Jethro Tull's founding front man Ian Anderson was born on this day in 1947 in Fife, Scotland. His interest in music was sparked by his father's record collection that consisted mostly of jazz and big band records. The family moved to Blackpool, England when Ian was 12. Expelled from grammar school for defiant behavior, Anderson recruited school friends to form a blues and soul based band called The Blades that featured Ian on guitar, harmonica and vocals. Not confident that his guitar playing would improve to his satisfaction, Anderson decided to trade his guitar for a flute which he quickly developed both the skill and a unique style for. He would go on to become proficient on keyboards, saxophone and mandolin.
Anderson and Blades members Jeffrey Hammond and John Evan would form the nucleus of what would become Jethro Tull in 1967, but the trio initially played under a series of names to improve their chances of getting more frequent gigs at clubs that didn't offer repeat bookings. A booking agent that was also a history buff suggested the group play under the name of the 1600's agriculturist inventor of the seed drill, Jethro Tull. The night the band used that name the club bookings manager was impressed enough with their set that he offered them a second date, so the name stuck. The group's groundbreaking debut album was released in 1968.
Other Noteworthy Classic Rock events on August 10 include...
1907 Fender guitar founder Leo Fender born.
1943 Ronnie Spector born.
1961 INXS Jon Farriss born.
1964 Mick Jagger fined for speeding and driving without a license.
1967 Grateful Dead play rooftop of Chelsea Hotel in New York City.
1968 The Who release Magic Bus as a single.
1970 Jim Morrison's trial on indecent exposure opens in Miami.
1972 Devon Allman born.
1972 Paul & Linda McCartney arrested on pot charges in Sweden.
1976 Elton John opens a 7 night, sold-out stand at Madison Square Garden that breaks an attendance record the Rolling Stones set.
1979 Chuck Berry starts serving 100 day sentence on tax evasion charge conviction.
1982 Bruce Springsteen plays wedding reception for Southside Johnny Lyon in Asbury Park, NJ.
1985 Michael Jackson buys 252 Beatles song rights for $ 47.5 million.
1992 Def Leppard opens Seven Day Weekend North American tour.
1993 Billy Joel releases River Of Dreams.
1995 Jimmy Buffett MC's Bill Clinton's birthday party at the White House.
2005 Rolling Stones do a warm-up date for tour for fans in a small Toronto theater.
2008 Issac Hayes dies.
2009 Them Crooked Vultures debut at the Metro in Chicago.
2022 Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson reunite for a rendition of Closer to the Heart during the South Park anniversary concert at Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, Colorado.
