Martin Barre’s dilemma: Ignore Jimmy Page or lose Aqualung solo

Martin Barre has recalled the moment that speaking to Jimmy Page could have led to him losing a guitar solo on classic Jethro Tull track Aqualung.

He risked bandleader Ian Anderson taking away the opportunity, and filling the space on tape with flute work instead.

The album of the same name was released 45 years ago in March. It was recorded at Island Studios in London, while Led Zeppelin were working on their fourth record next door.

Barre tells Guitar Player: “We’d locked ourselves away and I hadn’t seen Jimmy at all. Finally he walked into the control room to say hello, just as I was recording the solo to Aqualung.

“In those days, if you didn’t get a guitar solo in one or two takes, it might become a flute solo. It was, ‘Go in there and do it or else.’

“And here was Jimmy, waving like mad – ‘Hey, Martin!’ – and I’m thinking, ‘I can’t wave back or I’m going to blow the solo!’”

Barre said last year that, although the end of Jethro Tull in 2011 came as a “big personal shock” to him, he’d never turn away from the band’s work. He released sixth solo album, Back To Steel, in September.

Martin Barre - Barre Chords

Not only is one-time online news editor Martin an established rock journalist and drummer, but he’s also penned several books on music history, including SAHB Story: The Tale of the Sensational Alex Harvey Band, a band he once managed, and the best-selling Apollo Memories about the history of the legendary and infamous Glasgow Apollo. Martin has written for Classic Rock and Prog and at one time had written more articles for Louder than anyone else (we think he's second now). He’s appeared on TV and when not delving intro all things music, can be found travelling along the UK’s vast canal network.