Ian Anderson to tour 'Jethro Tull: The Rock Opera'

Jethro Tull's Ian Anderson has announced plans to tour a new rock opera based on the real Tull.

Jethro Tull: The Rock Opera will include both older material (Locomotive Breath, Heavy Horses, Farm on the Freeway, Aqualung, Living In the Past) with some lyrics rewritten to fit the story, and a few new compositions. The tour is expected to start in September although no schedule has been released.

The real Jethro Tull was an agriculturalist who lived from 1674 to 1741. His innovations such as a plough that would sow seed three rows at a time and an improved turnip-drill were considered key to the British Agricultural Revolution.

For Anderson's opera, his plan is to keep Tull's basic story but reset it in the near future.

The band for the project includes David Goodier (bass), John O'Hara (keyboards), Florian Opahle (guitar) and Scott Hammond (drums). Additional guests are also expected.