Ian Anderson facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ian Anderson MBE
Anderson performing in 2024
Background information
Birth name	Ian Scott Anderson
Born	(1947-08-10) 10 August 1947 (age 77) Dunfermline, Scotland
Origin	Blackpool, Lancashire, England
Genres	Progressive rock folk rock hard rock blues rock
Occupation(s)	Singer musician songwriter composer
Instruments	Vocals flute guitar
Years active	1962–present
Labels	Chrysalis Fuel 2000 RandM Angel EMI

Ian Scott Anderson (born 10 August 1947) is a Scottish musician famous for being the main singer, flute player, and acoustic guitarist for the British rock band Jethro Tull. He plays many instruments, including harmonica, keyboard, bass guitar, bouzouki, balalaika, saxophone, and different kinds of whistles. He started his solo music career in 1983 with the album Walk into Light. Since then, he has released five more solo albums. One of these is TaaB 2: Whatever Happened to Gerald Bostock? (2012), which is a follow-up to Jethro Tull's 1972 album Thick as a Brick.

Early Life & School Days

Ian Anderson was born in Dunfermline, Scotland. He was the youngest of three brothers. His mother was English, and his father was Scottish. Ian said he sees himself as a "Brit," meaning he feels connected to both English and Scottish heritage. His father, James Anderson, ran a company that made boiler fluid. When Ian was three, his family moved to Edinburgh.

He grew up listening to his father's big band and jazz records. He also saw the rise of rock music. However, he didn't like the "showbiz" style of early American rock and roll stars like Elvis Presley.

In 1959, his family moved to Blackpool, England. He went to Blackpool Grammar School. In 2011, Ian shared that he was asked to leave the school because he refused to accept corporal punishment (which was allowed back then). From 1964 to 1966, he studied fine art at Blackpool College of Art.

Ian Anderson's Music Career

Starting Out in Music

As a teenager, Ian worked as a sales assistant at a department store. He also sold newspapers.

In 1963, he formed a band called The Blades with his school friends. The band played soul and blues songs. Ian was the singer, guitarist, and harmonica player. He had not yet started playing the flute. Their first show was at the Holy Family Church Hall in North Shore.

In late 1967, Ian still had a day job. He cleaned the Ritz Cinema in Luton, including the bathrooms. He once took an old, broken urinal from the cinema. This was not the same urinal that was later used as a prop on stage during Jethro Tull's early 1970s shows.

Anderson performing with Jethro Tull in 1977

Around this time, Ian decided to stop trying to be an electric guitar player. He felt he would never be as good as Eric Clapton. He traded his electric guitar for a flute. After practicing for a few weeks, he found he could play the flute well in a rock and blues style. When Jethro Tull recorded their first album, This Was (1968), he had only been playing the flute for a few months. He still played acoustic guitar, using it for melodies and rhythm. As he became more famous, he also learned to play soprano saxophone, mandolin, and keyboards.

His famous way of standing on one leg while playing the flute happened by accident. He used to stand on one leg while playing the harmonica, holding the microphone stand for balance. A journalist mistakenly wrote that he stood on one leg to play the flute. So, Ian decided to try to do it, even though it was hard at first. You can see his early attempts in The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus (1968) film. This stance became a well-known part of his stage presence.

Later Music Projects

In the 1990s, Ian started playing simple bamboo flutes. He learned special ways to play them, like blowing harder or covering holes to make different sounds. He said that his daughter started flute lessons around this time. She noticed his finger positions were wrong, which made him re-learn how to play his songs correctly.

In 1995, Ian released his second solo album, Divinities: Twelve Dances with God. This album was all instrumental, meaning it had no singing. It featured twelve flute-heavy songs. He recorded it with Jethro Tull's keyboard player, Andrew Giddings, and other orchestra musicians. Ian released two more solo albums with songs: The Secret Language of Birds in 2000 and Rupi's Dance in 2003.

Anderson with Jethro Tull in 1978

In 2011, Ian decided to create a follow-up to Jethro Tull's 1972 album Thick as a Brick. The new album, Thick as a Brick 2 (or TAAB2), came out on 3 April 2012. It was released as "Jethro Tull's Ian Anderson" instead of a Jethro Tull album. Ian toured, performing both albums completely.

In May 2014, Ian released another album called Homo Erraticus. He described it as a progressive rock concept album that mixed rock, folk, and metal music. It reached No. 14 on the UK Albums Chart, making it his most successful solo album ever.

In September 2017, Ian announced a tour to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Jethro Tull's first album, This Was. He also planned a new studio album for 2019. The band for the tour included Ian, John O'Hara, and David Goodier.

On 28 January 2022, Jethro Tull released The Zealot Gene. This was the band's first studio album in 19 years and the first with all new, original songs in 23 years.

Awards and Recognition

Anderson at the 2004 Cropredy Festival

In 1973, Ian Anderson appeared on the cover of Time magazine. The article was about new music trends in the early 1970s.

In 2006, Ian received two special honors for his contributions to music. He won the Ivor Novello Award for International Achievement. He also received an honorary Doctorate of Literature from Heriot-Watt University on 11 July 2006.

In 2008, he was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for his services to music. This is a special award given by the British monarch.

He received another Honorary Doctorate from Abertay University in July 2011. In 2013, he was given the "Prog God" award at the Progressive Music Awards.

Working with Other Musicians

Ian Anderson has worked with many other artists. He produced the 1974 album Now We Are Six for the band Steeleye Span. He also helped produce and played on Maddy Prior's first solo album, Woman in the Wings (1978).

Ian Anderson plays the Orchestral Jethro Tull in Germany, 2007.

In 1985, he played flute on the song "All Along You Knew" by the Canadian rock band Honeymoon Suite. In 1984, Ian, along with other Jethro Tull members, recorded A Classic Case with the London Symphony Orchestra. They performed Jethro Tull songs with the orchestra.

Ian also played flute on the Men Without Hats song "On Tuesday" (1987) and on the Blackmore's Night song "Play, Minstrel, Play" (1997). He played flute on the 1998 Roy Harper album The Dream Society. Ian has said that Roy Harper greatly influenced him.

Anderson performing in Germany, 2016

Ian appeared as a guest on two live albums by Uriah Heep in 2001. He played flute on the track "Portmeirion" on Fairport Convention's 2001 album XXXV. He has performed with Fairport Convention many times at their annual Cropredy Festival.

In 2005, Ian played flute and sang on a song called "The Thin Ice" for Back Against the Wall. This was a tribute album covering Pink Floyd's The Wall. In April 2011, Ian performed a flute duet with astronaut Cady Coleman. She was on the International Space Station. They did this to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the first human spaceflight.

Ian played flute on "Cannonball" by The Darkness (2012) and "Cry to the World" by Renaissance (2013). He also played flute on "The Ocean at the End" by The Tea Party (2014).

Anderson plays flute in Zagreb, Croatia, in 2018

In 2017, the album Jethro Tull – The String Quartets was released. It featured Ian Anderson with the Carducci String Quartet. In 2024, Ian played flute and provided spoken words on three songs for the Swedish band Opeth's album The Last Will and Testament.

Personal Life and Interests

Ian Anderson is the youngest of three brothers. His oldest brother, Robin, became the administrator of Scottish Ballet.

Ian was married to Jennie Franks from 1970 to 1974. She was a photographer and helped write some of the lyrics for the song "Aqualung".

In 1976, Ian married Shona Learoyd. She had studied ballet and later worked as a press officer for Jethro Tull's record label. She also helped with the band's stage effects.

Ian and Shona have two children. Their son, James Duncan Anderson, is also a musician. Their daughter, Gael, works in the film industry and is married to actor Andrew Lincoln.

Ian is a survivor of deep vein thrombosis, a serious blood clot condition. He has helped raise awareness about this disease.

Ian enjoys protecting wild cats, especially those rescued from bad situations. He also likes cameras, especially Leicas, and Indian cuisine.

Ian has talked about his health. In May 2020, he shared that he has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). He believes it might be from using smoke machines on stage during his long career. He takes medicine and does breathing exercises to keep his lungs healthy. He says it has not yet stopped him from doing his daily activities.

Solo Albums

Studio Albums

Live Albums

Collaborations

• Jethro Tull – The String Quartets (BMG, 2017) with the Carducci String Quartet

As a Guest Musician

• Roy Harper: Flashes From The Archives Of Oblivion (Harvest Records, 1974); Anderson plays flute on "Home"
• Honeymoon Suite: The Big Prize (Warner Music Canada, 1986); Anderson plays flute on "All Along You Knew"
• Men Without Hats: Pop Goes the World (Mercury Records, 1987); Anderson plays flute on the track "On Tuesday"
• The Six and Violence: Lettuce Prey (Fist Records, 1990); Anderson plays on "Bursting Bladder" and "Theological Guns"
• Blackmore's Night: Shadow of the Moon (Edel, 1997); Anderson plays flute on "Play Minstrel Play"
• Roy Harper: The Dream Society (Science Friction Records, 1998); Anderson plays flute on "These Fifty Years"
• Uriah Heep: Acoustically Driven (Classic Rock Productions, 2001); Anderson plays flute on "Circus" and "Blind Eye"
• James Taylor Quartet: Room at the Top (Sanctuary Records, 2002); Anderson plays flute on "Free"
• Magellan: Hundred Year Flood (Magna Carta Records, 2002); Anderson plays flute on "Family Jewels"
• Silverwood Quartet: The Classic Rock Album (2005); Anderson plays flute on "Bourrée"
• Billy Sherwood: Back Against the Wall (Cleopatra Records, 2005); Anderson plays flute and sings lead vocals on "The Thin Ice" and plays flute on "Is There Anybody Out There?"
• Various Artists: Asia and Progressive Rock Friends (2008); Anderson sings and plays flute on "The Thin Ice"
• Eric Brooke: The Road to Here (2011); Anderson plays flute on "O.K.(Live) "
• Saori Jo: Home 2.17 AM (2012); Anderson plays flute on "Fairy World"
• Unnur Birna: Sunshine (2013); Anderson plays flute on "Sunshine"
• Anna Phoebe: Between the Shadow and the Soul (2014); Anderson plays flute on "A Moment's Deception"
• Boris Grebenshchikov: Salt (2014); Anderson plays flute on "Любовь во время войны"
• Renaissance: Symphony of Light (2014); Anderson plays flute on "Cry to the World"
• Tiles: Pretending 2 Run (Laser's Edge, 2016); Anderson plays flute on "Midwinter"
• Helen Andrews: Circling Highs, Unravelling Lows (2016); Anderson plays flute on "Behind the Glass"
• John Cooper Clarke & Hugh Cornwell: This Time It's Personal (2016); Anderson plays flute on "MacArthur Park"
• Tim Bowness: Lost in the Ghost Light (2017); Anderson plays flute on "Distant Summers"
• Tinkara: Cuori di ossigeno (2017); Anderson plays flute on "Maldamore"
• Steeleye Span: Est'd 1969 (2019); Anderson plays flute on "Old Matron"
• Heather Findlay: Wild White Horses (2019); Anderson plays flute on "Winner"
• Mandoki Soulmates: Living in the Gap + Hungarian Pictures (2020); Anderson sings and plays flute on "Let the Music Show You the Way"
• Louise Patricia Crane: Deep Blue (Peculiar Doll Records, 2020); Anderson plays flute on "Snake Oil" and "Ophelia"
• Steve Bailey: Carolina (2020); Anderson plays flute on "Bourrée"
• Robby Steinhardt: Not In Kansas Anymore / A Prog Opera (2021); Anderson plays flute and pennywhistle on "Pizzacato (A Slice For Baby Boy Flynn)"
• Opeth: The Last Will and Testament (2024); Anderson plays flute on "§4", "§7" and "A Story Never Told". Anderson also provides spoken words on "§1", "§2", "§4", and "§7".

See also

In Spanish: Ian Anderson para niños