Music Diary – 30th December

Welcome to my Music Diary – today for the 30th December!

Clive Bunker (Jethro Tull)

Happy birthday to drummer Clive William Bunker, who was born on the 30th December 1946 in Luton, Bedfordshire (UK). Clive was the original drummer in Jethro Tull and a member from 1968 until 1971. With the band, he recorded the first four classic studio albums „This Was“ (1968), „Stand Up“ (1969), „Benefit“ (1970) and „Aqualung“ (1971).

Clive Bunker began playing in a band called „The Warriors“ in the sixties. Later he formed with guitarist Mick Abrahams the band McGregor’s Engine, before both founded in 1967 with Ian Anderson and Glenn Cornick Jethro Tull. Shortly after the release of the LP „Aqualung“, Clive Bunker decided to leave the band, get married and spend more time with his wife. Barriemore Barlow, a school friend of frontman Ian Anderson, took over his place.

Clive about his decision: „I had always told Ian, ‚If I find the right lady, I’ll be gone,‘ and I did just that. That was just at the start of their world touring in 1972, and I wouldn’t have been back in England for ages at a time. So I thought that I might as well end it then. Besides, Barrie was always in the background anyway, so I knew I wasn’t going to put them in a difficult situation. You must understand that back then, we didn’t have any time off; it was non-stop work, and I wanted to spend time with my wife.“

After his life with Jethro Tull, Clive played with many acts like Blodwyn Pig, Robin Trower, Aviator, Manfred Mann, Jack Bruce, Gordon Giltrap, Uli Jon Roth, Electric Sun, Steve Hillage, Solstice, Glenn Hughes and Jerry Donahue. Finally in 1998, Clive Bunker’s debut solo album „Awakening“ was released feat. contributions by old Tullers Ian Anderson, Martin Barre and longtime friends Andy Glass, Dave Lennox, Jim Rodford, John Batrum, Vikki Clayton and Graham Dee.

Interesting note:
Doane Perry, who became the new Jethro Tull drummer in 1984, was taught one of his first drum lessons ever by Clive Bunker! I did an interview with Doane and he talks about this historic meeting – you can stream the conversation here (the topic starts at appr. 19:10 min)!

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Music Diary – 10th September

Welcome to my Music Diary – today for the 10th September!

Barrie „Barriemore“ Barlow (Jethro Tull)

On the 10th September 1949 Barrie „Barriemore“ Barlow was born in Birmingham, UK. Barlow joined Jethro Tull in May 1971 and replaced drummer and percussionist Clive Bunker, who decided to leave the band after the successful and legendary LP „Aqualung„.  Some of the best Tull albums were recorded with Barrie Barlow and John Bonham from Led Zeppelin said, that he is „the greatest rock drummer England ever produced“. Jethro Tull recorded with Barlow the outstanding studio albums „Thick as a Brick“ (1972), „A Passion Play“ (1973), „War Child“ (1974), „Minstrel in the Gallery“ (1975), „Too old to Rock’n’Roll: Too young to die!“ (1976), „Songs from the Wood“ (1977), „Heavy Horses“ (1978) and „Stormwatch“ (1979). Also the live album „Bursting Out“ (1978) features Barriemore Barlow.

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Music Diary – 28th March

Welcome to my Music Diary – today for the 28th March!

John Evans (Jethro Tull)

Happy birthday to Mr. John Spencer Evans aka John Evan, who was born on the 28th March 1948 in Blackpool (UK)!

Before John became the keyboarder for Jethro Tull, he played for The Blades. Then the band name was changed into The John Evan Band. Bassist Jeffrey Hammond-Hammond (who became a member of Tull in 1971) thought, that this would sound better instead of ‚John Evans Band‘. During that time in the sixties and especially in Blackpool, Evan crossed already paths with people like Jeffrey, Barriemore Barlow and Ian Anderson, who founded Jethro Tull in 1967.

After playing as a session musician for the album „Benefit„, John Evan joined Jethro Tull in April 1970. One year later, he composed the legendary piano intro for Tull’s biggest hit „Locomotive Breath„, which was recorded for the historic rock album „Aqualung„.

Until the big band split in 1980, John’s keyboard playing is featured on the LPs „Thick as a Brick“ (1972), „A Passion Play“ (1973), „WarChild“ (1974) „Minstrel in the Gallery“ (1975), „Too old to Rock’n’Roll: Too young to die!“ (1976) „Songs from the Wood“ (1977), „Heavy Horses“ (1978) and „Stormwatch“ (1979). On the 14th April 1980 the last Jethro Tull show with John Evan, Barriemore Barlow and David Palmer took place at the Hammersmith Odeon in London. After that, Ian Anderson changed the line-up completely – only guitarist Martin Barre remained.

With David Palmer, John Evan started the band project Tallis, which didn’t succeed and so he decided to stop his career as a musician and founded his own construction company.

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