Uploaded September 2018 | Updated September 2026, 8 hours ago
Celebrating his new solo release 'Roads less travelled' and 50 years of Jethro Tull, the Stand Up guitarist sits down to discuss the album and plans for the future.
Video interview by Andy Rawll for Record Collector Magazine. With thanks to www.sanctumsoho.com.
Since he succeeded Tony Iommi as guitarist for Jethro Tull in 1969 and appeared on their acclaimed second album 'Stand up', Martin Barre's contribution to the sound and legacy of one of the UK's most acclaimed bands has been immeasurable. Although, his most recent album with the band was 1999's J-Tull Dot Com, he continued to tour with the latest incarnation of the band until 2011.
With Jethro Tull on permanent hiatus since 2012 both Ian Anderson and Martin Barre maintain a distant, but amicable relationship and tour with their respective solo bands, both promoting new music and featuring music from their collective past.
Martin has just released his eighth solo studio album, with the latest 'Roads less travelled' his fourth release in five years. He spoke to Andy Rawll for Record Collector Magazine about his solo work and his plans moving into next year, which marks the 50th anniversary of his joining Jethro Tull, the album 'Stand up' and the band's first tour in the US. He also reflects back on his life in music, in particular, the circumstances surrounding his iconic solo on 'Aqualung'
martinbarre.com @TullGuitarist
recordcollectormag.com @RecCollMag
'Roads less travelled' is released on 5th October 2018 through Cleopatra Records (distributed in the UK by RSK) with pre-orders via Martin's website.
Interview Timeline
00:00 New album 'Roads less travelled' compared to previous 'Back to steel'
01:16 Development as a songwriter
02:10 Song arrangements on new album
02:53 Lyrical themes
04:02 Opening album track 'Lone wolf' - written on mandolin
04:41 Track 'Seattle'- memories trace back to 1969
06:33 Picking a favourite track from album
07:50 Playing the album on repeat
08:34 Current band members: Dan Crisp
09:57 Current band members: Alan Thompson
11:07 Festivals, including A New Day (yesterday)
11:50 Forthcoming tour dates
13:00 50th anniversary of MB joining Tull and the 'Stand up' album; forthcoming US tour (inc. Clive Bunker and Jonathan Noyce plus two female singers from the new album)
15:00 Perspective on record company anniversary reissue and Ian's plans
15:40 Does 'Stand Up' still stand-up ?
16:15 Older songs being added to the set, which could include: 'Back to the family', 'For a 1000 mothers', 'Nothing is easy', Hunting girl and arranging for two guitars, rather than keyboard
17:18 Comparison with Carl Palmer's band with guitarist playing the keyboard lines
18:04 Family musical background - born to be a guitarist ?
19:41 Martin's Lancelot to Ian's King Arthur
20:32 Recording the acclaimed Aqualung guitar solo with Jimmy Page looking on
22:21 Plaudits from other guitarists (inc. Joe Bonamassa). Just want to do a great show and make people smile
24:50 Conclusion
Celebrating his new solo release 'Roads less travelled' and 50 years of Jethro Tull, the Stand Up guitarist sits down to discuss the album and plans for the future.
Video interview by Andy Rawll for Record Collector Magazine. With thanks to www.sanctumsoho.com.
Since he succeeded Tony Iommi as guitarist for Jethro Tull in 1969 and appeared on their acclaimed second album 'Stand up', Martin Barre's contribution to the sound and legacy of one of the UK's most acclaimed bands has been immeasurable. Although, his most recent album with the band was 1999's J-Tull Dot Com, he continued to tour with the latest incarnation of the band until 2011.
With Jethro Tull on permanent hiatus since 2012 both Ian Anderson and Martin Barre maintain a distant, but amicable relationship and tour with their respective solo bands, both promoting new music and featuring music from their collective past.
Martin has just released his eighth solo studio album, with the latest 'Roads less travelled' his fourth release in five years. He spoke to Andy Rawll for Record Collector Magazine about his solo work and his plans moving into next year, which marks the 50th anniversary of his joining Jethro Tull, the album 'Stand up' and the band's first tour in the US. He also reflects back on his life in music, in particular, the circumstances surrounding his iconic solo on 'Aqualung'
martinbarre.com @TullGuitarist
recordcollectormag.com @RecCollMag
'Roads less travelled' is released on 5th October 2018 through Cleopatra Records (distributed in the UK by RSK) with pre-orders via Martin's website.
Interview Timeline
00:00 New album 'Roads less travelled' compared to previous 'Back to steel'
01:16 Development as a songwriter
02:10 Song arrangements on new album
02:53 Lyrical themes
04:02 Opening album track 'Lone wolf' - written on mandolin
04:41 Track 'Seattle'- memories trace back to 1969
06:33 Picking a favourite track from album
07:50 Playing the album on repeat
08:34 Current band members: Dan Crisp
09:57 Current band members: Alan Thompson
11:07 Festivals, including A New Day (yesterday)
11:50 Forthcoming tour dates
13:00 50th anniversary of MB joining Tull and the 'Stand up' album; forthcoming US tour (inc. Clive Bunker and Jonathan Noyce plus two female singers from the new album)
15:00 Perspective on record company anniversary reissue and Ian's plans
15:40 Does 'Stand Up' still stand-up ?
16:15 Older songs being added to the set, which could include: 'Back to the family', 'For a 1000 mothers', 'Nothing is easy', Hunting girl and arranging for two guitars, rather than keyboard
17:18 Comparison with Carl Palmer's band with guitarist playing the keyboard lines
18:04 Family musical background - born to be a guitarist ?
19:41 Martin's Lancelot to Ian's King Arthur
20:32 Recording the acclaimed Aqualung guitar solo with Jimmy Page looking on
22:21 Plaudits from other guitarists (inc. Joe Bonamassa). Just want to do a great show and make people smile
24:50 Conclusion
