Totally p*****d off

[Preston Platform]

I have not really posted about Tull on this board.

I just feel inclined to do so tonight. as a long standing fan who has seen some 50 plus concerts I am actually almost ashamed of saying I have tickets for their UK tour.
The setlist played last night is stale and shows no creativity despite Ians proclamations of little played material and new material. To start with Dun Ringill ala the recent Ian tour immediately shows no empathy with the hard core fans ( I saw the UK solo tour three times)


How much longer does Ian expect his loyal fan base to put up with this crap. I have had conversations with lots of Tull members over the last five years...all seemingly speak about a willingness to release new material and all exhibit some degree of frustration about the lack of recording opportunities and the imposed set list. I have tried in my own way to express how this cannot continue as the Tull fan base is diminishing on a regular basis. I have cited lots of examples of people I know who would have attended numerous shows , but now wont even go to one.

I have put up with Ians poor and demeaning attitude towards his fan base ( where would he be without us) ... but the recent The Record Collector interview said it all and in a way gives a justification to vent my total frustration with this once wonderful and creative band that show cased Ians genius

What the f**k is going on ?
Is Ian just a musical prostitute , does the man have no artistic or creative pride left ? How can this exploitation continue ?

[Cup of Wondering]

Mar 6, 2010 18:17:33 GMT -5 Preston Platform said:

I have not really posted about Tull on this board.

I just feel inclined to do so tonight. as a long standing fan who has seen some 50 plus concerts I am actually almost ashamed of saying I have tickets for their UK tour.
The setlist played last night is stale and shows no creativity despite Ians proclamations of little played material and new material. To start with Dun Ringill ala the recent Ian tour immediately shows no empathy with the hard core fans ( I saw the UK solo tour three times)


How much longer does Ian expect his loyal fan base to put up with this crap. I have had conversations with lots of Tull members over the last five years...all seemingly speak about a willingness to release new material and all exhibit some degree of frustration about the lack of recording opportunities and the imposed set list. I have tried in my own way to express how this cannot continue as the Tull fan base is diminishing on a regular basis. I have cited lots of examples of people I know who would have attended numerous shows , but now wont even go to one.

I have put up with Ians poor and demeaning attitude towards his fan base ( where would he be without us) ... but the recent The Record Collector interview said it all and in a way gives a justification to vent my total frustration with this once wonderful and creative band that show cased Ians genius

What the fuck is going on ?
Is Ian just a musical prostitute , does the man have no artistic or creative pride left ? How can this exploitation continue ?

[Cup of Wondering]

Great but sad observation, E.... Guess you're totaly right. I'm afraid.
Cheers,
Jani

[Park Bench]

I just got tickets for the Birmingham show - almost sold out, just a few seats left up in the top tier - something YES didn't manage last year. This doesn't strike me as a band whose fans are leaving in their droves.

I have to agree about the setlist - it didn't set me on fire when I saw it - but I've not seen Tull much over the last decade, so will probably enjoy it. I just wish Ian'd drop that bloody snooze-a-pest song and they'd ditch the solo album stuff. Most of the rest I don't mind.

[TM]

Mar 6, 2010 18:17:33 GMT -5 Preston Platform said:

I have not really posted about Tull on this board.

I just feel inclined to do so tonight. as a long standing fan who has seen some 50 plus concerts I am actually almost ashamed of saying I have tickets for their UK tour.
The setlist played last night is stale and shows no creativity despite Ians proclamations of little played material and new material. To start with Dun Ringill ala the recent Ian tour immediately shows no empathy with the hard core fans ( I saw the UK solo tour three times)


How much longer does Ian expect his loyal fan base to put up with this crap. I have had conversations with lots of Tull members over the last five years...all seemingly speak about a willingness to release new material and all exhibit some degree of frustration about the lack of recording opportunities and the imposed set list. I have tried in my own way to express how this cannot continue as the Tull fan base is diminishing on a regular basis. I have cited lots of examples of people I know who would have attended numerous shows , but now wont even go to one.

I have put up with Ians poor and demeaning attitude towards his fan base ( where would he be without us) ... but the recent The Record Collector interview said it all and in a way gives a justification to vent my total frustration with this once wonderful and creative band that show cased Ians genius

What the f**k is going on ?
Is Ian just a musical prostitute , does the man have no artistic or creative pride left ? How can this exploitation continue ?

The creativity has been gone for a long long time. Arguably since the early to mid-90's.

Perhaps the best way to deal with it is by slowing it down. Is there really the need for multiple shows any more, let alone a show every year?

The sabbatical I took 07 & 08 did me well.

[LJG]

This is my first post here... and I'm not wanting to start negative... but am curious from any in the know.

Is there consensus out there as to when/why Ian lost his way? Was it his diminishing vocal ability that lead to frustration and lack of creativity?

Of all the musicians I respect... I confess my frustration with Ian is perhaps most palpable. I always hold him and Tull up to my friends as that rarest of musicians... a kind of madcap creative genius who can do it all. He can play most instruments, pen fantastic lyrics, write simple and complex songs... and perform like none other on stage.

I mean, the guy can really do it all and in almost any format.

This is what makes it so frustrating. We know he can still play... what the hell happened to make him quit caring at all? Is it really the money?

[TM]

Mar 9, 2010 13:08:16 GMT -5 LJG said:

This is my first post here... and I'm not wanting to start negative... but am curious from any in the know.

Is there consensus out there as to when/why Ian lost his way? Was it his diminishing vocal ability that lead to frustration and lack of creativity?

Of all the musicians I respect... I confess my frustration with Ian is perhaps most palpable. I always hold him and Tull up to my friends as that rarest of musicians... a kind of madcap creative genius who can do it all. He can play most instruments, pen fantastic lyrics, write simple and complex songs... and perform like none other on stage.

I mean, the guy can really do it all and in almost any format.

This is what makes it so frustrating. We know he can still play... what the hell happened to make him quit caring at all? Is it really the money?

First off welcome to the board LJG.

I first saw the hand writing on the wall back in '95. The Roots to Branches CD booklet looked as if Ian literally gave it about 5 minutes of thought and just told people to run with it. The artwork looks amateurish at best and the back cover is simply a rip-off from Rock Island.

The subsequent tour showed further signs of things to come. Even though some fans truly enjoyed the shows from a musical perspective, I couldn't help but question why Ian was promoting Tull's newest album with only about 6 US dates, in the smallest possible venues. He probably played to about 15 thousand people total in the US, while in comparison on the Catfish tour he played to about 12 thousand in New York alone.

The creativity in their stage presentation was also gone. Instead of a stage themed to promote the new album, there hung a single black triangular drape with the white JT initials....

So there it is. 1995. The year Ian Anderson decided to reduce Jethro Tull down to what it's become today.

[Tommiebaby]

Sorry, TM, tho I know Ian/Tull is a loser in so many ways as a person, def not about the money, I dont think u should judge the "Roots" tour or album bases on how the stage was decorated or the cd booklet. I couldnt give 2 shits about that as long as the album and show are good. And, IMHO, both were excellent. I saw them @ the Beacon Theatre in NYC (about a 3,500 seater) and I thought the stage was really cool looking in its darkness and the candles and religious artifacts. It fit the music on Roots well.
Jon Noyce was just added to the band and he and Doane were killer. The show was performed excellently, I felt. And I dug that Ian's mic seemed to be built into his bamboo flute so he was able to sing/play flute/ and move around quite well. Plus, I felt then, and still feel, that "Roots" was an exceptionally good album. I love it (always in the minority here lol). His songwriting was some of his best, very introspective (& intelligent, as always). And just a few months earlier we had seen the "Divinities" tour at the same theater.
In the next few summer tours in NY 1996, 1997,etc- @ Jones Beach and Garden State) he continued to play 2 or three songs from "Roots"........the title cut, "Rare and..." and "AWOL". I was on my feet moving with those songs (out of everyone's way of course) since everyone SITS like old farts at Tull shows and I def could tell that NOBODY and I mean NOBODY knew the songs from "Roots" which just shows that only the most die-hard fans were keeping up w/ Tull's newest, current stuff.

[Tommiebaby]

And then.oops, sorry. more later

[Tullite]

i am a " die hard tull fan " but havin to convince my wife to acompany me to yet another same old show is getting harder this will be my 45th my wife has seen around 10 so if this next show we go to (manchester ) is gonna be the same old then i may just may think about leavin it in the past or maybe have to go on my own but we shall have to wait and judge after the avent , but its not lookin good .

[LJG]

I'd buy into the 1995 theory a bit more... but for the fact that the Jethro Tull Christmas Album was so good.

That's what gets me. The new tracks were enjoyable. The remakes were totally respectable. And the instrumentals were great.

Here we were... in the new millenium... and Tull released a great album. That's what pisses me off. Ian really got my hopes up after that one.

[Bogenbroom]

'twas a glimmer of hope, wasn't it? JTCA isn't on par with Tull's heyday but given the circumstances it was really very good.

I've only seen one Tull show. One. 2 years ago. I shan't return. The siren song of seeing Tull live was muted by that one performance. I still feel the urge, think I hear a snippet of her deadly tune, then remind myself that

1. You finally got to see them live
2. What you saw isn't Jethro Tull so there's no need to return.

[TM]

Mar 9, 2010 20:33:34 GMT -5 Tommiebaby said:

Sorry, TM, tho I know Ian/Tull is a loser in so many ways as a person, def not about the money, I dont think u should judge the "Roots" tour or album bases on how the stage was decorated or the cd booklet. I couldnt give 2 shits about that as long as the album and show are good. And, IMHO, both were excellent. I saw them @ the Beacon Theatre in NYC (about a 3,500 seater) and I thought the stage was really cool looking in its darkness and the candles and religious artifacts. It fit the music on Roots well.
Jon Noyce was just added to the band and he and Doane were killer. The show was performed excellently, I felt. And I dug that Ian's mic seemed to be built into his bamboo flute so he was able to sing/play flute/ and move around quite well. Plus, I felt then, and still feel, that "Roots" was an exceptionally good album. I love it (always in the minority here lol). His songwriting was some of his best, very introspective (& intelligent, as always). And just a few months earlier we had seen the "Divinities" tour at the same theater.
In the next few summer tours in NY 1996, 1997,etc- @ Jones Beach and Garden State) he continued to play 2 or three songs from "Roots"........the title cut, "Rare and..." and "AWOL". I was on my feet moving with those songs (out of everyone's way of course) since everyone SITS like old farts at Tull shows and I def could tell that NOBODY and I mean NOBODY knew the songs from "Roots" which just shows that only the most die-hard fans were keeping up w/ Tull's newest, current stuff.

I hear ya Tommie, but Roots is not my favorite album and I was sick during the tour.

I'll try and respond to this in more detail tonight.

Cheers.

[Nonfatman]

Mar 10, 2010 22:56:47 GMT -5 LJG said:

I'd buy into the 1995 theory a bit more... but for the fact that the Jethro Tull Christmas Album was so good.

That's what gets me. The new tracks were enjoyable. The remakes were totally respectable. And the instrumentals were great.

Here we were... in the new millenium... and Tull released a great album. That's what pisses me off. Ian really got my hopes up after that one.

I really liked the Christmas album too, Luke, because it was such a natural album for Tull to do, and was overdue. I liked most of the re-makes, especially Weathercock but also Ring Out Solstice Bells, because Ian remade that one to resemble a bunch of old drunk guys singing a Christmas carol together!

The new songs were very good too (except for those creepy lyrics to First Snow on Brooklyn), but I really liked Birthday Card at Christmas and Last Man at the Party, both in terms of the lyrics and music, and I liked most of the instrumentals as well. I don't think it was the best Christmas album Tull could have done, but it was definitely at least three out of five stars, and you are right, it raised expectations that more studio albums were on the way.

Jeff

[Blue]

Tull playing Philly; it was major. I'm talking huge! Gas up the car. Go stand in line to buy tickets. Then, to go to the show, there was a new outfit. Jumpin Weezus! Ya couldn't go see Tull in old clothes!! That would be like not dressing for opening night at the Opera! I can't even be arsed to get online to buy tickets these days. Drive to the Keswick? Why? I've heard it all before. Give me something new and I'll be there, all polished up but if you're going to make me sit through Aqualung and Living In the Past again, well, I'll pass but thanks all the same.

[Nonfatman]

Mar 23, 2010 13:18:17 GMT -5 Blue said:

Tull playing Philly; it was major. I'm talking huge! Gas up the car. Go stand in line to buy tickets. Then, to go to the show, there was a new outfit. Jumpin Weezus! Ya couldn't go see Tull in old clothes!! That would be like not dressing for opening night at the Opera! I can't even be arsed to get online to buy tickets these days. Drive to the Keswick? Why? I've heard it all before. Give me something new and I'll be there, all polished up but if you're going to make me sit through Aqualung and Living In the Past again, well, I'll pass but thanks all the same.

That's the way I feel about the current tour. Ho-hum. Had I known in advance that the setlist would be what it is, I would have got tickets to one show, not three. But I was deceived by Ian's blatantly false description of what the theme of the tour was going to be.

Jeff

[LJG]

I endorse these thoughts... but I can't help but wonder if we might be singing a slightly different tune if Martin or Ian were suddenly to no longer be with us (perish the thought).

I cast my memory back to the last couple years the Grateful Dead were playing. Jerry was NOT in good shape... I pale shadow of his former self. 9 out of every 10 shows was subpar.

Then he died.

Looking back... I'd give anything to see him play once more... and to play anything he wants. Makes you think... I don't want to take anything for granted.