Jethro Tull vocalist Ian Anderson mentioned the bodily challenges of singing at an older age in a brand new interview, however, in doing so, managed to belittle Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger as “a shouter.” He additionally provided up a considerably callous remark about Phil Collins, Billy Joel, and Ozzy Osbourne (though it must be famous that the interview was performed shortly earlier than Ozzy handed away).
Again in 2020, Anderson revealed he was affected by power obstructive pulmonary illness (COPD), and reasoned that his “days as a singer are numbered.” Nevertheless, he has continued to carry out since then, and is within the midst of a European tour with Jethro Tull, with dates scheduled nicely into 2026.
In a video dialog with Now Spinning Journal (as transcribed by Blabbermouth), Anderson talked in regards to the bodily calls for of singing and taking part in the flute at age 77, remarking, “It relies upon what you do. You may be bodily animated, however there’s a level to which you’ll be able to solely accomplish that a lot in the event you’re taking part in a flute. If you’re Mick Jagger and also you’re simply operating round with kind of shout-out vocals, then, yeah, no disrespect, however Mick Jagger didn’t set the bar very excessive when it comes to vocal expertise proper from the very starting.”
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Anderson added, “So, he’s a shouter, and he doesn’t have to essentially hit the notes or essentially be terribly nice on intonation or phrasing or something. He’s a shouter, and he runs round in a really animated manner, and that’s nice for somebody who’s — no matter — a few years older than me, or three years older than me. That’s superb. But it surely’s not that straightforward in the event you’re making an attempt to play a flute … there’s a restrict to what you are able to do. And it tends to be that if I’m not taking part in the flute, I’m singing.”
So far as his personal well being, Anderson revealed, “I appear to have overcome my issues with discovering out late in life that I used to be asthmatic. That’s now just about fully below management and it doesn’t trigger me issues in any respect.”
In a while, Anderson introduced up the three aforementioned legendary singers who had been having well being points (together with Ozzy earlier than his passing), saying, “Fortunately, I’m not able of poor outdated Ozzy Osbourne or equally poor outdated Phil Collins, or Billy Joel or a complete bunch of different individuals whose efficiency has been basically terminated endlessly as a result of, though they’re nonetheless alive, they’re not bodily able to doing live shows. And that’s hopefully a manner off in my life. However you’ve gotta face actuality. I’ll be 78 in a few weeks’ time. And that’s bringing with it just a few points.”
The Jethro Tull singer went on to say he was having points together with his knee, however in any other case feels fairly good nowadays. He additionally talked about that he will get a colonoscopy each few years as a result of his brother died of colon most cancers.
Ian Anderson’s interview with Now Spinning Journal may be seen beneath.