Rock Overdose and Pavlos Giannakopoulos had the pleasure to talk with Ian Anderson (Jethro Tull), in view of his forthcoming concert in Athens Greece on October 1st, having the opportunity to ask him questions about everything.
Rock Overdose: How are things going for you in 2016?
Ian Anderson: I’m doing very well!
Rock Overdose: You refused to play Woodstock. Can you tell us why?
Ian Anderson: Hippies, drugs and naked women! I can't be bothered with any of them. Anyway, too much attention, too soon. We needed time to evolve before being exposed to a large audience and our place in history.
Rock Overdose: Your sixth album “Homo Erraticus” is a concept album, connected it with Jethro Tull’s “Thick as a Brick”album. Can you tell us some words about it?
Ian Anderson: There isn't really any difference between Homo Erraticus as a solo named record and the rest of the Tull catalogue. Just prefer to use my own name these days and the band who will appear in Athens have all played over the last 12 years as members of Jethro Tull. Homo Erraticus is about migration of the human species. An attempt to look at the last 10,000 years of human movement throughhout Europe and the world and the migration of ideas, culture, trade, arts and entertainment along with the movement of people. I have 2.5% Neanderthal genes according to my DNA test and my origins lie in the Balkan region of the world.
Rock Overdose: Do you think that you can ‘use’ fictional character Gerald Bostock once again in the future?
Ian Anderson: Gerald is talking a very long break.
Rock Overdose: Do you think that Jethro Tull chapter is over or we will hear news for the band in the future? Maybe a new album?
Ian Anderson: You will always see my name and the Jethro Tull identity written together on tours and album artwork. There isn't a difference except in my mind since I like people to know my real name after all these years.
Rock Overdose: October 1st we will have the honor and the privilege to see you at Technopolis in Athens Greece. Can you tell us some words about it?
Ian Anderson: You should expect a best of Jethro Tull show. I always try to include some of the best-known and successful songs for the old fans and younger fans alike. And a few less-familiar songs for the fans who have heard it all before.
Rock Overdose: So what the future holds for you?
Ian Anderson: Doing shows, playing music for fun in private.. my daily routine is not that interesting.. still no hippies, drugs or naked women. Or men either, come to think of it.
For Rock Overdose
Pavlos Giannakopoulos