JETHRO TULL successfully trod the boundaries between Rock, Folk and Blues and have established a wide ranging fan base accumulated over many years of touring and globally successful albums. Recordings such as 'Aqualung', 'Benefit', Thick As A Brick' and 'Living In The Past' are now recognised as milestones of British Rock. The band set itself apart from the Progressive Rock pack with a reliance on quirky Folk stylings and the eccentric image, enchanting flute playing and deliberately oblique lyrics of frontman Ian Anderson. Such compelling individuality has witnessed the fostering of a loyal international fanbase that has weathered all trends.

Fronting Blackpool's JOHN EVAN'S SMASH in 1966 the Edinburgh born IAN ANDERSON came into contact with bass player Glenn Cornick, establishing the first link in the chain that would eventually lead to JETHRO TULL. Anderson had been active on the local Blackpool music scene from the delicate age of twelve, making his first impressions with THE BLADES. This formative outfit comprised Anderson, guitarist Michael Stephens, bassist Jeffrey Hammond-Hammond and drummer John Evans. With a name switch from THE BLADES to JOHN EVAN'S SMASH the group, Hammond-Hammond having been superseded by Cornick, took a leap of faith and relocated to Luton in 1967 in an endeavour to crack the London Blues market. However, they met with little support and dissolved. With the demise of the group Anderson and Cornick teamed up with THE TOGGERY FIVE and McGREGOR'S ENGINE men MICK ABRAHAMS and drummer Clive Bunker to form a new band unit. Initial live try outs were conducted under such guises as BAG OF BLUES and NAVY BLUE prior to settling on JETHRO TULL, the band taking their name after the 18th century author come agriculturist.

JETHRO TULL's undoubted eccentricity caught the attention of MGM Records who signed the band. The first JETHRO TULL single 'Sunshine Day', a Mick Abrahams composition, was miscredited to JETHROE TOE on the label. Following a string of residency gigs at London's Marquee Club JETHRO TULL gained the honours of supporting PINK FLOYD at their Hyde Park open air extravaganza in June 1968. A further outdoor gig, this time at the Salisbury Jazz & Blues Festival landed the band a deal with Island Records.

A second single 'A Song For Jeffrey', pulled in the "Art-Rock" crowd and the band's album began to sell well in America. However, Abrahams' desire to pull the band in a more Blues orientated direction than the Folky style being adopted by Anderson inevitably led to the guitarists departure. Abrahams formed BLODWYN PIG in a more Jazz Rock direction before assembling the MICK ABRAHAMS BAND (featuring Abrahams, keyboardist/guitarist Bob Sargent, bassist Walt Monaghan, drummer Ritchie Dharma and saxophonist Jack Lancaster). The MICK ABRAHAMS BAND released two chart albums; 'Mick Abrahams' A&M 4312 (1971) and 'At Last' Chrysalis CHR 1005 (1972).

Remarkably, for a short spell BLACK SABBATH guitarist TONY IOMMI, then pursuing the pre-Sabbath act EARTH, joined the band. Following an EARTH support slot to JETHRO TULL in Stafford On Trent, Iommi was poached into the ranks of the headlining act. Iommi actually left to join JETHRO TULL for all of two weeks, to replace the departed Mick Abrahams. Although the guitarist's stay was brief he did appear with the band at the legendary ROLLING STONES 'Rock n' Roll Circus' film session, recorded at Internel Studios in Stonebridge Park, Wembley during December. Iommi and Anderson did not gel and upon completion of rehearsals for the 'Rock n' Roll Circus' he would quit. The guitarist returned for the day of filming but upon asking to be re-instated discovered he had already been replaced. After a short liaison with THE NICE guitarist David O'List, a permanent replacement in Martin Barre entered the fold almost immediately as JETHRO TULL embarked upon a 1969 American tour supporting LED ZEPPELIN.

A 1969 single 'Love Story', the band's first showing in the singles charts, would resurface as a cover on SENSATIONAL ALEX HARVEY BAND's 1976 album 'The Penthouse Tapes'. Meantime, bassist Glenn Cornick departed following 1970's 'Benefit' album. He was superseded by Jeffrey Hammond. Cornick formed WILD TURKEY before joining German outfit KARTHAGO.

The following year JETHRO TULL released the massively successful 'Aqualung' album, but further line-up changes ensued with drummer Clive Bunker opting to leave to form the short lived JUDE with guitarist ROBIN TROWER and FRANKIE MILLER. JUDE soon floundered and the drummer joined Abrahams in BLODWYN PIG. Bunker was to journey through many acts and by 1998 was ensconced as a member of SAMSON.

Bunker's position was filled by an erstwhile colleague of Anderson's from JOHN EVAN'S SMASH in drummer Barriemore Barlow. Still, in late 1975 Jeffrey Hammond quit and in came former CHICKENSHACK and TOE FAT bassist John Glascock. In mid 1976 the band added keyboard player David Palmer, a former soldier in the Royal Horse Guards and Fellow of the Royal Academy of Music. JETHRO TULL scored a number one hit single in South Africa during 1976 with 'Locomotive Breath'. However, it was not JETHRO TULL that gained the accolade but South African teen Rock band RABBITT's version.

Further ructions in the line-up occurred in 1979 when Anderson started work on what was to have been intended as a solo album. Released in 1980 under the JETHRO TULL banner the 'A' album's band's line-up now comprised of Anderson, Barre, ex FAIRPORT CONVENTION bassist Dave Pegg, former CURVED AIR and ROXY MUSIC keyboard player Eddie Jobson and renowned session drummer Mark Craney.

Barriemore Barlow later turned up in TANDOORI CASSETTE and contributing drums to YNGWIE MALMSTEEN's 'Rising Force' album before managing Blackpool based Melodic Rockers KISS OF THE GYPSY in the early 90s.

Once more JETHRO TULL swapped members as later in 1980 Jobson opted for a solo career necessitating the recruitment of Peter John-Vitesse. Craney left to be replaced by former STEELEYE SPAN drummer Gerry Conway. Craney would later figure in TALLIS and TOWER OF POWER. The new JETHRO TULL line-up released the well received 'Broadsword And The Best' album, which saw renewed support from the Hard Rock audience. The band was still plagued with membership problems though and in 1982 Doanne Perry came in to replace Gerry Conway. Perry was to join New Zealand Rockers DRAGON for their 1986 'Dreams Of Ordinary Men album and was later to appear on the STORMING HEAVEN album, 'Life In Paradise' in 1996.

With the release in 1984 of 'Under Wraps' JETHRO TULL were caught adopting a far more radio friendly approach but still retaining their loyal fan following. In 1986 another ex-FAIRPORT CONVENTION member keyboard player Martin Allcock was added to the ranks. Vitesse would later work with BOX OF FROGS. JETHRO TULL would revitalise itself with the 'Crest Of A Knave' album. A distinctly tougher affair than its lineage might have led listeners to believe, the record scored well. The band, celebrating its twentieth anniversary, toured North America once more in 1988 and even walked away with a prestigious Grammy award, 'Crest Of A Knave' somewhat bizarrely being honoured the title 'Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance'. A lavish, 65 track box set to mark the double decade achievement also fared well with critics and fans alike.

By 1992 JETHRO TULL had a new drummer in David Mattocks as the band successfully began to negotiate the pitfalls of the 90s. Renewed interest in the band's catalogue had 'Locomotive Breath' being covered by German Metal veterans HELLOWEEN on their 'Metal Jukebox' album and also by the aptly named Swedish band LOCOMOTIVE BREATH on their debut album. The band would also feature on the 2002 Smallstone Records 'Sucking The '70s' compilation which featured covers of classic 70's tracks re-cut by modern day Rockers. Noted Stoners ALABAMA THUNDERPUSSY weighed in with their interpretation of JETHRO TULL's 'Hymn 34'.

JETHRO TULL would announce another exhaustive set of U.S. tour dates throughout the Summer and Fall of 2002 commencing in Alpine, California in late May. Former DEEP PURPLE guitarist Ritchie Blackmore gave a nod of appreciation in mid 2003 with his rendition of 'Rainbow Blues' included on the BLACKMORE'S NIGHT album 'Ghost Of A Rose'. The band was back in the news in early 2004 when it was revealed that erstwhile keyboard player David Palmer had undergone a sex change operation to become Dee Palmer. Aged 66, Palmer was planning on a solo career.

JETHRO TULL bounced back onto the North American stages in November of 2004 with a diverse half acoustic, half electric set comprising rarely heard tunes, material from IAN ANDERSON's 'Rupi's Dance' solo album alongside and traditional Christmas tunes.