«Suono regolarmente in Italia da cinquant’anni e ho collaborato con artisti italiani, per esempio di recente con la PFM e il flautista classico Andrea Griminelli; sono anche apparso come ospite nei dischi di giovani artisti meno noti. In questi anni ho voluto visitare l’Italia da turista, per capirne meglio gli abitanti e la cultura storica della nazione. Ho una preferenza per il Nord, ma solo perché sono un tipo da montagna»: Ian Anderson, flautista, polistrumentista e frontman racconta così il suo rapporto con il nostro paese, pronto a farvi ritorno con i Jethro Tull, per il concerto al Castello di Udine il 13 luglio alle 21.15, nell’ambito del Folkest (in collaborazione con il festival “Nei suoni dei luoghi”). In pista dal 1968, gli inglesi Jethro Tull, paladini del progressive, sono oggi un marchio musicale che ha attraversato il tempo con ancora molto da esprimere, prova ne è il nuovo album uscito a gennaio (a ben 19 anni dal precedente). «L’ho scritto nel 2017 e – racconta Anderson – mandati dei semplici demo alla band, abbiamo registrato sette tracce. Il 2018-19 sono stati anni di tour, poi è arrivato il lockdown che non ci ha permesso di chiuderci assieme in studio, allora a inizio 2021 ho deciso di finire l’album da solo, a casa».
Che significato ha il titolo “The Zealot Gene”?
«Si riferisce a quella condizione di rabbia interna che definisce così tanto la condizione umana, ognuno di noi ha la tendenza ad arrabbiarsi per certe cose, che diventano quasi ossessioni. Ciò porta troppo facilmente ad aprire le porte all’indottrinamento da parte di qualche pio canto o a estremismi politici, scadendo in pregiudizio, xenofobia, teorie del complotto, conservatorismo».
Il concerto a Udine?
«Vista la location all’aperto, non possiamo portare la produzione video dei teatri, quindi ci si focalizza ancor di più sulla musica, pescheremo dal nostro repertorio più progressive, dal 1968 al 2022. Questo è il primo tour dal 1971 in cui non includiamo la chitarra acustica».
La pandemia vi ha segnato?
«Stiamo cercando di recuperare tanti show cancellati. Sono ancora molto prudente e cerchiamo di evitare che qualcuno della crew si contagi, perché significherebbe un altro stop. Quest’estate c’è anche il problema dei voli cancellati, ma sono fiducioso».
Le capita di sentire giovani artisti influenzati da voi?
«Oggi le band hanno accesso a molta più musica di noi agli esordi, quando le radio passavano solo il pop e i dischi che ci potevamo permettere di comprare erano pochi, quindi sento la nostra influenza certo, ma tante altre».
La cosa più bizzarra che ha visto dal palco?
«Una giovane che si dava all’autoerotismo in prima fila! È successo in Italia. A volte ho visto gente vestita come me negli anni ’70, per fortuna quei tempi sono andati perché gli uomini che stanno bene in calzamaglia sono pochi. Poi ricordo un concerto in Russia, a Perm, per il cinquantesimo anniversario del primo volo nello spazio di Yuri Gagarin, c’erano alcuni, ormai anziani, che avevano lavorato per le missioni spaziali e indossavano con orgoglio le vecchie uniformi militari. Due ore dopo li ho incontrati nel backstage e ho immaginato che molti di loro stessero rimpiangendo di non aver indossato jeans e t-shirt».
Vuole sfatare qualche mito?
«Negli anni ’70 i giornalisti pensavano utilizzassi droghe. Qualcuno pensava fossi gay. Nessuna delle due, ma c’è sempre tempo!».
Le prossime?
«Sto facendo prove e registrando un album che uscirà ad aprile 2023, abbiamo già cinque canzoni».
Elisa Russo, Il Messaggero Veneto 09 Luglio 2022
You’ll be in Italy soon… How does it feel to be coming back to Italy? What do you know/think about our country/culture and do you know of any italian artists/bands?
I have played regularly in Italy for 50 years and worked with a few Italian bands and artists, past and present. PFM and classical flautist Andrea Griminelli, both recently, for example. And I have appeared as a guest on records with some less well-known younger artists too. I have also visited as a tourist in more recent times to better understand Italian people and the historical culture of the nation.
You’ve already played in this region of the North East (Friuli Venezia Giulia), Udine, Trieste, Grado…. Any particular memories connected to this area?
My preference is generally for Northern Italy. I am a mountain man! But I have visited Venice with my wife many times too so I can see more sides of the geography and the history.
What can fans expect to see at your Udine show at the Castle on July 13rd? What experience or impact would an audience member take away from your live show?
Due to the outdoor environment, this can’t be a full video production show like we do in indoor concert halls, but the natural seeting of many of our concerts and the more traditional live concert approach flucusses more on the band and the music – not just the pretty pictures behind me! We will perform a cross-section of music from our more “progressive rock” repertoire. From 1968 to 2022! These are the first tours since 1971 when I have not taken an acoustic guitar with me.
“The Zealot Gene” has received amazing and outstanding reviews and critical acclaim so far. How do you see this album fitting in your broader body of work? How the decision of release it (after several – 19? – years from the previous album) comes out? And what’s the significance of the album’s title?
How much of songwriting, for you, is craft and how much is inspiration?
I wrote the album in its entirety in early 2017 and sent the simple sketchy demos to the band prior to beginning the recording process with five days rehearsal and five days recording in March of that year. We recorded seven tracks in that period, four of which were completed later in the year. 2018 and 2019 were busy touring years and the short intervals between tours didn’t really offer the time to rehearse and record the remaining five tracks. And then pandemic lockdowns were upon us and it was not possible or advisable to get together in the studio. In the early months of 2021, I decided not to delay further and to finish the album at home alone. The title, The Zealot Gene, comes from how we have, as part of our human condition, an inner rage which defines so much of our identity. Implanted in almost all of us is the tendency to get mad about some subject we are obsessed with. We all too easily open our doors to indoctrination by pious cant and corrosive partisan political extremism. Toss in prejudice, xenophobia, conspiracy theories and hard right conservatism for good measure.
Do you often hear your influence in younger artists?
Sometimes, but I hear the influences of many artists. Younger bands now have a huge possibility to learn from the work of others. Much easier to find the music these days than it was when I began as a musician. Back then, nothing but pop was played on the radio and we could only afford to buy a few records. Now, with on line listening, YouTube and Spotify, it is so much easier to find inspiration, regardless of your specific musical style preferences.
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What was the weirdest thing you’ve seen from the stage? Or what has been the most bizarre moment in your career?
A young girl pleasuring herself in the front row! Actually, that was in Italy, I remember. And sometimes, there have been people in the audience who dressed like me on stage in the 70s. Those times have gone. Thank goodnessfor that, as few men look good in tights… I remember performing in the Russian city of Perm on the 50th anniversary of Yuri Gagarin’s first space flight. In the audience were many of the people who worked on the Soviet space missions – now all old men – and were wearing their full military uniforms with pride. Two hours later when I met them backstage, I imagine most of them wished they had simply come in a T-shirt and jeans…..
How has the past years been? Did the pandemic changed you?
We managed only two concerts in February 2020 before Covid, and had to wait eighteen months for the opportunity to do some concerts in the latter part of 2021. There were twenty shows last year which then did go ahead but we face again in the latter part of 2022 the prospect of more postponements due to the new upsurge of the latest Omicron BA5 variant. However, I am still confident that we can fulfil most of the contracted shows in 2022 and on into 2023. I am cautious regarding the health of all the band and crew as we depend on each other to avoid Covid and cancellations of shows. So, it is more stressful touring and travel is affected post-pandemic due to the economy and airline problems with available crews after the two years of relative inactivity. This summer will be bad with flight cancellations, they tell us.
Are there any myths about you that you’re keen to dispel?
Music journalists thought I was a drug user back in the early 70s. And some people thought I was gay. I never did drugs and have not had a gay experience. But there is still time yet!
What’s happening next, is there anything upcoming and in the works already?
I am rehearsing and recording over the next few weeks for a new album to be released in April 2023. We have recorded four songs already so we are well on the way. Plus, of course, many concerts in various countries. Busy, busy!