Jethro Tull sorry for bashing flag

WorldNetDaily.com ^ | Tuesday, November 18, 2003

[JohnHuang2]

THE RED, WHITE & BLUE
Jethro Tull sorry
for bashing flag
Lead singer apologizes after WND publishes anti-U.S. comments globally

---

Posted: November 17, 2003
5:36 p.m. Eastern

© 2003 WorldNetDaily.com

Ian Anderson, front man for British rock bank Jethro Tull, has apologized for comments he made blasting American patriotism.

Jethro Tull's Ian Anderson

"In an interview with a U.S. newspaper, I expressed my concerns regarding the 'flag-waving' mind-set – not only of some Americans – but across the world," Anderson wrote on the band's website.

"I now regret the tone of these statements and offer my belated apologies to those offended by any perceived slur on the Stars and Stripes. I really didn’t understand – even after 35 years of visiting the USA on a regular basis – that this symbol had such fierce resonance for so many people as is now apparent to me."

As WorldNetDaily reported, in an interview published in New Jersey's Asbury Park Press, Anderson said, "I hate to see the American flag hanging out of every bloody station wagon, out of every SUV, every little Midwestern house in some residential area. It's easy to confuse patriotism with nationalism. Flag waving ain't gonna do it."

In response, radio station WCHR-FM on the Jersey shore decided to no longer play songs by Jethro Tull, best known for its 1970s hit "Aqualung."

"The reaction of our audience has been 99 percent in favor of the ban and 99 percent incredulous that he would say such stupid things. He is a smart guy," program director and disc jockey Phil LoCascio told the Press. "As far as we're concerned, this ban is forever."

LoCascio rejected the notion the ban on Tull songs amounts to censorship.

"Our listeners' right to ask us not to play the music is equal to his right to say what he wants," he said, according to the report.

The Associated Press reports today LoCascio will leave any decision to restore the band to the station's play list to listeners.

"Some of the listeners think [the apology is] too little too late," LoCascio told the news service.

The controversy is part of continuing fallout in the music world in connection with the war on terror. As WorldNetDaily has previously reported, the Dixie Chicks, Bruce Springsteen, and Moby have all come under public scrutiny for their personal political statements.

Formed in 1967 in Blackpool, England, Jethro Tull took its name from an 18th century agricultural inventor and has enjoyed widespread success on both sides of the Atlantic.

[JohnHuang2]

Tuesday, November 18, 2003

Quote of the Day by South40

[Dane]

Sorry Ian, can't help it if your head is as "thick as a brick".

[Squantos]

Hope Ian will accept my apology in kind for shoving that flute up his ass if I ever I meet him in person......

These POS losers say what they mean, what they really mean and then their bankers make em apologize like a 6 year old . Trash......nothing but human trash.

Stay Safe Ya'll......rant over !

[MayDay72]

Sorry Ian, can't help it if your head is as "thick as a brick". -Dane

Actually I think that we exhausted all of the obvious Jethro Tull references over here:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1020355/posts

[Rockitz]

"Poor old sod..."

[skr]

Despite being a teen in the 70s, the only thing I remember about Jethro Tull is that they had horrible album covers. I can't even imagine what "Aqualung" sounds like. Certainly no big loss in my musical education.

[ABG(anybody but Gore)]

Oops! My bad, I thought they were referring to our Jethro Tull.

BTW: did he ever come out of his bomb shelter after Y2K?

[JohnHuang2]

BTW: did he ever come out of his bomb shelter after Y2K?

hehehe

[Strider]

"I now regret the tone of these statements and offer my belated apologies to those offended ... "

He can appologize all he wants. As far as I am concerned, he can go to hell.

[dasboot]

I love some of his stuff. "Skating Away" is a monumentally good tune; and I think it will be sung in pubs 500 years from now. Of all his tunes, I think that is the most universally loved. He's a damn gifted writer.

"Bungle in the Jungle" is another great one. One of those 'sing-along' choruses everybody knows.

Why would anybody get upset by political commentary from a guy who wears a cod-piece? [g]

[KneelBeforeZod]

which one is jethro tull?

[FlyVet]

I really didn’t understand – even after 35 years of visiting the USA on a regular basis

Well...maybe yer stupid.

[JohnHuang2]

Well...maybe yer stupid.

Bingo.

[geege]

I walked out of a Tull concert at Madison Square Garden years ago after getting in for nothing......Their music did nothing for me then and still can't move me...

[Bonaparte]

"...as is now apparent to me?"

I guess Ian was asleep in a vault during the Ditzy Chix fiasco.

[ABG(anybody but Gore)]

Seriously, did he ever come up? I haven't seen him post since 1999, and enquiring minds want to know: is he still down there, checking out his stock options and baseball cards? Or did he come up, and was so embarrassed that he blew the call so badly that he remains in anonymous obscurity to this day?

[xp38]

From the Britannica website....

Jethro Tull (1674-1741)

Born: 1674 at Basilson, Berkshire Agriculturalist

Died: 1741 at Hungerford, Berkshire

Jethro Tull (1674-1741), born in Basildon in 1674, was a major pioneer in the modernisation of agriculture. The son of a Berkshire farmer, he trained for a legal career, but financial problems compelled him to opt instead for farming. Determined to improve agricultural methods and increase yields, Tull experimented at Howberry farm, Crowmarsh, near Wallingford with a seed-drill which could sew three rows of seeds simultaneously. Later, he devised a horse-drawn hoe to clear away weeds. In 1731, Tull published his ideas about farming and plant nutrition in The New Horse Houghing Husbandry: or, an Essay on the Principles of Tillage and Vegetation'. Despite initial resistance to Tull's revolutionary ideas, they were eventually adopted by large landowners, and in time formed the basis of modern agriculture. Tull died at Prosperous Farm, near Hungerford on 21 February 1741.

[FlyVet]

Their music did nothing for me then and still can't move me...

I grew up in the '70's and never did see what was so good about them either, although many of my friends thought they were great. I had a friend who worked at the local minor-league hockey stadium in Kalamazoo, and Tull played there one night. He told me that backstage, after the concert, Anderson would look at someone and start laughing uncontrollably...a little too much acid that night, perhaps.

[JohnHuang2]

Haven't seen him either. I suppose he's still down there...

[geege]

Well Tull had a lot of strange fans at the Garden while they were performing....holding wands and flowers...like it was Woodstock time???????? We were too much into the Scorpions so we split.....

[xp38]

Sorry..error report...that was from the Britannia Biographies website.

[sushiman]

" Why did anyone ever buy their music? !

They did make some memorable music , especially early on in their career ( 1967-1980 or thereabouts ) . Later on I didn't care for them much , despite the fact my buddy Dave Mattacks was their drummer for a while .

[The Duke]

Looking...like...a...Dead....Duck...

[Grampa Dave]

I have a very good friend who used to travel all over Europe before 9/11.

Back then he had commented that both American and Brit fading stars would trash America to sell their cr$p to America haters in Europe.

Now, it is very obvious that when a has been is really fading they trash our President and America. This must be a marketing plan for has beens in the entertainment business.

One can only hope you put this fag's flute where it belongs someday, Squantos.

[wardaddy]

Sorry, Ian....your sperm's in the gutter.

[Ditto]

BTW: did he ever come out of his bomb shelter after Y2K?

He's in a detox facility trying to kick his Spam addiction.

[wimpycat]

It's a much better apology than the Dixie Chicks' version.

[dead]

BTW: did he ever come out of his bomb shelter after Y2K?

No, he’s still got four more years of canned pork to go through.

That ought to give the surface of our devastated planet enough time to cool down before he emerges as the Omega man.

[HamiltonJay]

Apparently this Brit forgot something we taught the world over 200 years ago now.... and have reminded them occassionally of... including but not limited to following 12/7/41 and 9/11/01.......


DON'T TREAD ON ME!

[wardaddy]

yes it is....Ian has always been eccentric.

[New Horizon]

It's a "them", like Led Zeppelin, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and Pink Floyd.

"The band is just fantastic, that is really what I think.

Oh, by the way, which one's Pink?"

[wimpycat]

I saw Jethro Tull in concert a couple of years ago--they were touring with the Chieftans, which is who I really wanted to see. Both acts put on a good show.

[New Horizon]

Speaking of Lynyrd Skynyrd...

[wardaddy]

I saw them on the Aqualung tour many years ago....one of the first alleged stereo concerts....I was around 15.

[McGavin999]

I'm really tired of people not understand WHY there are flags hanging out of every station wagon, etc. Does 9-11 sound familiar Ian? The flags on our homes and on our cars mean that WE don't forget.

[DEPUTYMAYTAG]

Eat sh-t and die Ian, stay home you limey.

[subterfuge]

Snots running down his nose.

[Centurion2000]

To quote the psychiatrist from Armageddon ....

Who is Jethro Tull ?

[ABG(anybody but Gore)]

Both of you, ROFLMAO!

[KevinDavis]

Who?

[Possenti]

Yeah, he's a real piece of...work. For years, I've known he was an anti-American scumbag. The first time I heard him on a radio interview, saying something about American men hunting deer to prove how "macho" they are. He even complained how "rowdy" American audiences are at his own concerts. Something like, "they're so annoying - the way they cheer and shout during every break in the music." I guess someone forgot to tell him he plays in what some consider a "rock band". That usually happens at concerts.

And yes, I've also wanted to shove that obnoxious flute square up his keister - SIDEWAYS!

[Chuzzlewit]

as far as I'm concerned, apology accepted.

[Squantos]

LMAO.......This one time at band camp........:o)

Stay Safe Bro !

[Strider]

as far as I'm concerned, apology accepted.

Good for you.

Since 911, I'm not feeling very forgiving towards anit-american foregin has-beens who backtrack, when their true feelings start to cost them money.

Forgive him, if you want to. It's a free country. No thanks to punks like that washed up flute player.