That Time Jethro Tull Beat Metallica At The Grammys

I was never really into Metallica, but I think they performed that night, and killed.

Tull best heavy metal act, that night sealed the Grammy's coffin for me

Crest of the Knave had a few heavy tracks, but yeah, that was weird.   As Ian Anderson explained: "Well, the flute is a heavy, metal instrument."

I think Ian Anderson took out a full page ad in Billboard Magazine after the fact with a picture of a flute, captioned " The Flute is a heavy metal instrument"

While the argument could be made for the above, I really think another clothing item is more embarrassing. The leisure suit. At least some people looked good in bell bottoms. 

in 1968 they were headbangers

"Tull started out as just another blues band that flirted with some psychedelia on their first single (“Sunshine Day”/”Aeroplane”).  However, by 1968 the band were beginning to put the touches on something far different than your ordinary blues rock band.  Having secured a residency at the Marquee Club they developed a following and word quickly spread about their wild flute playing singer and great, energetic rocking band capable of whipping an audience into a frenzy.  Tull eventually secured an opening slot for Pink Floyd at their Hyde Park show on June 29, which led to a barnstorming performance at the Sunbury Jazz and Blues Festival in 1968.  Tull’s reputation for red-hot live shows helped seal the deal for a record contract with Island Records."

they even have a Black Sabbath connection..

"The success of the first album and more scorching live shows brought them to the attention of The Rolling Stones who requested Tull’s company for their “Rock & Roll Circus” to be filmed in December 1968.  Tensions, however, were brewing within the band and after one final recording session, the fantastic “Love Story” single, guitarist Mick Abrahams left the band to form Blodwyn Pig.   A young Tony Iommi briefly joined Tull in ’68 for some immediate live dates and the eventual filming of “Rock & Roll Circus” (yes, that is pre-Sabbath Iommi playing guitar in the film!).  Iommi soon left to form his own band and Davy O’List of ‘The Nice’ temporarily joined the band before Martin Barre eventually became their permanent replacement."

Have to say I am impressed at how long the butthurt felt by Metallica fans has lasted.

This Was was great - a perfect little jazz/blues/rock album.

They don't make 'em like that anymore.

It also has to be remembered that much of what that passing as "heavy metal" in the late 1980s was laughable.   You would turn on MTV's "headbangers ball" and it was two hours of clowns in teased hair and makeup playing lame ass power ballads.  While there was some good solid hard rock and heavy metal still being churned out, most of the stuff on the radio and MTV was pretty much a joke by that point.

Have the Grammy’s ever been a valid judge of “the best” music, let alone in an alternative genre? It’s really unfair to expect such a thing of them.

>>Have the Grammy’s ever been a valid judge of “the best” music?

no. fuck no. you could make a list of Grammy atrocities and this might well not be the worst.

But it's remembered. a little while ago I had the radio on and the DJ played Metallica and then told this story. Metallica fans can hold a grudge.

>>I really think another clothing item is more embarrassing. The leisure suit.

Tony nails that, thankfully without photos.

Which of you tough guys is going to tell Toots and Sly that their leisure suits were an embarrassment?

Iron Maiden covered Tull's song Cross Eyed Mary

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hebZV0l0Lng

Helloween covered Tull's song Locomotive Breath:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=miUrEBDb7ng​

Is this what put the Metallica guys in therapy?

I love the Tull and saw them live every chance I got (including the Crest of a Knave tour), but I have to agree that it was just stupid (similar to Touch being the Dead's biggest hit).

If you haven't checked it out before, here is the Yacht Rock very special Jethro Tull episode:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ozwtgfA8H2I​

And no, Jethro Tull is not Yacht Rock.  In fact, they are the very opposite of smooth.

Speaking of epic embarrassments:

"Five Reasons Why Millennials Helped Elect Donald Trump"

"Trump actually won among white Millennials. Why?"

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/our-changing-culture/201611/five-reasons-why-millennials-helped-elect-donald-trump