IAN Anderson and the Jethro Tull band - one of the world’s most successful and enduring ‘progressive rock’ bands - have announced that they will return to the road with a new tour in 2020.

The Prog Rock Years Tour 2020 will stop off at the Aylesbury Waterside Theatre in September.

The tour will draw heavily on material from Jethro Tull’s more ‘prog’ albums, much of it focussing on the early ‘heavy hitters’ of the Tull catalogue - classic albums including Stand Up, Benefit, Aqualung, Thick As A Brick, Passion Play and even a touch of Thick As A Brick 2 from 2012.

From the outset, Tull’s frontman Ian Anderson created the distinctive persona of the tousled flute-playing minstrel, balanced on one leg and playing music with an historical slant.

Ian Anderson formed a blues and jazz fusion band in the mid-60s and the name changed frequently until an agent, with an interest in history, booked them as Jethro Tull, and the name stuck.

Ian took up the flute, as he felt he would never match Eric Clapton as a guitarist.

Tull’s debut album This Was received favourable reviews and sold well upon its release in 1968.

The commercial break though came the following year when Living In The Past, with it’s unusual 5/4 time signature, reached number 11 in the singles chart and an appearance on Top Of The Pops, performing the number 4 hit The Witch’s Promise brought Tull to a much wider audience.

Musically, an historical theme was developing which Anderson exploited as the creative force behind a series of critically acclaimed albums including Stand Up, Benefit, Aqualung, Thick As A Brick and Passion Play.

Jethro Tull became one of the most distinctive and original bands to fall under the ‘progressive rock’ umbrella and that still sets them apart as one of the best-loved bands of the genre.

They have pioneered the sound of contemporary folk and are widely regarded as one of the most important British bands still on the circuit.

Jethro Tull continues to hold a unique place in the hearts of progressive music fans and these albums are the focus of that passion.

Ian Anderson will be accompanied by Tull band musicians David Goodier on bass, John O’Hara on keyboards, guitarist Joe Parrish and Scott Hammond on drums.

The show will be enhanced by full scale video projection.

Ian said: “Dusting off many older ‘progressive’ songs amongst my earliest attempts to experiment outside the blues repertoire we began with has proved hugely enjoyable.

“Along the way, over the last 50 years, there have been a good few pieces that still strongly resonate with me today on either a musical or lyrical level. Hopefully both.

“Some are really tricky to play; some might sound that way but fall under the fingers quite naturally although the overall arrangements require feats of memory.

“Test my marbles; come to the party.”

Tickets at www.atgtickets.com/aylesbury or go to www.gigantic.com/jethro-tull-tickets.