Ian Anderson Books ‘50 Years Of Jethro Tull’ Tour

Ian Anderson announces the U.S. routing for his 50th anniversary tour celebrating Jethro Tull’s very first show, which took place Feb. 2, 1968, at the famous Marquee Club in London at 90 Wardour Street.

The club is the same venue where The Rolling Stones played its debut live gig in July 1962.

Steve Jennings – “Jethro Tull – Written And Performed By Ian Anderson”
Luther Burbank Center For The Arts, Santa Rosa, Calif., Oct. 25, 2016

Following European dates in April, the U.S. leg of “50 Years of Jethro Tull” launches May 30 at the Comerica Theatre in Phoenix, Ariz., and stretches across the country, wrapping at New York’s Beacon Theatre on Sept. 11.

The routing includes five nights in California with stops in Los Angeles, Berkeley, Paso Robles, Visalia and Sacramento. Anderson has also booked one night in Canada – a July 3 show at Toronto’s Budweiser Stage.

Additional European dates are scattered throughout 2018.  

Anderson will be joined by David Goodier (bass), John O’Hara (keyboards), Florian Opahle (guitar), Scott Hammond (drums) and “surprise virtual guests.”

As for the setlist, Anderson has promised to perform a selection of material from the albums This Was, Stand Up, Benefit, Aqualung, Thick As A Brick, Too Old To Rock And Roll: Too Young To Die, Songs From The Wood, Heavy Horses, and Crest Of A Knave. He’ll also throw in “a touch” of his 2012 solo album TAAB2, the follow-up to Thick As A Brick.

“I am not usually a birthday or anniversary kind of guy but, just for once, I won’t be a party-pooper either! I treasure the memories of the earlier years of Jethro Tull repertoire, associated as it is with the adventures of visiting so many countries for the first time to connect with new fans around the world. And this is a celebration of all the 33 band members who graced our ranks – musicians who brought their talents, skills and styles to bear on the performances live and in the studio. Join me and the current band for a nostalgic evening of varied music, representative of my ever-changing songwriting as our careers progressed through the years.”

Tickets for most dates went on sale Nov. 17. Check with your local venue for more information. The June 10 gig in Woodinville, Wash., goes on sale in March.

Visit Ian Anderson’s tour page to see the full routing. Click here to read Pollstar’s 2014 interview with Anderson, in which he had a lot to say about tour management and paying taxes.