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roryfaninva
Martin Barre, Clive Bunker, and Dee Palmer (all from the Classic 70's lineup) are touring a "50th Anniversary of Aqualung" show worldwide later this year and next year. Lots of online prog fans insist that Barre's band is the one to catch and that the current version of Tull with a vocally compromised Ian Anderson is decidedly sub par.
Seeing Martin Barre and Clive Bunker (and jesus Dee Palmer who's apparently 84, I don't even know how they'd get him on stage for a rock concert) do Aqualung in full without Ian seems like it would be very similar to when I saw Denny Laine do Band On The Run without Paul. Or Joey Molland do Badfinger's Straight Up without Pete Ham. Or seeing Billy Joel's backup band play a tiny theater in NJ while Billy played that exact same night at MSG! Now I'm not criticizing any of those shows, because I went to them and they were actually very enjoyable. A key element was missing, but it wasn't as pathetic as it would seem. In all honesty, its the show I'd rather go see, because I never feel the bands get as much credit as the frontmen and you know its gonna be sparsely attended so I like to support them. Ian has the Jethro Tull name, as he should, so he gets loads of money just from that. I did know he didn't sound great anymore but ugh, I hadn't seen those videos before. Its actually crazy, because his problem seems he just can't keep up. He can't reach some notes, but largely the voice sounds exactly the same! Its just trailing behind the music.
I've always had a love-hate relationship with Jethro Tull. They were a great band, but to me it ends with Thick As A Brick. Couldn't care less about anything after that, but those first 5 albums are very solid. I do think Aqualung very easily stands above the rest. Its the only one they truly got right and fired on all cylinders. Second to me is easily Stand Up which is almost just as good, and in some spots better, but Aqualung to me is just note perfect. Benefit, This Was and Thick As A Brick are all very good as well, but those two are killer, and their live performances up to 72 are fantastic. There was no one like them. I know them FROM the Rock And Roll Circus, for the Stones connection, and for that anyone on that show will have a special place in my heart.
The eternal argument I have with my father is whether they belong in the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. He insists they do and I personally do not think they qualify. I always rephrase, for what the Hall has become, I have no problem with them going in. Certainly above another Madonna or Janet Jackson. But if I was truly trying to make a Hall Of Fame amongst the Stones and the Beatles and Zeppelin, they would not qualify for me. I don't think Aqualung makes a Hall Of Fame induction and just because they carried on to me doesn't mean they deserve it. They would be in my Very Good Hall Of Fame but not the best. I always think of them differently than people like the Moody Blues that were ignored for years. The Moody Blues had 7 incredible records, and more importantly hits on all of those albums for a long period of time. If you like later Tull I suppose you'd feel differently than me, but for me 4/5 years and 5 good albums, 2 of which are classics with only one being up there with the greats of all time, does not equal guys like Springsteen and The Who and many others who had several front to back phenomenal albums and careers. Jethro Tull is a great band, but I try not to over inflate them. They are similar to Mott The Hoople to me: a great excellent band when I want them, but a rank below the stone cold classics. And not a knock to them. Thanks for the note about Martin and Clive touring. I might catch that.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2021-08-02 23:52 by RollingFreak.