Jethro Tull - "Living in the Past" on The Tonight Show (+ interview)

[narly151]

john glascock n barriemore barlow were the shit !!!!!!!!!

[DarkeningSkies1]

3) I guess what I mean is, bands playing live after their heyday is not to everyone's taste- some can pull it off, some look and sound preposterous. By and large, Tull still pull it off with a good amount of conviction. I prefer the original arrangement as well. I think I'll go play the album and watch this when I want to see Jethro Tull playing live on american television in 1994, which is itself a small miracle.

[DarkeningSkies1]

2) .. be that shocked or annoyed by one such altered arrangement. Since Ian's voice changed so radically after 1987-ish, there are a number of "oldies" I wish Tull wouldn't do, as they sound so strained. You can always dig out the studio record and play it, guys. Plus, if another band of the "classic rock" era were around (then in 1994 or now), say The Beatles.. an they were doing altered arrangements of some of their late 60's songs on T.V. wouldn't you just be happy to have them around?

[DarkeningSkies1]

1) Since the surprise U.S. Chart action this song got in 1973 (even though it was recorded and released as a single in 1969 in the U.K.), it has been (along with "Aqualung", of course) one of the few mainstream songs a U.S. audience would respond to, especially a bland, boring audience on a bland, boring show like Jay's Tonight Show. Given that even a casual fan of Tull would know they have been doing altered arrangements of this since the early 1980's, is is a little surprising anyone would...

[texasjohnnyboy]

Nothing wrong with this tune at all. I do prefer the original arrangement over this one but, this one is far more rock. Yes, Glen Cornick's bass line was a huge part of this original composition... it had a wondeful bouce that was part of a great Glen Cornick skill. Realistically, ya can't expect a band to play a tune the same for 25 years as, if they do, they have cut off their artistic expression of the moment. I could criticize this vid but, why? Hard to out do an Anderson performance

[NoseriderX]

They screwed this up real good. Barely recognizable. The original bass line was such a groove and so hypnotizing - the one here is just a bass line. They should have just given this song another name. You can only make so many changes in a song before it becomes a DIFFERENT song. That's just a fact, Jack.

[cheezer57]

WHAT??!!...First off, the Bass line barely resembles the very cool Bass of the original...Secondly, and most obvious, and offensive, is the gratuitous injection of the lead guitar..The original is devoid of any lead riffs, and i think purposely so..Tull never used to rely on cheap tricky guitar riffs in their music; which is what i appreciated about them..Thirdly, (Though i won't hold it against him) Ian has lost that edginess in his vocals.

[cheezer57]

I like when bands don't always stick to the script, on a song, but man did they FUCK THIS SONG UP, HERE!!

[rednoise0]

@cheezer57 Looks good to me, not a note out of place. What's wrong with it?

[dukeblue1110]

@rednoise0 The frigged the classic bass line for one. Glen Cornick forevar!

[rednoise0]

@dukeblue1110 - Tull has never played the same arrangement that appeared on the record, more than 40 years ago. Many bassists have played in the band since Cornick, and none of them duplicated his bass part. Matthew Peg accurately played the bass line that Ian Anderson wrote for this arrangement. Nothing was "frigged".

[ifutureman]

@rednoise0 actually there is a huge difference in this arrangement compared to the original: the verse was originally in a major mode, contrasting with the minor-key instrumental sections. But here, they stay in minor the whole time. The verses are supposed to be happy, contrasting with the spooky interludes. And on the subject of verseS, what the heck happened to the rest of the lyrics? Where'd the second verse go? I much prefer the original.

[chsmustang71]

@cheezer57

What a name, "cheezer!" It is clearly stated and thus, more than implied, that this is a "new arrangement" of an older song. Musicians do this all of the time, especially those that engage in "improvisation" at times. Do you understand what this word means, Cheezer?! You seem to clearly understand the meaning of words like "f _c_," but when it comes to those "bigger ones," such as "new" and "arrangement," you are clearly showing your prowess with your "expanded vocabulary." ;o)

[srgrimm13156]

@cheezer57 On the contrary, they did an awesome rendition of their song.....I'm sure Ian arranged it EXACTLY as we were suppose to hear it, and Anderson don't fuck up.

[dropehe]

matt peg ex blinder god !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[cpdaddy7]

Matt Pegg on bass! Dad was washing his hair. The only clip I've seen with Matt on board.

[Semente200]

@cpdaddy7 I trully hope he doesn´t get bold like his father. Would be really a shame, with an amazingly beautiful hair like that

[raydenthetullgod]

Only problem with this is: Leno is a horrible interviewer! My kingdom for Conan.

[raydenthetullgod]

It's still Tull and they still rock the freakin house no matter what. Yes, Ian's voice isn't the same, and I think the guys were a little nervous here (who wouldn't be!). But still an awesome performance. I've seen them twice in concert and would see them again in a New York minute. Favorite band EVER.

[capoman1]

Man did Tull take a wrong turn in the 80's! Sad to hear Ian's young voice leave him.

I saw Tull one year after this and I was disappointed with how drawn out Ian's voice was. I really can't stand the electric sound elements or trials of the band to be modern, especially in the 80's.

I am a huge Tull fan though.

[PATULL]

yes, the song is great but the vocal performance is really poor....when you compare to older versions...no power and always SO laidback...

[4TuLLHEAD]

As I mentioned on my posting of this video on 9-20-08, I was there that night in Burbank and there are two things that I shall never forget. When that self-absorbed gasbag Steinbrenner blabbed endlessly about his (then) awful Yankees, Ian Anderson turned to the audience and feigned a theatrical yawn, causing a huge burst of laughter which was idited out of the broadcast! Then George kept on babbling beyond his time slot, depriving Tull of their scheduled finale performance of Thick As a Brick!

[raydenthetullgod]

Hey, thanks for that! Always nice to hear the miscellaneous details from someone who was there.

[badumpy]

hey thanks for posting..i missed this one and appreciate chance to see it!

[Pattieire]

Thanks for posting - great clip !