Jethro Tull

Date: 25 February 2010
Recipient: Jethro Tull
Location: Blackpool Holy Family Church
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On 25 February 2010, legendary British Rock group Jethro Tull were honoured by the new PRS for Music Heritage Award. A special plaque was erected at Holy Family Church, Blackpool where the original group (then known as The Blades), vocalist and flute work of Ian Anderson, bass guitarist Jeffrey Hammond and keyboardist (then drummer) John Evans performed their first ever gig in 1964.

I'm honoured and delighted that the birthplace of my musical career has been chosen to be marked in this way. Some forty-six years, sixty million album sales and three thousand gigs later, I look back to that night here at the church hall with fondness and thanks – it’s fantastic to return and meet up again with old friends today.

Jethro Tull are rock legends so it’s a real pleasure to be honouring them today with the PRS for Music Heritage Award. In a career that has stretched across four decades the band has shaped and inspired countless other musicians so it’s a fantastic achievement to celebrate.