Band Biography

Ian Anderson
Ian was born in 1947 in Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland. After attending primary school in Edinburgh, his family relocated to Blackpool in the north of England in 1959. Following a traditional Grammar school education, he moved on to Art college to study fine art before deciding on an attempt at a musical career.
He now lives on a farm in the southwest of England where he has a recording studio and office. He has been married for 25 years to Shona who is also an active director of their music and other companies. They have two children - James and Gael - who work in the music and TV/film industries respectively.
Ian has so far recorded four diverse solo albums in his career: 1983's "Walk Into Light", the flute instrumental "Divinities" album for EMI's Classical Music Division in 1995 which reached number one in the relevant Billboard chart, and the more recently recorded acoustic collections of songs, "The Secret Language of Birds", and Rupi’s Dance. New recordings are scheduled for recording in 2008.
His hobbies include the growing of many varieties of hot chile peppers, the study and conservation of the 26 species of small wildcats of the world and collecting mechanical watches and vintage Leica and other cameras. He reluctantly admits to owning digital cameras and scanners for his work on the photographic promotional images related to Tull as well as his solo career.

In 2006, he was awarded a Doctorate in Literature from Heriot Watt University in Edinburgh, the Ivor Award for International Achievement in Music and, in the New Years Honours List 2008, an MBE for services to music.

Martin Barre
Martin was born in Birmingham, England on the 17th November, 1946. He studied at local Grammar schools, before enrolling on a degree course in Surveying and Architecture at college and university.
Leaving college to begin a musical career playing saxophone and flute, he joined a touring soul band who travelled throughout Germany and the UK, later backing such legendary US artists as Lee Dorsey, The Coasters and Ben E. King.
Barre first ran into Jethro Tull in 1968 when his band "Gethsemane" as it was then called, supported Tull at a concert at the Van Dyck Club in Plymouth, England. Martin had by then graduated to electric guitar along with his other instruments, and must have made some favourable impression on the members of Tull since, when Mick Abrahams forfeited the guitar slot in December 1968, Martin successfully auditioned, being favoured over Tony Iommi, later of Black Sabbath, whose style was seen as less flexible than the more eclectic musical background which Martin brought to the group.

Martin has recorded three solo albums in the last few years: "A Trick Of Memory", "The Meeting" and “Stage Left”

Martin's hobbies include, famously, recreational and marathon running (not jogging) as well as collecting old model trains and cameras. He enjoys skiing and wind surfing when on vacation, but rarely travels without a guitar which, when the mood takes him, offers the best exercise of all.

Doane Perry
Born: Mt. Kisco, New York - June 16th 1954
Current Residence: Woodland Hills, California
Education: Browning, St. Bernards and Collegiate Schools -Grades 1-12. Attended New York University for 1 year and extension programs at The New School, Rutgers, and Julliard.
Started off playing Piano then took up playing Drums at age 11 and over the years apart from being Tulls longest running drummer has also had time over the years good fortune to work with a wide variety of gifted artists and bands - well known and not so well known.
When not playing music Doane enjoys Reading and Swimming though not at the same time followed by an extremely hot curry dinner.

David Goodier
Since graduating in 1979, David has been a full time bass player, appearing with many artists from the world of Jazz, pop and Rock. Theatre work for Bristol Old Vic includes Stone Free, Marat/Sade, Twelfth Night, A Taste of Honey, Blues Brother Soul Sisters, A Streetcar Named Desire, Up the Feeder, Down the 'Mouth, Salad Days, The Wizard of Oz and several pantomimes. Other productions include Annie, Jesus Christ Superstar, Evita, Oliver!, Little Shop of Horrors.
He also played bass for the 2001 UK tour of a soul musical written by Kwame Kwei-Armah, featuring soul diva Ruby Turner. Recent TV includes sessions for Modern Times, Animal People, Score, Belonging and Waking the Dead - all for the BBC.
He has taught privately for many years and has been visiting bass tutor at Exeter University, Dartington College of Arts and Dartington International Summer School. Since 2002 he has been touring worldwide with Ian Anderson.

John O’Hara
In the early 1970’s John joined the National Youth Orchestra of Wales. He played in several bands with his Father before moving to the Royal Northern College of Music studying Contemporary percussion/ drum kit and piano. After 5 years of graduate and post graduate studies he joined Rambert Dance Company, London as a percussionist, enjoying extensive touring for a further 5 years. After still more years gigging in bands and theatre John accepted the post as Composer / Musical Director for the Bristol Old Vic. While working in theatre John learnt the basics on Bass Guitar, Flute, Trumpet and Trombone until eventually discovering the Accordion. At about this time (2003) he met Ian Anderson and joined the Rubbing Elbows tour on piano and accordion subsequently recording on Rupi’s Dance. Since that time John has enjoyed touring with the band and scoring, conducting and playing Ian’s orchestral concerts.
In 2004 John was commissioned to compose a children's opera by the Welsh National Opera. This was a great success and has lead to a further two pieces being commissioned. John has also composed for wildlife, drama and documentary TV. Several years ago he produced two albums, one a smooth jazz record for USA and the other of his theatre music.
John holds teaching postions at Bath and Bristol Universities and is a guest tutor at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama where in 2007 he is adapting and scoring Quadrophenia for the stage.