I saw the current lineup of Jethro Tull in Birmingham in May. I used to go every tour until Martin Barre was dropped and I didn't like the album after Taab 2. I did go to a Xmas gig in Coventry Cathedral, where Ian was a bit grumpy when his radio mic failed (But I think they got it working so he was fluting up and down the aisle.)

I am glad I went. Ian's voice is, of course, wobbly, but probably better than when I saw him with Tull/Barre. The new guitarist helps with vocals. The band has been together for a while and is tight.

A lot of classics and early stuff - Beggar's Farm, Song from Jeffrey, TaaB, Songs from the Woods and a couple of recent songs.

The last few times I saw them, they turned Aqualung into a weird 'classical' track.

This time it was back to the classic rock song. When the audience gave the guitarist (Jack Clarke) a huge round of applause after his solo, Ian looked quite pleased.

Yes, I did miss Martin Barre. My overriding memory of the last time I saw them when Barre was present was Barre and Ian both moving around the stage quite a lot and playing off each other. His new guitarists all seem a bit static, and at times it almost felt like Ian was trying to get to them move.  

So while I enjoyed it a lot, I would rather Martin still be part of the lineup. Maybe it's because I've spent 25+ years watching Tull with Barre and it doesn't feel the same. (I felt similar when Peggy left.)

I sometimes think I'm the only Tull fan in the world who loves Under Wraps... I thought the remix was excellent.

j-tull.com is out in August, but it's on a different label to the Chrysalis albums (Probably the same album the Xmas album box came out on.) Bruce Soord has done the remix.

Oh, when I was a kid in the 70s and 80s Dr Hook were the most played album in the car on long journeys. Me and my sisters used to sing along to silly songs.

Years later, I saw Dennis a couple of times solo at Bedworth Civic Hall, and then a few years ago as 'Dr Hook' in Birmingham Symphony Hall. He looked and sounded fabulous and it was an absolutely brilliant gig (Jon Poole from the Cardiacs was his bass player!).

Very saddened to hear of Dee Palmer's & Barry Dransfield's passing. I think Dee was hugely important in 70s Tull.

And the Fiddler's Dream is a wonderful album.

Steve Ashley posts news from Robin Dransfield that his brother, Barry has died.

Holst's Planets, arranged and played by Hugh Banton (VDGG) on his self-designed and built HB3 organ. Excellent!

Sad news. I only saw Dee once - at Cropredy - she was gamely playing on while trying to stop her sheet music being blown all the way to Williamscot.

We're on the same page Peter.  I love the Island albums, and Mott the Hoople were about the first band i saw live.
The later albums are good but it's a different band -

I knew David when his company was a supplier to a speciality food company of which I was a director in the 90's. I met him and his daughter at exhibitions and spoke on the phone. Nice chap. RIP.

That's the best period Mott the Hoople - they were a proper rock band in those days. They were absolutely wild live. I still enjoyed the post dudes stuff, but they weren't the same. I could never understand why they weren't successful - they seemed to have everything.