I had too much to dream last night

I didn't sleep very well at all. The reason was, I couldn't relax without knowing why Jethro Tull was chosen as the great band's name. I spent the night tossing and turning, singing "Bungle in the Jungle" to myself over and over trying to sooth myself to sleep. Futile.

Here's the answer, from a website devoted to the band:

"The name Jethro Tull was first used by an aspiring blues rock band who were playing gigs outside of London using a different name every week.  Jethro Tull happened to prove popular and ended up sticking.  The band was dominated by the personalities of Ian Anderson and Mick Abrahams, guitarist and blues purist, who wanted to keep the band firmly in the mold of traditionally based blues.  In many ways, Anderson's flute and onstage antics were too unconventional, and often unwelcome, for the British blues audience at the time.  A rift formed, and Abrahams eventually departed the group after their first album to form Blodwyn Pig.  After trying out several replacement guitarists (including Black Sabbath's Tony Iommi), the band finally settled on Martin Barre, who would go on to become a permanent fixture in the band's lineup."

That's all very nice, but who the fuck is Jethro Tull? Not to worry, children: while you're busy at work doing what the corporation does, bookofjoe is ceaselessly searching for truth. Here it is: Jethro Tull was a British agronomist and inventor, whose landmark 1733 volume, "Horse-Hoeing Husbandry," revolutionized agriculture. I should sleep like a baby tonight.

"Thick As A Brick," one of Tull's albums, is an all-time great title, up there in the pantheon with "Meaty Beaty Big & Bouncy."

And, speaking of great titles and names, isn't "Electric Prunes" one of the 10 best group names ever?

Article Author: bookofjoe

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