Mick Abrahams, guitarist for rock band Jethro Tull, dies aged 82

The rock world is in mourning after the announcement of the death of guitarist and founder of the group Jethro Tull, Mick Abrahams. The musician’s death was announced by singer Ian Anderson. He was 82 years old. “ Mick had suffered from declining health for 15 years, ultimately preventing him from performing on stage. »

Mick was the original guitarist for the British rock band Jethro Tull. He participated in their first album, This Was (1968), before leaving the group due to musical differences. He later formed the blues rock band Blodwyn Pig and pursued a solo career. He retired from performing after a stroke and lived with his family in Luton.

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Between blues and rock

Born April 7, 1943 in Luton, England, Mick began playing guitar in the early 1960s, first in rock and roll bands, before turning to R&B and blues, with a touch of jazz. In 1967, he formed McGregor’s Engine with drummer Clive Bunker and bassist Andy Pyle. The band came to the attention of Ian Anderson when they opened for Anderson’s John Evan Band at a club in Luton. Later that year, Abrahams and Bunker joined Anderson and bassist Glenn Cornick to form the beginnings of Jethro Tull in December 1967.

In search of a blues, he formed the group Blodwyn Pig in 1969 with Andy Pyle, Ron Berg and Hunt Sales, known for his songs Ahead Rings Out (1969) et Getting to This (1970). Abrahams also had a solo career, with more than a dozen albums between 1971 and 2017. He also collaborated with Ian Anderson on acoustic blues recordings and concerts.

His friend Ian Anderson posted on their Jethro Tull site: “ Mick is remembered as much for Blodwyn Pig and his own side bands as he is for his Tull days. With Blodwyn Pig, they even managed to get him to take a plane to the United States (given his panic fear of flying). He was a homebody who enjoyed playing in the counties surrounding London and sleeping at home most of the time. »