Posted in: Entertainment History, News, Trivia Q & A | No Comments | January 18, 2022
Q. What British band is named after the man who invented the seed drill?
A.. The answer is Jethro Tull (1674-1741), whose invention revolutionized farming. But why is he the name of a flute-heavy prog-rock band known for their hits “Aqualung” and “Cross-Eyed Mary”? When the first iteration of the group formed in 1963, they were The Blades. They cycled through a series of names over the next few years because they weren’t very good, and it was easier to get re-booked at clubs if they pretended to be a different band (this according to their frontman, Ian Anderson). But in 1968 when they got a regular gig at the Marquee Club in London, they had to settle on a name. Their agent, a history buff, suggested Jethro Tull, so they went with it. When they released their first single, “Sunshine Day,” later that year, the label was misprinted “Jethro Toe.”
Video below is Roland’s favourite Jethro Tull song - from the album A Passion Play
