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Is anyone going to see Tull guitarist Martin Barre tonight?

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Is anyone going to see Tull guitarist Martin Barre tonight?

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    • I think after the first album it was always Ian’s band but MB contributed a lot of arrangement ideas which are badly missed. My favourite lineup is Anderson/Barre/Evan/Glascock/Barlow which I think was the peak. Ian is still a big part of it but a lot of what I liked is gone now.

      • Don’t get me wrong: everyone knows that Tull is Ian’s band. But there was something about Martin’s sound in the band, his approach, the way he interacted with Ian as a foil, everything. I could accept different musicians in the other roles (just about) – but Tull’s just not Tull without Martin. I don’t envy his replacements since he was manoeuvred out (the manner of his leaving also left a nasty taste – I know Ian’s had form for this sorta thing, but even so…).
        For the record (arf!) my favourite lineup is Anderson/Barre/Evan/Hammond-Hammond/Barlow – but then you knew that, didn’t you?

      • @Twang

        Aside from MLB, the big thing that has gone is Ian’s voice. Having sat through him straining his way through the 50th anniversary tour a few months before COVID, cannot believe he is still going.

  5. It was as expected, a very good, acoustic show with Martin’s band being Alan Thomson (excellent slide/bass guitarist; previously long serving member of John Martyn’s band), Alex Hart (a beautiful voice on guitar and percussion) and Dan Crisp (guitar, a foil for MB). Dan was a convincing Ian A. with his vocals and mannerisms.
    Alex opened the show and often joined the other 3 on stage. We heard I recall, 3 of her songs, she has a real talent for song writing and along with Dan were placed centre stage; Alan and Martin almost in the wings.
    There were some of MB’s tunes/songs and more Tull than MB had earlier suggested.
    For anyone who is interested in the choices:
    ‘Aqualung’ was well represented by Cheap Day Return, Mother Goose and Wondering Aloud, and as a climax Locomotive Breath. There were revisits to Sossity, Bouree and Under Wraps.
    The surprises, to me at least, included Blind Faith’s – Can’t Find My Way Home and Don Henley’s – New York Minute.

  6. I’m just listening to the Heavy Horses box – SW remix of the album. Martin Barre is really quite unique I think. So musical and always for the song, and comes up with parts that are pure Tull and pure MB. None of his successors come near to his contribution. I remember a dismissive comment on a Tull forum when a new guitarist was announced – “He ain’t Martin Barre, he’s just a shredder”.

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