Jethro Tull

Anderson would now assume strange stage attire and play the flute live, creating the impression that he was Jethro Tull himself. Now mixing blues into the murky waters of progressive rock, they released another successful album in the form of Aqualung (1971), a concept album on Anderson's dislike of organized religion. A lot of people heard what he had so say for it was a million seller and got them a 7 US/4 UK position. The album followed up on a set of line-up changes that finally came to rest with Jeffery Hammond-Hammond (bass) replacing Cornick with Barriemore Barlow (ex-John Evan's Smash) replacing Bunker who also went off to join Blodwyn Pigafter the release.

Thick As A Brick (1972) was met with critical disinterest, but all the same people queued up to get a copy and forced it into the charts at 1 US/5 UK After the Living In The Past (1972) live and studio compilation, A Passion Play (1973) another 1 US/13 UK charter, Jethro Tull returned to a more traditional song writing structure for War Child (1974), a 2 US/14 UK and Minstrel In The Gallery (1975), a 7 US/20 UK effort. But it was all for naught for the critics had it in for the band and they didn't help their own cause with the unremarkable Too Old To rock 'N' Roll: Too Young To Die (1976) with John Glascock (ex-Chicken Shack/ex-Toe Fat) replacing Hammond-Hammond and David Palmer being added on keyboards, an album that surprisingly managed 14 US/25 UK.

Now Jethro Tull was thrown into the realm of the "unhip" for punk was rearing it's Mohecan dooed head, so they simply raised the performance bar a bit more with the Songs From The Wood (1977) and Heavy Horses (1978) being forced up the charts at 8 US/13 UK and 19 US/20 UK respectively on the strength of their live performance being broadcasted from New York's Madison Square Gardens via satellite in 1978, the first of it's kind to be done. A live album of the event Live - Bursting Out (1978) resulted in another chart topper at 21 US/17 UK Stormwatch (1979) closed the decade with a 22 US/27 UK spot.

The new decade saw Anderson attempting to branch out on his own with the A (1980) album featuring himself and Barre with Dave Pegg (ex-Fairmont Convention; bass) replacing Glascock who died, Eddie Jobson (ex-Roxy Music/ex-Curved Air; keyboards) replacing Evansand Palmer both, and Mark Craney replacing Barlow on drums. But the album ended off being a part of the Jethro Tull discography and it's membership taking over the old Jethro Tull one. The album managed a 30 US/25 UK.

Peter John Vittesse then replaced Jobson who went solo, along with adding ex-Steeleye Span drummer Gerry Conway for The Broadsword And The Beast (1982) to get their best in sometime at 19 US/27 UK before Doanne Perry replaced Conway for Under Wraps (1984) that saw only a 70 US/18 UK, not surprising for it was an unpopular attempt at cod-Electronica. After only two more singles and then a several-year break Jethro Tull would return with Anderson, Barre, Pegg and Perry recruiting Martin Allcock (ex-Fairpoint Convention) to replace Vittesse to return to more hard rocking endeavors of Crest Of a Knave (1987) and Rock Island (1989) at 32 US/19 UK and 56 US/18 UK respectively. Catfish Rising (1991), featuring Andy Giddings (keyboards) and Matt Pegg (bass) stepping in, was considered a disappointment especially when compared to the live 1992 follow-up of A Little Light Music, an album that charted in only England, however, and featured David Mattacks replacing Perry and the various guests on keyboards/percussion/drums. Roots To Branches (1995) saw Perry returning to replace Mattacks with bass playing by both Dave Pegg and Steve Bailey before Anderson, Barre, Giddings and Perry were joined by Jonathan Noyce for permanent bass duties. J-Tull Dot Com (1999) saw them leave the 20th century with a 44 UK Despite their latest efforts being less than consistent, and their name no longer holding the real-estate value it once did, Jethro Tull nonetheless march on and continue to convince the old Prog. rock die-hards to part with their hard earned cash.

In January 2002, the original lineup of the band reunited for a one-off pub performance in England that was filmed for inclusion in the Living with the Past DVD. It was the first and only time the original four members had played together since 1968, as well as the only time a former lineup had reunited.

2003 saw the release of The Jethro Tull Christmas Album, a collection of traditional Christmas songs together with old and new Christmas songs written by Jethro Tull. It is the last studio album of this band. It became the band's biggest commercial success since 1987. An Ian Anderson live double album and DVD was released in 2005 titled Ian Anderson Plays the Orchestral Jethro Tull. In addition, a DVD entitled Nothing Is Easy: Live at the Isle of Wight 1970 and a live album Aqualung Live (recorded in 2004) were released in 2005.

2006 saw the release of a dual boxed set DVD Collector's Edition, containing two DVDs--Nothing Is Easy: Live at the Isle of Wight 1970 and Living with the Past. Soon after, Jon Noyce (bass) left, and Andrew Giddings (keyboards) also quit citing constant touring allowing not enough time for family. They were replaced by David Goodier and John O'Hara respectively. In the following year The Best of Acoustic Jethro Tull, a 24-song set of Tull and Anderson's acoustic performances taken from various albums, was released. Included was a new live acoustic version of One Brown Mouse and a live performance of the traditional song (attributed to Henry VIII), Pastime with Good Company.

Between 1012 and 2017 the band had split only to return under the membership of Ian Anderson (vocals/flute/acoustic guitar), David Goodier (bass), John O'Hara (keyboards/accordion/vocals) and Scott Hammond (drums). Joe Parrish would assume the second guitar slot in 2020.