Jethro Tull, the British rock band, visited Armenia recently. They were surprised to see that Armenians know about their music.
After working for more than 40 years Jethro Tull chose such compositions which perfectly reflect their real picture and leave the new songs for the next visit. The group leader, flutist and vocalist Yan Anderson says, “When we come to Armenia for the fourth time, we will perform a deeper concert.” Following this statement he said that it was a British joke. “I think that guests from America or England don’t come to your country and enjoy your country often. During tours I often sit in my hotel room, watch out of the window and do some googling to get more information about the countries where I am. I know everything about Armenia,” said Anderson and added that he had got information on Armenia from the most perfect site, i.e. the official information source of the Central investigation department. “I know how many people live in Armenia, how many people have AIDS and how high is the number of women compared to the number of men,” he said. I know that not only the Armenian women are beautiful but the Armenian grannies as well. I also know that Armenia will win the Eurovision next year,” said the rocker, who knows how to introduce popular topics in a very popular manner. Yan Anderson says that the Jethro Tull could live so long due to the fact that they did not focus on one style and were flexible in performing different music styles. “We have never been so successful as the Rolling stones or the Who, we have chosen more eclectic approach and create mixed music which involves eastern, Indian and folk motives, and even we use classic music. We invite other musicians for different concerts. This makes concerts active and working with guests has become a good tradition for our group. The combination of rock and folk music gives an opportunity to try new things all the time,” said Anderson.
Martin Barr, the guitarist of the Jethro Tull, says that they have worked together so long that his wife does not understand him so well as Yan Anderson. The musicians confess (by referring to the English humor again) that they don’t like listening to music any more and the best music is silence, and if they need inspiration they listen to classic music. They understand that different generations listen to their music. “We believe it is important to pass the British music to the coming generations,” they said. Yan Anderson says that from time to time his son joins them and plays the drums. “If you come to our concert don’t think that the person playing the drums is my son because a 45 years old black man will be playing there,” he said smiling. Rock and English humor become very dangerous when they are mixed by talented people. During 40 years the Jethro Tull has created so many compositions that they can afford not only English humor but Armenian humor as well before their concerts. “If you can, be demanding to us but if you think that you can get your ticket money back you will not be able to do that,” said Yan Anderson. The members of the Jethro Tull, who can easily invent a scuba from the dirt and dust of streets to save the homeless, believe that people were the ones who created their gods (but not the vice versa) and it is also people’s duty to get rid of small fetishes.