http://www.j-tull.com/discography/taab2/iancomments.html
"If someone had suggested that I might release a Prog concept album in the year 2012, I would have thought him seriously, dangerously even, off his trolley. But that is precisely what happened. A few years ago, Mike Andrews and Royston Eldridge, two ex-Chrysalis Records gents pressed me to consider a follow-up to Thick As A Brick. I gave it some dutiful deliberation - for a couple of minutes - and politely declined. Nice idea, nice chaps but, after reflection, no-oooooo. Then, in 2010, a re-acquaintance with seventies Prog Rock vocalist-turned-record exec Derek Shulman - yes, he of Gentle Giant fame - restarted the old refrain. Yes, but.... no, but, and finally - OK, I'll give it some more dutiful deliberation (four and a half minutes, this time) eventually produced, in February of 2011, the synopsis of the idea. Derek's enthusiasm and gauntlet-challenge plus two weeks of dedicated, fast and furious music and lyric writing combined to produce a flurry of material. And - blow me down with a Dodo's tail-feather - the whole thing was completed ready for scoring and arranging by the beginning of March. There were a couple of pieces prepared earlier which were bent into new shape and fitted into the scheme of things, so they too were popped into the bubbling saucepan." Wow! Derek encouraging Ian to revisit the past and come up with a sequel when he is so against it hisself! IAN ANDERSON's 'Thick As A Brick 2' Ian Anderson announces 40th anniversary sequel to the hugely successful, groundbreaking 1972 album. Following the recent announcement of a 19-date tour to commemorate the 40th anniversary of 'Thick As A Brick', on April 2nd Ian Anderson will release a sequel to the original album. In 1972, Ian Anderson wrote and recorded the Jethro Tull Progressive Rock classic album 'Thick As A Brick'. The lyrics were credited at the time to the fictitious child character, Gerald Bostock, whose parents supposedly lied about his age. The record instantly became a number one Billboard Chart album and enjoyed considerable success in many countries of the world. So, forty years on, what would Gerald Bostock - aged fifty in 2012 - be doing today? What might have befallen him? The anniversary "part two" album will examine the possible different paths that the precocious young schoolboy, Gerald Bostock, might have taken later in life through alter-ego characters with song-section identities illustrating the hugely varied potential twists and turns of fate and opportunity. Not just for Gerald but to echo how our own lives develop, change direction and ultimately conclude through chance encounters and interventions, however tiny and insignificant they might seem at the time. Ian Anderson says of the album, "As we baby-boomers look back on our own lives, we must often feel an occasional 'what-if' moment. Might we, like Gerald, have become instead preacher, soldier, down-and-out, shopkeeper or finance tycoon?," Adding, "and those of more tender years - the social media and internet generation - may choose to ponder well the myriad of chance possibilities ahead of them at every turn....." To coincide with this groundbreaking release, for the first time since 1972, Anderson and fellow musicians John O'Hara (keyboards), David Goodier (bass), Florian Opahle (guitar) and Scott Hammond (drums) - as well as some guest performers - will take to the road to perform the album in its entirety and, it can now exclusively be revealed that, in addition there will be a second part to the show where Anderson and the band will also perform the sequel. 'TAAB2' tracklist: 1 From A Pebble Thrown 2 Pebbles Instrumental 3 Might-have-beens 4 Upper Sixth Loan Shark 5 Banker Bets, Banker Wins 6 Swing It Far 7 Adrift And Dumfounded 8 Old School Song 9 Wootton Bassett Town 10 Power And Spirit 11 Give Till It Hurts 12 Cosy Corner 13 Shunt And Shuffle 14 A Change Of Horses 15 Confessional 16 Kismet In Suburbia 17 What-ifs, Maybes And Might-have-beens 'Thick As A Brick 2' will be released on the 2nd of April 2012 in three formats: a standard jewel case CD and digital download, and a Special Edition 2-disc format featuring the album plus a DVD containing a 5.1 surround mix, a making of the album film, interviews with the band video and engineers and lyric reading video.
