage shows and bizarre pseudo- Ian Anderson plays the Very Best of not your typical rock star. “The last thing I historical costumes. Anderson’s stage Jethro Tull, AsiaWorld-Expo, June 24, 8pm. wanted was half-naked girls running persona was especially singular: he would Ticketing inquiries: 2781 5551

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