El rock es un género musical que tuvo sus orígenes en los Estados Unidos a mediados del siglo XX y que posteriormente se extendió por todo el mundo durante las décadas siguientes. El rock es una fusión de varios géneros musicales, incluyendo el blues, el country y el folk, entre otros.
El sonido del rock se caracteriza por el uso de guitarras eléctricas, batería y bajo, aunque también se incorporan otros instrumentos como teclados y sintetizadores. Las letras de las canciones suelen abordar temas diversos como el amor, la política, la sociedad, la rebeldía y la juventud.
A lo largo de los años, el rock ha evolucionado en una amplia variedad de subgéneros, como el rock and roll, el rock progresivo, el punk, el heavy metal, el grunge, el indie rock y muchos otros. Algunas de las bandas más influyentes en la historia del rock incluyen a The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, The Rolling Stones, Queen, Nirvana y Radiohead, entre otras.
Jethro Tull es el nombre de una original banda de rock progresivo escocesa, que comenzó sus andaduras en 1968 y que, desde entonces, ha trabajado de forma ininterrumpida hasta el día de hoy, siendo, tras Rolling Stones (1962) y Le Orme (1966), entre otros, uno de los grupos de rock más antiguos todavía activo.
El nombre de la banda, extraño como suena, tiene un origen no menos particular. Su agente revisó libros de historia y llegó con el nombre de Jethro Tull, un agricultor inglés que había inventado un sistema revolucionario para la siembra.
Desde sus inicios, ha sido liderada por el virtuoso flautista Ian Anderson. La banda logró mucha popularidad en la primera mitad de los años setenta con álbumes históricos como Thick As A Brick y Aqualung, y llegó a convertirse en un grupo de culto.
Su primera formación estuvo integrada por Ian Anderson (voz, flauta y guitarra acústica), Glenn Cornick (bajo), Clive Bunker (batería) y Mick Abrahams (guitarra eléctrica). Su álbum de debut fue This Was. Al poco tiempo, Mick Abrahams se separó del grupo y fue sustituido por Martin Lancelot Barre, que forma parte del grupo desde entonces.
Su música, encuadrada en el rock progresivo, constituye una mezcla muy original de blues, folk inglés y hard rock, con pinceladas de música barroca, música medieval inglesa e incluso renacentista. El grupo desarrolla además una vertiente dedicada a originales canciones acústicas de difícil clasificación. En su sonido, destaca de forma particular la flauta de Ian Anderson, tocada de una forma magistral, que ha sido y sigue constituyendo una de las inconfundibles características de la banda, así como el sonido desgarrado de la guitarra eléctrica de Martin Barre, finamente entrelazado con el de la flauta de Anderson.
Durante algunos años, el grupo incluyó dos teclistas conjuntamente, con lo que obtuvo un sonido de particular colorido: los geniales John Evan y David Palmer. Este último realizaba además los arreglos orquestales. La formación también ha utilizado una gran variedad de instrumentos, barrocamente combinados, en su mayoría tocados por el propio Ian Anderson, como el laúd, la mandolina, la balalaica, el saxofón, la armónica, la gaita, el acordeón y diversas clases de flautas. Salvo contadas excepciones, todas los temas interpretados por el grupo han sido compuestos por Ian Anderson, auténtico líder y factótum del grupo. Anderson es un personaje camaleónico, tanto en su aspecto como en su capacidad para reinventar continuamente su propia música, lo cual ha permitido a Jethro Tull mantenerse joven a pesar de los años. El grupo ha pasado por diversas formaciones y estilos.
Integrantes:
Formación actual:
* Ian Anderson - flauta, voz, guitarra, mandolina y harmónica (principal compositor) * Martin Barre (desde 1969) - guitarra, flauta * Doane Perry (desde 1984) - batería * Andrew Giddings (desde 1991) - teclados * Jonathan Noyce (desde 1995) - bajo
Miembros anteriores:
Bateristas:
* Clive Bunker (1968-1971) * Barriemore Barlow (1971-1980) * Mark Craney (1980-1981) (fallecido) * Gerry Conway (1982, 1987) * Paul Burgess (1982) (solo en giras) * Dave Mattacks (1991-1992)
Bajistas:
* Jeffrey Hammond-Hammond (1970-1975) * John Glascock (1975-1979) (fallecido) * Glenn Cornick (1968-1970) * Tony Williams (1978) (reemplazo temporal de Glascock) * Dave Pegg (1979-1995) (bajo y mandolina)
Teclistas:
* John Evan (1970-1980) (teclados y órgano) * David Palmer (1976-1980) (actualmente Dee Palmer, después de su cambio de sexo) (teclados, órgano y dirección de orquesta) * Eddie Jobson (1980-1981) (teclados y violín) * Peter-John Vettese (1982-1985) (teclados y sintetizadores) * Maartin Allcock (1988-1992)
Guitarristas:
* Mick Abrahams (1968) (guitarra y voz) * Tony Iommi (1968) (en el Rolling Stones' Rock and Roll Circus)
Discografía 2005 The Broadsword and the Beast [Bonus Tracks] 2005 Under Wraps [Enhanced Disc] 2005 Crest of a Knave [Bonus Track] 2005 Aqualung Live 2004 Jethro Tull Christmas Album [Bonus DVD] 2004 Bursting Out: Jethro Tull Live [Remastered] 2004 Nothing Is Easy: Live at the Isle of Wight 1970 2004 Stormwatch [Bonus Tracks] 2004 A [Bonus DVD] 2003 Songs From the Wood [Bonus Tracks] 2003 A Passion Play [Bonus Tracks] 2003 Heavy Horses [Bonus Tracks] 2003 The Jethro Tull Christmas Album 2002 Minstrel in the Gallery [Bonus Tracks] 2002 War Child [Bonus Tracks] 2002 Too Old to Rock 'N' Roll: Too Young to Die! [Bonus Tracks] 2002 Living with the Past 2001 Stand Up [Bonus Tracks] 2001 This Was [Bonus Tracks] 2001 Benefit [Bonus Tracks] 1999 J-Tull Dot Com 1999 Aqualung [Bonus Tracks] 1998 Thick as a Brick [UK] 1997 Aqualung [Gold] 1996 BBC Radio 1 Live in Concert 1995 Roots to Branches 1995 In Concert 1994 Live at Hammersmith 1984 1993 The Beacons Bottom Tapes 1992 A Little Light Music 1991 Catfish Rising 1990 Living in the Past [Rush] 1990 Bursting Out: Jethro Tull Live [Bonus Tracks] 1989 Rock Island 1988 Jethro Tull 1987 Crest of a Knave 1984 Under Wraps 1982 The Broadsword and the Beast 1980 A 1979 Stormwatch 1978 Bursting Out: Jethro Tull Live 1978 Heavy Horses 1977 Songs From the Wood 1976 Too Old to Rock 'N' Roll: Too Young to Die! 1975 Minstrel in the Gallery 1974 War Child 1973 A Passion Play 1972 Thick as a Brick 1972 Living in the Past [UK] 1971 Aqualung 1970 Benefit 1969 Stand Up 1968 This Was
Box Set/Compilation All-Time Greatest HitsHome Stormwatch/Heavy Horses 2005 Jethro Tull/Ian Anderson [Collector's Edition] 2003 Classic Masters 2003 Essential 2001 Very Best of Jethro Tull 2001 3 for 1 1999 This Was/A 1999 Stand Up/Benefit 1998 The Originals 1998 Collection 1998 Through the Years 1997 The Ultimate Set 1996 Aqualung [25th Anniversary Special Edition] 1994 Nightcap: The Unreleased Masters 1973-1991 1993 The Best of Jethro Tull 1993 The 25th Anniversary Boxed Set 1991 First 20 Years [Atlantic Video] 1988 20 Years of Jethro Tull 1988 Twenty Years of Jethro Tull: The Definitive Edition 1988 20 Years of Jethro Tull: Highlights 1985 A Classic Case 1985 Original Masters 1977 Repeat: The Best of Jethro Tull, Vol. 2 1976 M.U.: The Best of Jethro Tull 1972 Living in the Past 1972 Living in the Past [Truncated]
Videos 2005 Nothing Is Easy: Live at the Isle of Wight 1970 [Special Edition DVD] 2005 Nothing Is Easy: Live at the Isle of Wight 1970 [DVD] 2003 A New Day Yesterday 1969-1994 2002 Living with the Past [DVD] 1994 25th Anniversary Video 1992 First 20 Years [Virgin Video] 1991 Slipstream [video]
http://www.j-tull.com/
Really don't mind if you sit this one out
My words but a whisper, your deafness, a shout
I may make you feel but I can't make you think
Your sperm's in the gutter, your love's in the sink
So you ride yourselves over the fields
And you make all your animal deals
And your wise men don't know how it feels
To be thick as a brick
And the sand castle virtues are all swept away
In the tidal destruction, the moral melee
The elastic retreat rings the close of play
As the last wave uncovers the newfangled way
But your new shoes are worn at the heels
And your suntan does rapidly peel
And your wise men don't know how it feels
To be thick as a brick
And the love that I feel is so far away
I'm a bad dream that I just had today
And you shake your head
And say that it's a shame
Spin me back down the years
And the days of my youth
Draw the lace and black curtains
And shut out the whole truth
Spin me down the long ages
Let them sing the song
See there, a son is born
And we pronounce him fit to fight
There are blackheads on his shoulders
And there he pees himself in the night
We'll make a man of him
Put him to trade
Teach him to play monopoly
And how to sing in the rain
The poet and the painter
Casting shadows on the water
As the sun plays on the infantry
Returning from the sea
The doer and the thinker, no allowance for the other
As the failing light illuminates the mercenary's creed
The home fire burning, the kettle almost boiling
But the master of the house is far away
The horses stamping
Their warm breath clouding
In the sharp and frosty morning of the day
And the poet lifts his pen
While the soldier sheaths his sword
And the youngest of the family
Is moving with authority
Building castles by the sea
He dares the tardy tide
To wash them all aside
The cattle quietly grazing at the grass
Down by the river
Where the swelling mountain water
Moves onward to the sea
The builder of the castles
Renews the age-old purpose
And contemplates the milking girl
Whose offer is his need
The young men of the household
Have all gone into service
And are not to be expected for a year
The innocent young master
Thoughts moving ever faster
Has formed the plan
To change the man he seems
And the poet sheaths his pen
While the soldier lifts his sword
And the oldest of the family
Is moving with authority
Coming from across the sea
He challenges the son
Who puts him to the run
What do you do when the old man's gone?
Do you want to be him?
And your real self sings the song
Do you want to free him?
No one to help you get up steam
And the whirlpool turns you way off beam
I've come down from the upper class
To mend your rotten ways
My father was a man of power
Whom everyone obeyed
So come on all you criminals!
I've got to put you straight
Just like I did with my old man
Twenty years too late
Your bread and water's going cold
Your hair is short and neat
I'll judge you all and make damn sure
That no one judges me
You curl your toes in fun
As you smile at everyone
You meet the stares
You're unaware
That your doings aren't done
And you laugh most ruthlessly
As you tell us what not to be
But how are we supposed to see
Where we should run?
I see you shuffle in the courtroom
With your rings upon your fingers
And your downy little sidies
And your silver-buckle shoes
Playing at the hard case
You follow the example of the comic-paper idol
Who lets you bend the rules
So, come on you childhood heroes
Won't you rise up from the pages
Of your comic-books, you super crooks
And show us all the way?
Well, make your will and testament
Won't you join your local government?
We'll have superman for president
Let robin save the day
You put your bet on number one
And it comes up every time
The other kids have all backed down
And they put you first in line
And so you finally ask yourself
Just how big you are
And you take your place in a wiser world
Of bigger motor cars
(And you wonder who to call on)
So, where the hell was biggles
When you needed him last Saturday?
And where are all the sportsmen
Who always pulled you through?
They're all resting down in cornwall
Writing up their memoirs
For a paperback edition of the boy scout manual
See there, a man is born
And we pronounce him fit for peace
There's a load lifted from his shoulders
With the discovery of his disease
We'll take the child from him, put it to the test
Teach it to be a wise man, how to fool the rest
We will be gearing toward the average
Rather than the exceptional
God's an overwhelming responsibility
We walked through the maternity ward
And saw 218 babies wearing nylons
It says here that cats
Are on the upgrade, upgrade?
In the clear white circles of morning wonder
I take my place with the lord of the hills
And the blue-eyed soldiers
Stand slightly discolored
In neat little rows
Sporting canvas frillswith their jock-straps pinching
They slouch to attention
Whilst queuing for sarnies
At the office canteen
Singing, how's your grannie?
And good old ernie
He coughed up a tenner
On a premium bond win
The legends worded in the ancient tribal hymn
Lie cradled in the seagull's call
And all the promises they made
Are ground beneath the sadist's fall
The poet and the wise man stand behind the gun
And signal for the crack of dawn, light the sun
Do you believe in the day?
The dawn creation of the kings has begun
Soft venus lonely maiden
Brings the ageless one
Do you believe in the day?
The fading hero has returned to the night
And fully pregnant with the day
Wise men endorse the poet's sight
Do you believe in the day?
Do you? Believe in the day!
Let me tell you the tales of your life
Of your love and the cut of the knife
The tireless oppression the wisdom instilled
The desire to kill or be killed
Let me sing of the losers who lie
In the street as the last bus goes by
The pavements are empty
The gutters run red
While the fool toasts his God in the sky
So, come all ye young men
Who are building castles
Kindly state the time of the year
And join your voices in a hellish chorus
Mark the precise nature of your fear
Let me help you to pick up your dead
As the sins of the father are fed
With the blood of the fools
And the thoughts of the wise
And from the pan under your bed
Let me make you a present of song
As the wise man breaks wind and is gone
While the fool with the hour-glass
Is cooking his goose
And the nursery rhyme winds along
So, come all ye young men
Who are building castles
Kindly state the time of the year
And join your voices in a hellish chorus
Mark the precise nature of your fear
See, the summer lightning
Casts its bolts upon you
And the hour of judgement draweth near
Would you be the fool stood in the suit of armour
Or the wiser man who rushes clear?
So, come on you childhood heroes
Won't you rise up from the pages
Of your comic-books, your super-crooks
And show us all the way?
Well, make your will and testament
Won't you join your local government?
We'll have superman for president
Let robin save the day
So, where the hell was biggles
When you needed him last Saturday?
And where are all the sportsmen
Who always pulled you through?
They're all resting down in cornwall
Writing up their memoirs
For a paperback edition of the boy scout manual
Of course
So you ride yourselves over the fields
And you make all your animal deals
And your wise men don't know how it feels
To be thick as a brick