That Jethro Tull Isn't Just Living In The Past. Now, this may run contrary to your beer-swilling neighbor's boast that Jethro Tull is the name of the lead singer, but credit that mistake to the beer. The truth is the singer's name is Ian Anderson. After all, Anderson writes the material, sings the material, lends the trademark Tull flute, fronts the band on stage, and is one of only two original members still in the group, the other being guitarist Martin Barre.
Recent releases show it to be a subtle difference.
Anderson's latest solo release, The Secret Language of Birds , has a similar sound, albeit minus the electricity. Some of the time I'm writing songs for Tull, trying to make the drummer happy. It's quite different to write for solo purposes than for the more team spirit that you have to go into a band album with. With my own record, I can allow the music to go where the music wants to go. The whole idea of a solo record had been stewing inside Anderson throughout his long career.