Ian Scott Anderson, MBE (b. 1947) is a Scottish singer, songwriter, and mul… Read Full Bio ↴Ian Scott Anderson, MBE (b. 1947) is a Scottish singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist, best known for his work as the leader and flautist of British rock band Jethro Tull.
Anderson was born on 10th August 1947, the youngest of three children. He spent the first part of his childhood in Edinburgh, Scotland. He was influenced by his father's big band and jazz records and the emergence of rock music, though disenchanted with the "show biz" style of early American rock and roll stars like Elvis Presley. His family moved to Blackpool, Lancashire in 1959, where he gained a traditional education at Blackpool Grammar School. He went on to study fine art at Blackpool College of Art from 1964 to 1966.
In 1963, he formed The Blades with school friends Barriemore Barlow (drums), John Evan (keyboards), Jeffrey Hammond (bass), and Michael Stephens (guitar). This was a soul and blues band, with Anderson on vocals and harmonica. At this time Anderson abandoned his ambition to play electric guitar, allegedly because he felt he would never be "as good as Eric Clapton". He traded his electric guitar in for a flute which, after some weeks of practice, he found he could play fairly well in a rock and blues style. He continued to play acoustic guitar, using it as a melodic as well as rhythmic instrument. As his career progressed, he added soprano saxophone, mandolin, keyboards, and other instruments to his arsenal.
His famous tendency to stand on one leg while playing the flute came about by accident. As related in the "Isle of Wight" video, he had been inclined to stand on one leg while playing the harmonica, holding the microphone stand for balance. During the long stint at the Marquee Club, a journalist described him, wrongly, as standing on one leg to play the flute. He decided to live up to the reputation, albeit with some difficulty. His early attempts are visible in The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus film appearance of Jethro Tull. In later life he was surprised to learn of iconic portrayals of various flute playing divinities, particularly Krishna and Kokopelli, which show them standing on one leg.
While Anderson has recorded a small number of critically acclaimed projects under his own name, and frequently makes guest appearances in other artists' work, he has been identified in the public eye as the frontman of Jethro Tull for forty-four years. This is undoubtedly because a signature motif of Anderson's career has been a highly distinctive stage image, which has often been counter to the prevailing rock music culture. While he has habitually drawn inspiration from British folklore – at different times deploying stylistic elements of mediæval jester, Elizabethan minstrel, English country squire and Scottish laird – at other times he has appeared as astronaut, biker, pirate, and vagrant. His personae often involve a large degree of self-parody.
As a flautist, Anderson is self-taught; his style, which often includes a good deal of flutter tonguing and occasionally singing or humming (or even snorting) while playing, was influenced by Rahsaan Roland Kirk. In 2003 he recorded a composition called Griminelli's Lament in honour of his friend, the Italian flautist Andrea Griminelli. In the 1990s he began working with simple bamboo flutes. He uses techniques such as over-blowing and hole-shading to produce note-slurring and other expressive techniques on this otherwise simple instrument.
He has recorded several songs on which he plays all the instruments as well as carrying out all the engineering and production (such as 1988's "Another Christmas Song"). Anderson's music blends styles such as folk, jazz, blues, rock, and pop. His lyrics are frequently complex, (mostly) tongue-in-cheek criticism of the absurd rules of society and/or religion ("Sossity, You're a Woman"; "Hymn 43"; "Thick as a Brick"). He often combines lyrics with other leitmotifs such as folk, mythological, fantastic ("The Minstrel in the Gallery", "Jack-in-the-Green", "Broadsword and the Beast"). In the 1990s and 2000s, Anderson's songs often capture 'snapshots' of his daily life ("Old Black Cat", "Rocks on the Road").
Anderson was born on 10th August 1947, the youngest of three children. He spent the first part of his childhood in Edinburgh, Scotland. He was influenced by his father's big band and jazz records and the emergence of rock music, though disenchanted with the "show biz" style of early American rock and roll stars like Elvis Presley. His family moved to Blackpool, Lancashire in 1959, where he gained a traditional education at Blackpool Grammar School. He went on to study fine art at Blackpool College of Art from 1964 to 1966.
In 1963, he formed The Blades with school friends Barriemore Barlow (drums), John Evan (keyboards), Jeffrey Hammond (bass), and Michael Stephens (guitar). This was a soul and blues band, with Anderson on vocals and harmonica. At this time Anderson abandoned his ambition to play electric guitar, allegedly because he felt he would never be "as good as Eric Clapton". He traded his electric guitar in for a flute which, after some weeks of practice, he found he could play fairly well in a rock and blues style. He continued to play acoustic guitar, using it as a melodic as well as rhythmic instrument. As his career progressed, he added soprano saxophone, mandolin, keyboards, and other instruments to his arsenal.
His famous tendency to stand on one leg while playing the flute came about by accident. As related in the "Isle of Wight" video, he had been inclined to stand on one leg while playing the harmonica, holding the microphone stand for balance. During the long stint at the Marquee Club, a journalist described him, wrongly, as standing on one leg to play the flute. He decided to live up to the reputation, albeit with some difficulty. His early attempts are visible in The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus film appearance of Jethro Tull. In later life he was surprised to learn of iconic portrayals of various flute playing divinities, particularly Krishna and Kokopelli, which show them standing on one leg.
While Anderson has recorded a small number of critically acclaimed projects under his own name, and frequently makes guest appearances in other artists' work, he has been identified in the public eye as the frontman of Jethro Tull for forty-four years. This is undoubtedly because a signature motif of Anderson's career has been a highly distinctive stage image, which has often been counter to the prevailing rock music culture. While he has habitually drawn inspiration from British folklore – at different times deploying stylistic elements of mediæval jester, Elizabethan minstrel, English country squire and Scottish laird – at other times he has appeared as astronaut, biker, pirate, and vagrant. His personae often involve a large degree of self-parody.
As a flautist, Anderson is self-taught; his style, which often includes a good deal of flutter tonguing and occasionally singing or humming (or even snorting) while playing, was influenced by Rahsaan Roland Kirk. In 2003 he recorded a composition called Griminelli's Lament in honour of his friend, the Italian flautist Andrea Griminelli. In the 1990s he began working with simple bamboo flutes. He uses techniques such as over-blowing and hole-shading to produce note-slurring and other expressive techniques on this otherwise simple instrument.
He has recorded several songs on which he plays all the instruments as well as carrying out all the engineering and production (such as 1988's "Another Christmas Song"). Anderson's music blends styles such as folk, jazz, blues, rock, and pop. His lyrics are frequently complex, (mostly) tongue-in-cheek criticism of the absurd rules of society and/or religion ("Sossity, You're a Woman"; "Hymn 43"; "Thick as a Brick"). He often combines lyrics with other leitmotifs such as folk, mythological, fantastic ("The Minstrel in the Gallery", "Jack-in-the-Green", "Broadsword and the Beast"). In the 1990s and 2000s, Anderson's songs often capture 'snapshots' of his daily life ("Old Black Cat", "Rocks on the Road").
In The Grip Of Stronger Stuff
Ian Anderson Lyrics
We have lyrics for these tracks by Ian Anderson:
A A Hand of Thumbs My hand of thumbs is shaking I am so glad to…
A Better Moon I see you better now, shaded in deeper blue. Hardly needing…
A Change Of Horses Last lights wink out on this pale and sultry night. Stars…
A Christmas Song Once in Royal David's City stood a lowly cattle shed, Where…
A Hand Of Thumbs My hand of thumbs is shaking I am so glad to…
A Raft Of Penguins A week of moments ? a clutch of days Ten…
A Week Of Moments A raft of penguins on a frozen sea. Expectant faces look…
After These Wars After battle, with wounds to lick and beaus and belles all…
Aqualung Sitting on the park bench, Eyeing little girls, With bad int…
Black And White Television I looked in the mirror then Saw my face in a…
Boris Dancing instrumental…
Calliandra Shade I sit in judgement on the market square. I have my…
Circular Breathing Pick up my wings and fly into a constable sky Look…
Cold Dead Reckoning I don't mean to be a misery but I have to…
Confessional Gerald the Banker I made my millions, stashed the pi…
Different Germany The lights are down in Germany and Germany is closed to…
Doggerland Our footsteps o'er the Doggerland, chased retreating ice an…
End Game I'm slipping into grey. And I was (in my way) good…
Enter The Uninvited Space, place, face, halt, block Stop, sorry, we're coming i…
Eurology A Morris Minor, a cafe noir Banana smoothie, snails in…
Fly by Night It's hard to say I'm sorry. May we just forget about…
From a Pebble Thrown Take me on the ghost train 20p and there you are Scary…
Griminelli's Lament [Instrumental]…
Heavy Metals I am the smith. I feed my melt-pot, fashion carbon steely…
In for a Pound I've started, so I'll finish. I'm here, so I'll stay. Dally…
In The Pay Of Spain [Instrumental]…
Kismet in Suburbia Gerald the Banker Fresh start, another day, another …
Locomotive Breath In the shuffling madness of the locomotive breath runs the a…
Looking for Eden As I drove down the road to look for Eden saw…
Lost In Crowds She dances through the flower-filled room Sea-green eyes a-…
Made In England Somewhere in a town in England Lay a babe with a…
Man Of The World Shall I tell you about my life They say I'm a…
Meliora Sequamur Mortarboard, gown, hood and lace come guide me in learning,…
Monsterrat Fires on the mountain, and the dogs bark Crash of the…
Montserrat Fires on the mountain, and the dogs bark. Crash of the…
Not Ralitsa Vassileva Dinner table chattering classes Tell all we need to know. L…
Old Black Cat I'm thinking free - like the bird flying over, over the…
Old School Song From playing fields to killing fields: just one small step…
Per Errationes Ad Astra We thought it over for a century or two. Considered all…
Photo Shop A Morris Minor, a cafe noir Banana smoothie, snails in…
Pigeon Flying Over Berlin Zoo My old black cat passed away this morning He never knew…
Postcard Day My eyes are white circles above cheekbones on fire: pale han…
Puer Ferox Adventus The brash North wind strikes upon the isle of Lindisfarne. …
Rupi I get lost in crowds: if I can, I remain…
Sanctuary Dear uncle, sold her into Into the purest kind of slavery Ho…
Set-Aside Hard black crows bobbing where once ran deep furrows. Frazz…
Swing It Far I was no good on the rugger field. Pushing and kicking,…
The Browning Of The Green Exponential family planning: let me play the numbers game, …
The Engineer All along the new straight track we plough the old fields…
The Habanero Reel Cool in the corner, tom cat sitting on the edge of…
The Jasmine Corridor In all my lives, I never knew anyone like you…
The Little Flower Girl Down at the church the flower girl sits. legs innocent,…
The Pax Britannica I came to woo you at behest of Uncle Leo, did…
The Secret Language Of Birds This sparkling wine is all but empty. Too late for trains…
The Secret Language Of Birds PT II This sparkling wine is all but empty Too late for trains…
The Thin Ice Mamma loves her baby And daddy loves you too. And the sea…
The Turnpike Inn Go no farther: access denied down byways, freeways of the p…
The Water Carrier Crystal fountain springing from the hill. It irrigates your…
the_jasmine_corridor In all my lives, I never knew anyone like you…
Thick as a Brick Really don't mind if you sit this one out. My words…
Toad In The Hole I walk along the strand To catch the late ride home. Shuttle…
Trains Here I am at the end of the day With a…
Two Short Planks Find some way to square the circle. Feet slipping, sliding o…
User Friendly Do we inhabit some micro-space And interface through wires.…
Walk Into Light Close in, move out to where you want to go. There's…
Water Carrier Crystal fountain springing from the hill. It irrigates your …
Wootton Bassett Town Hourglass sands run through my veins like blood draining fro…
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
More Genres
No Artists Found
More Artists
Load All
No Albums Found
More Albums
Load All
No Tracks Found
Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Search results not found
Song not found