Q&A with Clive Bunker!

[TM]

That's right folks, Jethro Tull's original drummer has graciously agreed to take part in a Q&A session with us!

Format will be the same as in the past. Please include name and town.

And a special thank you to Ulla for putting this together!



Who wants to kick things off?

[TM]

I think I'll get ball rolling with this one.

Hi Clive, and thank you for being part of this.

I guess my first question for you has to be why did you leave Jethro Tull at a time when they had just became (or were fast becoming) a major rock band? Is it simply a case of it being the ultimate love story, or had you become disenchanted with the life style? And was there any discussion of a replacement?

Also, can you explain a bit about the development of the drumming on Aqualung? It's notable that the beginning and end drum parts aren't your typical "straight-ahead" drumming. Was this your idea, or was thing something that Ian helped develop?

Lastly, Martin and Ian have both said that the making of Aqualung was a very arduous task. For instance Ian mentioned that with Locomotive Breath, that he had a very difficult time getting the idea of that song across to the band. Did you find that to be the case as well?

Cheers, and thank you for your contributions to Tull over the years!
Paul from Northern New Jersey

[Deleted]

Hello Clive and Thank You so much for everything

I'd like to ask, which Jethro Tull song(s) did you and the band have the most fun with, or did you feel the band were most creative with?

Also, what have you been doing recently, and what are your plans for the future in terms of drumming?

Lastly, in terms of your playing, how did you relate to the line-up with Mick Abrahams as compared to the line-up with Martin Barre? Did you find the approach to the music very different?

Again, thank you
-Kai from Dargan, Maryland

[Max Quad]

Hello Clive,
David from Gaithersburg, Maryland. My first Tull show was in November 1972 at Madison Square Garden in NYC, so unfortunately I missed your tenure with the band. I have however, spent many hours looking at pictures of you. My questions(I have more than one)...
1. On a scale of 1 to 10, how big is your........drum kit?
2. Do you have any regrets? If so, would you mind sharing some of them with us?
3. Since you lived in England during The Beatles rise to fame, I was wondering if you ever saw them in concert and/or what influence they played on your life, musically and otherwise.
4. Was Ringo an influence? Explain.
5. What where your feelings when Glen Cornick left the band? Was it justified?

[2fingers]

Good days Clive!
A few years ago I was VERY pleased to see you on a DVD playing with Uli Jon Roth, Jack Bruce & UFO. How did you happen to run into Uli Jon & how do the musical climates compare between artists like Roth & Jethro Tull, both being classically inspired? We're you ever tempted to join Blodwyn Pig?
By the way, how was it working with Robin Trower on the Jude project & what became of it? Are there any rehearsal recordings?
I'm sorry for all the questions, but it isn't everyday one gets this cool opportunity.
Thanks for continuing on!!
Chris from Arcade, NY.

[Nonfatman]

Hi, Clive, thank you so much for taking our questions.

During Tull's first hectic year of non-stop touring the United States, the band did an outdoor show in Central Park. In 1969, New York City was a very different place than it is today, so I was wondering what was that show like? I imagine that the park must have been absolutely mobbed, and I was wondering what the crowd was like, how they reacted to the music and whether you have any stories or memories from that unique performance?

Thanks,
Jeff from New York

[Dan]

Cheers Clive!

Many Tull drummers have had to to interpret your playing on many Tull classics in concert .

My question (s):
Is there any post Aqualung album or Tull songs that you would have liked to put your personal stamp on or would like to be able to play live?

And do you (or did you) follow what the band was doing after your departure?

Dan
Upstate, NY, USA

[TM]

Favorite Tull song?


Favorite Tull album?


Last Tull album listened to?


How did you first meet Ian? Did you audition? What was that like?


Do you still have any of your old Tull drum kits? If not what happened to them? If so would you like to sell one?


One word that best describes your band mates:

Mick Abrahams?

Jeffery Hammond?

Glenn Cornick?

Martin Barre?

John Evans?

Ian Anderson?

David (Dee) Palmer?


Memories of the Isle of Wight festival?


Thanks Clive!

[Ulla]

Nov 12, 2009 12:07:42 GMT -5 TM said:

I think I'll get ball rolling with this one.

Hi Clive, and thank you for being part of this.

I guess my first question for you has to be why did you leave Jethro Tull at a time when they had just became (or were fast becoming) a major rock band? Is it simply a case of it being the ultimate love story, or had you become disenchanted with the life style? And was there any discussion of a replacement?

C.B. We were always on the road and were about to do a world tour and move to Switzerland. That would have been 3 years. So I got married.We all knew Barrie was the obvious choice and a mate.

Also, can you explain a bit about the development of the drumming on Aqualung? It's notable that the beginning and end drum parts aren't your typical "straight-ahead" drumming. Was this your idea, or was thing something that Ian helped develop?

C.B. No, all the drum parts are mine.
I suppose being influenced by seeing more drummers around the world.

Lastly, Martin and Ian have both said that the making of Aqualung was a very arduous task. For instance Ian mentioned that with Locomotive Breath, that he had a very difficult time getting the idea of that song across to the band. Did you find that to be the case as well?

C.B. We all look back differently. It was difficult but I remember no probs with "Loco". Maybe I did not get it?

Cheers, and thank you for your contributions to Tull over the years!
Paul from Northern New Jersey[/quote]

[Ulla]

Nov 13, 2009 6:10:19 GMT -5 @kaibailey said:

Hello Clive and Thank You so much for everything

I'd like to ask, which Jethro Tull song(s) did you and the band have the most fun with, or did you feel the band were most creative with?

C.B. I suppose Benefit as it was entering new ground.

Also, what have you been doing recently, and what are your plans for the future in terms of drumming?

C.B. I have a group called The Gathering and lots of other stuff.

Lastly, in terms of your playing, how did you relate to the line-up with Mick Abrahams as compared to the line-up with Martin Barre? Did you find the approach to the music very different?

C.B. Yes, Mick is a blues man and Martin is open to all influences.

Again, thank you
-Kai from Dargan, Maryland[/quote]

[Ulla]

Nov 13, 2009 20:20:15 GMT -5 Max Quad said:

Hello Clive,
David from Gaithersburg, Maryland. My first Tull show was in November 1972 at Madison Square Garden in NYC, so unfortunately I missed your tenure with the band. I have however, spent many hours looking at pictures of you. My questions(I have more than one)...
1. On a scale of 1 to 10, how big is your..4ish......drum kit?
2. Do you have any regrets? If so, would you mind sharing some of them with us? C.B. No regrets
3. Since you lived in England during The Beatles rise to fame, I was wondering if you ever saw them in concert and/or what influence they played on your life, musically and otherwise. C.B. Never saw them[/b]
4. Was Ringo an influence? Explain.C.B. by playing only what is needed.
5. What where your feelings when Glen Cornick left the band? Was it justified?C.B. Glenn is up there as a great player and I obviously was sad at his departure. The justification? Who knows, we were young.

[Ulla]

Nov 14, 2009 11:33:43 GMT -5 2fingers said:

Good days Clive!
A few years ago I was VERY pleased to see you on a DVD playing with Uli Jon Roth, Jack Bruce & UFO. How did you happen to run into Uli Jon & how do the musical climates compare between artists like Roth & Jethro Tull, both being classically inspired? We're you ever tempted to join Blodwyn Pig?
By the way, how was it working with Robin Trower on the Jude project & what became of it? Are there any rehearsal recordings?
I'm sorry for all the questions, but it isn't everyday one gets this cool opportunity.
Thanks for continuing on!!
Chris from Arcade, NY.

C.B. I was introduced to Uli by another drummer to do a double drum thing and it went on from there. I played a tour with "The Pig" later on. Robin and the band were great but the management did not like the vocal influence.

[Ulla]

Nov 15, 2009 13:52:29 GMT -5 Nonfatman said:

Hi, Clive, thank you so much for taking our questions.

During Tull's first hectic year of non-stop touring the United States, the band did an outdoor show in Central Park. In 1969, New York City was a very different place than it is today, so I was wondering what was that show like? I imagine that the park must have been absolutely mobbed, and I was wondering what the crowd was like, how they reacted to the music and whether you have any stories or memories from that unique performance?

Thanks,
Jeff from New York

C.B. The people were great. It rained and they sat or stood in it and gave us a wonderful reception.

[Ulla]

Nov 18, 2009 23:46:27 GMT -5 Dan said:

Cheers Clive!

Many Tull drummers have had to to interpret your playing on many Tull classics in concert .

My question (s):
Is there any post Aqualung album or Tull songs that you would have liked to put your personal stamp on or would like to be able to play live?

C.B. No, there is a time to do and a time to listen.

And do you (or did you) follow what the band was doing after your departure?

C.B. Oh yes, I would go to concerts and have jammed with them at gigs.

Dan
Upstate, NY, USA


[/quote]

[Ulla]

Nov 19, 2009 22:19:52 GMT -5 TM said:

Favorite Tull song?

C.B. Ian´s acoustic songs (all): magical

Favorite Tull album?

C.B. Songs From the Wood


Last Tull album listened to?

C.B. Roots to Branches


How did you first meet Ian? Did you audition? What was that like?

C.B. We met at a gig and all got well. I think he is a great bloke.


Do you still have any of your old Tull drum kits? If not what happened to them? If so would you like to sell one?

C.B. I have a couple of bits. But the last Tull kit I gave to a student who is good, to inspire him more.


One word that best describes your band mates:

Mick Abrahams?

C.B. WHO? Joke! Mates

Jeffery Hammond?

C.B. Artistic

Glenn Cornick?

C.B. Extravagant

Martin Barre?

C.B. Inventive

John Evans?

C.B. Classic

Ian Anderson?

C.B. Inspirational

David (Dee) Palmer?

C.B. Supportive


Memories of the Isle of Wight festival?

C.B. Good but scary


Thanks Clive!

[TM]

Great read! Thanks very much to Clive and Ulla for putting this together!




And remember, Clive has agreed to answer more questions, so please post them if you have them.

Cheers.

[Nonfatman]

Yes, much thanks to Clive for fielding our questions and to Ulla for arranging and facilitating this interview! And thanks to you too, Paul, my brother, for founding this board, and for all the work you have done!

Clive sounds like a really nice chap. I'm sure we can come up with some more questions for him, since he has kindly agreed to take on some more! Bernie, how 'bout you starting off the next round?

Jeff

[Chea]

I only ask myself why ever Clive defines Ian a great bloke...

[Ulla]

Nov 25, 2009 5:31:45 GMT -5 Chea said:

I only ask myself why ever Clive defines Ian a great bloke...

Because they are still good friends.

In 1994 I was in England over New Year and on New Year´s Eve Clive stepped in for another drummer, who broke his leg, so poor Clive had to play dance music

We arrived at the venue in the afternoon and the hall was decorated with some stuff. On the tables were all kinds of silly hats. It was my first New Year´s Eve in England so I asked Clive: "Do people really wear this silly hats?" He said: "Watch them, when they come in."

So we watched the audience and I could not believe what I saw: Some of them tried different siily hats to find the one that suited them best. And they did it really seriously and discussed it with their partners. I was shocked.

I said to Clive: "Look at this poor people. They can´t have a live." And he said: "Without Ian Anderson I would sit in a hall like this on New Year´s Eve and I would do exactly the same, because to find the right silly hat would be the highlight of the year for me."

I think this story explains, why I am not allowed to say a bad word about Mr. Anderson when Clive is near me

[bobo the monkey]

Little question that may clear up a long standing rumor: the Fillmore West, in san francisco, was notorious in the late 60s/early seventies for the horrific, idiotic, and in retrospect chilling practice of 'dosing' musicians...that is, introducing STRONG LSD, into drink cups or even into a soda can with a hypodermic needle. I was told that that Tull members, including Ian, were thus vctimized. ( the most famous 'dosing' was of the owner, Bill Graham, who gleefully out of time, banged a tambourine onstage with the Grateful Dead, for hours the night he was dosed.) Any memories of this happening and did this contribute to ian's distaste for all things SF and hippie?

[Nonfatman]

Hi, Clive

I have read that in the early years, Tull developed a reputation among would-be groupies as being very boring and unwilling to participate in post-gig shenanigans with alcohol, drugs and women. In fact, I believe the band was nicknamed 'Jethro Dull.' I know that Ian has always shunned drugs, but I find it hard to believe that there were never any occasions when the band members, including Ian, drank and partied with female groupies who would make their intentions very clear in the way they dressed and acted. Is it true that Tull were so boring, or was that a myth? Did you or the other band members participate in that aspect of the rock and roll lifestyle? Do you have any wild stories that you can tell?

Jeff, from New York

[Tullite]

hi clive, i saw you last year on tulls 40th annivarsary tour when you joined them on stage at king georges hall in blackburn lancashire, you blew us away. anyway my question is if the opportunity arose would you consider doing a full tull tour ? or more occasional stand in drummer ? you certainly still have the energy judging by the stage appearance last year !! from jim , in preston lancashire , uk.

[Nonfatman]

Hi, Clive,

I was wondering if you have recently seen or spoken to Ian or Martin, and if so, whether they mentioned anything about short-term or long-term plans, in terms of re-establishing Jethro Tull as a recording act, rather than continuing merely as a touring band? And more specifically, did either of them mention anything about going into the studio to record a new album with the current Tull line-up?

Jeff from New York

[TM]

Questions for Clive are being sent off. Thanks to all who participated.

[Ulla]

Sorry for the delay, it was my fault.
Here are the answers: