Jethro Tull (GB)

About

Also known as: Jethrp Tull, Jetro Tull, Tull, ジェ入ロ

Few rock bands have stayed as stubbornly distinctive as Jethro Tull. Built around Ian Anderson and his unmistakable flute playing, the British group blended hard rock, English folk and classical music into something that never quite fitted any single category. They broke through with Aqualung in 1971, still their best known record, and Thick as a Brick the following year cemented their reputation as one of progressive rock's most inventive acts. Rolling Stone once called them one of the most commercially successful and eccentric progressive rock bands around, and it's hard to argue: 60 million albums sold, 11 gold records, and a Grammy to boot. Long time guitarist Martin Barre was a cornerstone of the classic lineup, though Anderson has always been the engine driving the whole thing, writing, singing and playing a remarkable range of instruments. After a quiet patch in the 2000s and a split in 2011, Anderson revived the Jethro Tull name from 2017 onward and got back to releasing new studio albums in the 2020s. Their catalog runs deep, with live recordings and archival material still surfacing regularly.