Q&A with Jeffrey Hammond!

[TM]

Okay folks, the results are in. But first let me thank you all for presenting your questions for Jeffrey. Of course we wish we could send all of them, but we were limited to 10.

So here they are. Our friend Quizz Kid will be sending them off and we will post Jeffrey's responses as soon as they arrive.

Cheers,




1 Quizz Kid (1) 10
2 Sharkdaniel 9
3 jstger6969 8
4 Lucas 8
5 bobbo 6
6 Janu 6
7 2fingers 5
8 kram 5
9 Quizz Kid (2) 5
10 sealdriver (1) 5

[Deleted]

Oct 28, 2010 15:51:25 GMT -5 TM said:

Okay folks, the results are in. But first let me thank you all for presenting your questions for Jeffrey. Of course we wish we could send all of them, but we were limited to 10.

So here they are. Our friend Quizz Kid will be sending them off and we will post Jeffrey's responses as soon as they arrive.

Cheers,




1 Quizz Kid (1) 10
2 Sharkdaniel 9
3 jstger6969 8
4 Lucas 8
5 bobbo 6
6 Janu 6
7 2fingers 5
8 kram 5
9 Quizz Kid (2) 5
10 sealdriver (1) 5

Just to let everyone know I sent the questions off to Jeffrey this morning.

[TM]

Look for Pat's post coming any minute now!

[Deleted]

I have to admit that for me, this is possibly the best coup that we have achieved to date.

Not only is Jeffrey very reclusive as regards interviews and his musical past, he is also happens to be one of my musical heroes. His enigmatic presence within the band, bolstered by the many references to him throughout the period of Tull before he formally joined them on stage and in the studio had already given him an elevated status amongst many fans, his stage presence simply enhanced it to a higher level.

For me, his time with Tull epitomised how a band should be on stage, totally dynamic and simply brilliant. The recordings he appeared on were undoubtedly the biggest musical influences on my teenage days. I could gush on and on but in terms of an introduction but I’ll finish on the fact that not only did he play in the best band in the world, he gave it all up to focus on his art, a big decision which he seems never to have regretted and one which, personally, I wish I could do.



Blackpool Promenade – Summer [Unfinished] by Jeffrey Hammond 2007 [Oil on Canvas – 50”x28”]

His answers below are entertaining, engaging and sincere. I believe he truly appreciates being remembered by so many fans, not exclusively those here on the board but across the world.

So, over to the man who went to Leicester Square, once had a very striped suit, a striped hat and striped bass and a handful of zebra poo……

From Jeffrey in answer to members questions from the Jethro Tull Board.

"May I say that it’s very touching to know that firstly you all remember that I was part of the band and secondly to those of you who have done so, I would like to thank you for having shown an interest in my “artistic life”. I have tried to answer your questions in chronological order though sadly sometimes that might also mean with what one might call chronic logic."

To Pat Kent.

"My life as an artist only really began circa 1980. It was then that I began to try to teach myself something about painting. Although I had been to Art School I felt that I had learned little there technically but I had at least understood that it might be possible to express myself with paint, subject to me coming to grips with paint and brushes and how to combine the two together in a way that would ensure that more paint would end up on the canvas than on me. Most of all I recognised a powerful desire within myself to do this but also an understanding that I didn’t have a choice in the matter. I suppose since then I have learned like others that the cliché “99% perspiration, 1% inspiration” is not far from the mark. I do though sweat quite readily.

Artistic influences have been a journey from complete ignorance, through narrow-mindedness to a more eclectic view which eventually allowed me to accept quite some time ago that often what one dislikes can be as influential as what one likes. I’m not deliberately obfuscating, for a list of favourite/influential artists may be as long as my arm and not in any case include so many other important influences such as film directors, the theatre, writers, composers, notwithstanding bigger issues such as love and humour and not forgetting everything one sees whilst one is awake and possibly also asleep.

Like so many artists and not being particularly articulate myself, I find words often are an obstruction to the art of looking so I’ve avoided making artistic statements always hoping that my paintings could stand on their own two feet. (Or at the very least easels).

I paint with oils on double primed fine Belgian linen. I do enjoy pencil drawing, pen and ink and watercolour though most of my time is spent on bringing to life a subject in a more substantive way i.e. in oils. In musical terms more increasingly as symphonies and concertos than songs and etudes. I might be perceived as not prolific and a slow worker. There is a meditative/contemplative aspect to the work process, plenty of time for tea and the occasional bun.

I spend less time now looking at others work, being so much involved with my own, though I am not unaware of contemporary art. This is not being critical, quite the reverse, but I wonder whether art gallery space might be best placed to exhibit what used to be called the “fine arts” (sculpture and painting) and perhaps newer more appropriate exhibition buildings could be afforded to display more recent interesting developments. Maybe they could be called Not Fine Art Galleries.

I haven’t exhibited, other than when I made an exhibition of myself whilst I was in the band. The very nature of the subject matter of my work now doesn’t allow me to work outside though I would always choose to paint from life wherever possible. I have only ever sold one picture; to a generous fellow student at Art school, who I think felt sorry for my impoverished state. She gave me £5 for a very small still life which in the nicest possible way I hope doesn’t exist any more.

You ask about Thick As A Brick and in particular about the poet and painter. At Grammar School where we met and were doing A level art, Ian displayed much more skill than I did. I have written poetry at various times in my life but I suspect Ian might be a more interesting painter than I a poet and would also be able to give you a more accurate and indeed more poetic reply.

Your final remark is about mud sharks in Seattle. Possibly you are referring to the infamous Edgewater Inn in Seattle where guests were encouraged to fish directly from their bedroom windows. Octopuses and mud sharks were easy catches. I haven’t seen the film Sleepless in Seattle but the title alone may give some kind of clue to the sorry antics that went on there and anyway I understand that others were far more extrovert in their behaviour than we were. Sorry to disappoint".

To Daniel in Santiago, Chile.

"Hello Daniel,

1. I think it was as much a shock to me as it was to everyone else when I decided to leave the Band. It was a spontaneous mini-volcanic eruption which exploded inside me and which on a personal relationship level I didn’t handle very well. However as with real such eruptions it gave rise to very fertile ground for a succession of more able bass players to replace me and of course musically, the band benefitted enormously.

2. I was indeed fortunate to be a part of that very successful time. Perhaps because the band was mostly involved with albums and performing concerts that “videos” weren’t a concern. I don’t think the technology was terribly good then but Patrick Gordon, a tour manager, spent many happy hours maybe circa 1973/4 with a camcorder at concerts but I’ve no idea what happened to the footage. Also don’t forget that we weren’t the Osmonds and close ups of our undoubtedly very attractive faces wouldn’t necessarily have been a strong selling point. Yes there is that Paris tape which I’ve only seen a very small part of".

To the anonymous person [jstger6969] who asks:

"1. Which album did I enjoy making the most?

Well possibly along with Passion Play arguably the least quintessentially Jethro Tull album, Thick As A Brick.

“Making” being the operative word which would therefore include rehearsing, recording, involvement in the album cover design and taking the music into the performing arena.

2. Is there any J.T. music that you listen to today?

My favourite music is mostly from before I joined the band though not exclusively. I was a fan and fortunate to see them at close quarters in the very early days at places like the Marquee which of course holds fond memories for me".

"To Lucas from Brazil.

Hello Lucas it’s great that you enjoy the music.

You ask whether I have ever regretted leaving the band. It is fashionable to say “non je ne regrette rien”. But I had to try to find myself and follow/make my destiny, something I think most people try to do, more often than not starting at a much earlier age. (And which in any case is presumably a continuing process)-you mentioned something about the music cleaning your soul so I think you know what I mean.

After leaving it was sad not to see as much of those close friends that I had grown up with in Blackpool and whose lives had been so entwined for most of the previous 5 years.

In choosing a “solitary” lifestyle as a painter I certainly missed the camaraderie that we had shared. I’m sure that I had withdrawal symptoms not having the excitement of performing in front of large appreciative audiences. However I substituted that vicariously, by being backstage when the band were on tour and playing in Bristol, my local big city. Then back to the future, the hermit into his cave".

"To “Bobbo” Miller.

Hello “Bobbo”.

Firstly congratulations. What a great name you have. I’m really pleased that you managed to see concerts of which I too hold many happy memories. I think I’ve covered some of your and others concerns about lack of video footage, though none of that can change the situation. Perhaps those times are better held as memories for those lucky enough to be present. Film after all can struggle to capture the atmosphere and feeling generated in a live concert, particularly the shared sense of occasion between audience and performer, this being one of the most rewarding parts of my life with the band. Is that now what’s called being “interactive”?

Your question about my “expertise” as a bass player when I joined the band is perhaps a contradiction in terms. Though I had been in the band at school etc. my musical knowledge was very limited certainly compared to the others. I then spent 4 or 5 years at Art school when I didn’t touch a musical instrument. When I fell into the deep end upon re-joining the band I felt, if you’ll forgive the slightly mixed metaphor, like a fish out of water. I’m not sure how to get from fish to zebras which you ask about, other than by virtue of amphibious evolution (please see Darwin and Dawkins). It’s true to say that black and white stripes have been in fashion from time to time, presumably there are Black Stripes as well as White Stripes. And could that truly be called interracial?"

"To a “trusty Spanish fan” [Janu].

Hello my trusty nameless Spanish friend.

As I agreed in answer to a previous question, it is unfortunate that virtually nothing exists on film from the early seventies. As you said they were for me amazing times. Although there is little in the way of film there has been much written about that time and I suspect that anything I wrote here would be a repetition of that and certainly not as humorous.

Possibly one of the more memorable and understandably least mentioned evenings (post concert) was on the first TAABrick tour in northern Germany. Ian and I retired to the hotel room of an unnamed third band member and proceeded (mostly myself) to act the goat largely for their benefit over the course of a couple of hours. The details are unimportant and in any case inevitably hazy. Save to say that it became so silly that the band member who shall remain nameless was so consumed with laughter that he was unable quite literally to contain himself".

"To another unnamed friend [2 Fingers] who asks:

1. About the story behind “Jeffrey Goes To Leicester Square”. Of course Ian would be better qualified to answer that. This may well have nothing to do with it but at the time as an Art student I used to visit the National Gallery in Trafalgar Square in the early evening after college had finished. En route I would divert to Leicester Square where I would frequent a cafe that did a reasonably cheap but good home-made steak pie and chips. This would be something I could afford perhaps once a week. But I also enjoyed that area around Leicester Square, which in those days was quite seedy. After all that seediness was very much home from home for me.

2. About my decision to leave the band. Well I think I’ve spoken about that earlier. A small seed had been planted at Art school that germinated, has grown and flowered though not always with sweetly scented blossom but perhaps with interesting colour.

3. About whether I invented the ”Claghorn”. Once again this has probably already been definitively written about, though the word suggests that I could have been responsible for naming it. In rural County Durham where I spent numerous happy childhood holidays on a relatives’ farm, clags and clarts were colloquialisms for sticky mud that might have come into close contact with cow dung, a valuable farming bi-product from the other end of the smiling cow and its’ horns (clag-horn). Admittedly all this might sound as if it had been lifted from the U.K. T.V. panel game show of the 60’s/70’s..... Call My Bluff. True or False?"

"To my anonymous fellow artist friend [Kram] who asks about my painting life.

Since recognising that painting was the path that I had to follow I haven’t gone further than occasionally looking down other avenues. There are from time to time what some people fete as Renaissance Men as there are what others refer to as “jacks of all trades”. I certainly don’t belong to the former and at least aspire to not being one of the latter. I’m still an apprentice in a trade that has such a rich tradition, though I have been fortunate in being able to plough my own furrow and use my own seed drill. Without I hope sounding too pompous what I am trying to cultivate is for everyone’s nourishment, so yes I also hope that my work will eventually reach the wider world. And yes Ian does possess a small painting of mine.

It’s good to know that you were there in the early 70’s and came back for more. You say that I appeared to be a “speed freak”. I have slowed down recently and walking in the beautiful countryside of the North of England is as energetic as I allow myself to be. From an early age the great outdoors was one of my biggest fixes. As a young child that would be the back-alleys of central Blackpool, the beach and sea (I survived both) and the countryside of Lancashire, Cumbria and Durham, later around my home in rural Gloucestershire and now back again in The North. Fresh air is quite a stimulant, if you are fortunate enough to be able to find enough of it".

"Finally I think in answer to Pat Kent once again.

Early musical influences were probably hymns Ancient and Modern – those strong melodies, the seemingly meaningless lyrics. My father singing at the top of his voice as he drove his first car around the Fells. This invariably meant frequent repeat performances of the Doris Day hit “Secret Love”, though would also include a sprinkling of other songs from musicals of the day. A little later my father acquired a Grundig reel to reel tape recorder along with 3 or 4 pre-recorded tapes, my favourite being the Brahms Violin Concerto which I played until it was worn out and consequently I could probably at that time have hummed it backwards if asked. Strangely no-one did. For some time I had the ludicrous and therefore necessarily secret ambition to be either a violinist or conductor. Later after a thorough acquaintance with the pop music of the day I took an interest in blues music as well as a flirtation with jazz and some of the lighter and more accessible classical catalogue. This Was then.

You ask about “This Was” and the band breaking into the “big time” in London. I was fortunate to be around when some of this was taking place. In a way I probably thought – “well about time too”, meaning that they finally had received their long-deserved recognition but also that Ian was at last writing exciting music of his own that was breaking new ground.

You ask about the transition from Aqualung to TAABrick and what you term theatrical “prog-rock”. To me at the time it seemed like a “natural progress” rather than a “prog-rock”. The theatrics were very much home-made fun rather than any kind of overblown or contrived stylist orientated baloney that became popular around then and later.

I think I have already covered your question about leaving the band.

Finally your enquiry about the striped bass guitar. When I left the band I not only left physlcally myself but left behind all my equipment, amplifiers etc., which included my striped Fender. A couple of years later in a low moment I happened to catch ten minutes of a T.V. programme called Top Of The Pops. The bass player in a band I don’t know the name of was playing (or should I say miming with) my striped Fender clearly distinguishable by the nature of the home-madeness of the stripes. Sorry to disappoint".

"Well you may not find much logic in these ramblings but I do hope that I have gone some way to answering your questions, though answers usually mean more questions – no I don’t think I really mean that.
Kind regards to you all and thanks for the memories,"

Jeffrey (Hammond)-(Hammond).







Thanks to everyone who submitted questions, if yours didn’t make the cut or wasn’t answered our grateful thanks for taking part, it made for a great thread. Personally thanks to people who took the time to vote for my questions, I’m very grateful.

Finally thanks to Jeffrey for taking the time and trouble to do this exclusive and very rare interview. We’re very happy to share it with you via this board.

[Nonfatman]

I am still admiring and digesting this, but I take my hat off to you, Pat! Great work, and being able to post one of his paintings too, that is truly the icing on the cake!!! And I loved how you put it together as a feature piece.

I'll have more to add later on, but for now I will simply say this: Best. Q&A. Ever. Wait, though, didn't I just say that a few weeks ago when you, Paul and Ulla got us that four-part recorded Q&A with Dave Pegg?

Many thanks to our members for asking such good questions, and to Jeffrey HH for taking the time to answer them so fully!



Jeff

[Deleted]

Dec 14, 2010 17:01:38 GMT -5 Nonfatman said:

I am still admiring and digesting this, but I take my hat off to you, Pat! Great work, and being able to post one of his paintings too, that is truly the icing on the cake!!!



Jeff

Jeff,

Thanks for the kudos, but as you know it isn't just down to me, there's a lot of backroom boys and girls who helped get it here.

The painting is contained in a the Classic Artists DVD 'story' of the band. I have to say I think it is pretty damned good.

[Nonfatman]

Dec 14, 2010 17:07:52 GMT -5 @quizzkid said:

Dec 14, 2010 17:01:38 GMT -5 Nonfatman said:

I am still admiring and digesting this, but I take my hat off to you, Pat! Great work, and being able to post one of his paintings too, that is truly the icing on the cake!!!



Jeff

Jeff,

Thanks for the kudos, but as you know it isn't just down to me, there's a lot of backroom boys and girls who helped get it here.

The painting is contained in a the Classic Artists DVD 'story' of the band. I have to say I think it is pretty damned good.

Yes, of course, and thanks to all others who helped bring us this fantastic interview!

Jeff

[Stormmonkey]

Well, you guys have done it again! Well done!

An excellent piece from Mr. Jeffrey Hammond and splendidly decent of him to take his time to write this piece. I very much enjoyed reading it after work tonight. Highly amusing story about the hotel room hilarity peaking in a warm wet trouser scissor-walk-dash, still cracking up on laughter no doubt, to the bog. lol. Serious artist - I've been trying to find other examples of his work online, no joy as yet.

Brian.

[TM]

What a terrific Q&A! Jeffrey certainly sounds like an interesting and very kind individual. It's nice to see the painting in the larger size as well. I forget that was included in the 40th Anniversary DVD.

Thank you Pat, yet again!

[Icecreamman]

Oct 13, 2010 14:56:48 GMT -5 TM said:

Oct 13, 2010 13:29:37 GMT -5 Tommie said:

TM, isn't it THREE songs?

1) "Jeffrey Goes To...."

2)"Song For..."

3)"For M JEFFREY And Me"...

?? I'm just sayin.....lol

Right you are except it's not my question. It's the Ice cream man's.

Of course you're both right....my rush to get the questions out led to an inexcusable typo.....

[SilverHamer]

This has been a fantastic thread. Jeffrey is a real gentleman for taking the time to answer questions, and his wit and humor are obviously still very much intact. Thanks Jeffrey.

[janu]

Special thanks to Pat for his efforts to become all this into a reality and of course to Jeffrey for his time in letting us know his witty and wise experiences along those unforgettable years lived in the best band of the world.
For me it has been the first time to take part in such a delightful event and promise to do it again in next times and everything has been possible thanks to this extraordinary website and the polite and marvellous people that makes it work.

Jeffrey, my name is Serge, in order not to be an annonymous for ever ;D

Sorry for my limited english though it works i think ;D

cheers up for!

[Sharkdaniel]

I have to thank the Tull board members for giving us the chance to communicate with such chararcters.
Personally, I never imagined I could have the chance to be regarded and answered by Barrie Barlow and Jeffrey Hammond.
It´s surreal, thank you

Shark

[Dan]

Thanks to Jeffrey and a special Hurrah to Pat.

Now all that's left is to hunt down Patrick Gordon and his camcorder!

Dan

[Sharkdaniel]

Dec 15, 2010 8:34:31 GMT -5 Dan said:

Thanks to Jeffrey and a special Hurrah to Pat.

Now all that's left is to hunt down Patrick Gordon and his camcorder!

Dan

Yap, you said it.

Shark

[Marcie]

Let me join in and say thanks to Pat and to the JT board for setting these Q&As up. Jeffrey was mine and my brother's hero when we were kids. I had the pleasure of meeting him at the Tull convention in Italy in 2008. Such a delightful, sweet person. (Didn't seem reclusive at all.. on the contrary, very warm and welcoming.)
Anyway, great questions, great answers!
I only wish there was a forum like this when I was a full blown Tull freak back in the 70s. I'd have probably spent 24x7 on it! :-)
All the best,
Marcie

[Deleted]

Dec 15, 2010 10:29:17 GMT -5 Marcie said:

Let me join in and say thanks to Pat and to the JT board for setting these Q&As up. Jeffrey was mine and my brother's hero when we were kids. I had the pleasure of meeting him at the Tull convention in Italy in 2008. Such a delightful, sweet person. (Didn't seem reclusive at all.. on the contrary, very warm and welcoming.)
Anyway, great questions, great answers!
I only wish there was a forum like this when I was a full blown Tull freak back in the 70s. I'd have probably spent 24x7 on it! :-)
All the best,
Marcie

With Marcie's permission I have uploaded a photo of her and Jeffrey taken at the Italian Tull Convention .



In Marcie's own words;

"A cherished moment for me at the convention. Posing with Jeffrey Hammond (Hammond), Tull's second bassist, who was a very powerful, creative force during his tenure in the band. When he was invited on stage to chat to the audience before an incredible performance of Thick As A Brick, all he said was: "Thanks for remembering me." It was a very moving moment for all of us."


Thanks Marcie for the photo and your appreciative response to the Q&A.

[TM]

Dec 15, 2010 10:44:21 GMT -5 @quizzkid said:

Dec 15, 2010 10:29:17 GMT -5 Marcie said:

Let me join in and say thanks to Pat and to the JT board for setting these Q&As up. Jeffrey was mine and my brother's hero when we were kids. I had the pleasure of meeting him at the Tull convention in Italy in 2008. Such a delightful, sweet person. (Didn't seem reclusive at all.. on the contrary, very warm and welcoming.)
Anyway, great questions, great answers!
I only wish there was a forum like this when I was a full blown Tull freak back in the 70s. I'd have probably spent 24x7 on it! :-)
All the best,
Marcie

With Marcie's permission I have uploaded a photo of her and Jeffrey taken at the Italian Tull Convention .



In Marcie's own words;

"A cherished moment for me at the convention. Posing with Jeffrey Hammond (Hammond), Tull's second bassist, who was a very powerful, creative force during his tenure in the band. When he was invited on stage to chat to the audience before an incredible performance of Thick As A Brick, all he said was: "Thanks for remembering me." It was a very moving moment for all of us."


Thanks Marcie for the photo and your appreciative response to the Q&A.

That's a great picture and story. I got chills reading it, thinking how much these guys have meant to all of us. Thanks for sharing.

[Marcie]

A pleasure Paul, and thanks for posting the pic, Pat.

I fondly recall bits of a conversation where he was telling Paul and I (thinking we didn't know) that he doesn't play music anymore, just paints, and we said that we knew that whereupon he exclaimed: "hey you guys know more about me than I do!" LOL Nice memories. :-)

[Stjerky]

Just noticed that Jeffrey had answered the questions. Great read and wonderful to hear from my favourite Tull-member.

[Deleted]

Glad to see that this thread is so well read and well received in so many quarters. Now doubt the Tull highlight of the year. Welcome to anyone who's just dropped by to read it. Stay a while and enjoy our other threads, our full review of the recent Canterbury gig, our other Q&A's and our memorabilia threads. Delve deep as a guest then sign up we welcome you with open arms here (no closed threads or restrictions)

Welcome!