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BRAVO (Germany)

19 April 1972

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Note: These photos were published in Bravo magazine, 19 April 1972, with an article in German. Some of the photos were later published in the UK magazine Titbits, 26 April 1973, from which the text below has been taken.

From the German article, it seems the photos were taken in Offenburg, 22 January 1972, both in the street and at the Hotel Palmengarten. The main photo includes the note: "Girl roadie Diana, a good friend of the group, telephones tomorrow's newspapers with a concert review ..."

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THE MAD, MAD WORLD OF JETHRO TULL

Ian Anderson ran a hand through his wild hair, wrinkled his nose and sat down to map out a plan for the day's madness. Ian, leader of hit group Jethro Tull, likes nothing better than a bit of off-stage lunacy. And when he's not standing on one leg, playing flute, and leading the group through their paces, he will probably be prowling around, heavily disguised, looking for mischief. Ian learned early in his career that a little goonery fills theatres, concert halls — and bank accounts.

His long, tattered overcoat, skin-tight trousers looking as though they've been rescued from a jumble sale, and high lace-up boots established him and his group as a bunch of eccentrics. There have been line-up changes since Jethro Tull was formed in 1967, but the group just gets wilder and wilder.

In a business where being a looner is commonplace and looking like something the dustman refused to take away is the norm, Jethro Tull emerge as the pop industry's most surreal weirdos.

Their current obsession is to be accepted as street musicians. Now the group are as likely to be standing on street corners playing the national anthem as standing on stage playing to sell-out concerts.

And they're certainly not doing it for the money. Already the five-piece group — Barriemore Barlow, John Evan, Martin Lancelot Barre, Jeffrey Hammond-Hammond and Ian Anderson — have earned enough to retire tomorrow ... and their success seems endless.

What drives them to make fools of themselves? "We just enjoy enjoying ourselves," said Ian.

When the group visited Germany recently to play to a sell-out 50,000 crowd at Frankfurt, they took along their flat, checked hats and grubby raincoats.

The concert, like all their concerts, was a smash. So was their street act.

Jethro Tull donned gaudy tracksuits, white raincoats and Andy Caps and set off to entertain — in the street.

Soon children were trailing after the five who, by then, resembled a collection of raw recruits for the Salvation Army rather than a best-selling pop group.

Ian Anderson is never happier than when he is surrounded by children.

"I love them," he said. "Their minds are so open, so receptive."

And children love Jethro Tull. The moment Ian and company marched smartly into view, children giggled and beamed at the funny men playing hymns. Sunday school was never like this!

First the five, with instruments, made an abortive attempt to get into a telephone box; then followed an equally frustrating bid to climb a lamp-post. Finally the group adjourned to their hotel, where Jeffrey Hammond-Hammond promptly cooked a meal in his tent.

Now, a tent in a luxury hotel is about as useful as a snow plough in the Sahara desert, but Jeffrey insisted on taking one on tour — and was determined to use it.

While Jeffrey sat outside his tent and ate baked beans and Martin Lancelot Barre hung his washing out — in his hotel room — the other three did a work-out of physical jerks.

Just an ordinary day in the lives of Jethro Tull!

BILL KELLOW


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Thanks to Mike Wain for the text.