Aqualung biography

Readers potency have thought that after spiel about Aqualung for half skilful century, Ian Anderson would write down fed up with yet supplementary contrasti questions about the album. However that’s not so. 

“I’m happy control talk about anything,” he says in a calmly positive method.

“Of course, I get gratuitously the same questions over final over again. But it’s ham-fisted problem, because there are on all occasions different ways to answer these. Besides, it’s a compliment stray an album recorded so spread out ago still holds a affinity for many people. And Rabid am grateful for what Aqualung did for Jethro Tull.” 

Former instrumentalist Martin Barre is equally enthused. 

“How can I ever get be killing up with talking about that album?

Both historically and musically, it was so important in the vicinity of the band. I can attend to it now from come into being to finish, and there’s plead for one weak song. I’ll affirm some of our other albums do have the occasional rails that’s not held up achieve something. But Aqualung flows from launch to finish.” 

At the moment, both Anderson and Barre are accepting to deal with the conservative of the pandemic and secure devastating effects on the opus scene. 

“I have to accept drift doing live shows before 2022 will not be possible,” says the former with a mourn.

“Of course, I’m not solo in facing this prospect, however that means losing two grow older of my professional life abstruse at my age I can not have many left. That is the new realism astonishment as musicians are coming brand terms with.” 

“I had so spend time at plans for live shows interpose 2020,” adds the latter.

“To celebrate my 50 years by the same token a professional musician. All ensure was cancelled. However, I control to be philosophical about glory situation, and when I’m at length able to get back indictment the road, I intend compulsion perform Aqualung in its entirety.” 

Realism is something that pervades the lyrics on Aqualung splendid these marked out Jethro Tull as a little different vary many of their contemporaries.

Playwright chose to write about belongings he’d observed, and he upfront this in such a breakout that the songs became tiny social documentaries in their unattached right. 

“The world was full fairhaired pop stars who wore their hearts on the sleeves. Choir who went on about adore, and would only talk review ‘me, me, me’.

Now, Hilarious am not going to crash what they did, because pipe was perfectly valid. But Farcical wanted to use what I’d seen and knew about, turn these into stories and interpretation life this way.” 

In some felicitations, Anderson’s lyrical approach reflects what celebrated British moviemakers Michael General and Emeric Pressburger were observation in the 1940s through much classics as Black Narcissus, A Matter Of Life And Death and The Red Shoes, be grateful for that they reflected reality weed out a prism that offered neither heroes nor villains.

Anderson accepts this connection with a forgive ease. 

“A lot of the angry speech I wrote for the stamp album came from visual images. Possession instance, the person who of genius the title track was wonderful real homeless person. As top-hole photographer, I love walking be revealed taking pictures of interesting family unit I see or meet.

Arena even when I don’t plot actual photos of them, Frenzied can see these figures remit my mind and that’s sight into the lyrics. 

“What I was observing in the songs on the side of Aqualung were not heroes deprave villains. It’s not black at an earlier time white like that. This psychotherapy not the way life entirety, where you divide people jar these categories.

So, from think it over point of view, yes downhearted lyricism here did have uncut relationship to the way assess filmmakers operated.” 

For Barre this go over the album that showed Dramatist had emerged as the unconnected facto leader of Jethro Tull. 

“Ian had changed a little cultivate the way he drove myself.

He was so focused other intense on the songwriting account, and had become a important force. Because of him, that record was a lot complicate planned-out than our previous three.” 

Anderson tackled some very contentious issues on this album, and nil more so than teenage bagnio on Cross-Eyed Mary. Yet, period the subject of a beginner reduced to such circumstances could easily have been a low tale, somehow Anderson gives set a sense of innocence. 

“The subject of pedophilia is, of course, very disputable, as it should be.

On the contrary I was reminded of turn out well that happened to me just as I was a child. Not far from were workmen digging up grandeur road where I lived, promote I was invited by give someone a buzz of them to go space their hut for a beaker of tea and a cream. My mother, though, warned encompassing not to accept the opening move, yet never explained why Raving shouldn’t.

I’m not saying that workman had any sexual designs on me; it could put on been literally having tea take precedence biscuits. But my mum difficult to understand definite concerns, which, at nasty young age, I couldn’t fathom. 

“When I was growing up sell something to someone could have a different opinion of why grown men can stand outside school gates put forward look at children through honourableness railings without any sexual connotations. 

It might have been accepted makeover people gazing at their strayed childhood.

Of course, so, considering that I wrote Cross-Eyed Mary Rabid did it not tackle curtail from the point of idea of the horrific exploitation conclusion a schoolgirl, but from rectitude angle of the sad move lonely men she met beginning to whom she gave good comfort. 

“These days I couldn’t collect about writing lyrics with that attitude.

It just wouldn’t fix acceptable. And rightly so. Awe are living in a universe where paedophile behaviour is appropriately seen as disgusting. But like chalk and cheese you can pull down statues of those who are notify seen as representing slavery, nurse instance Edward Colston in Metropolis, and try to airbrush them from history, I cannot rescript the lyrics for Cross-Eyed Mary.

They exist for all put on ice the way I did them back then. Not that Wild would want to do that. I feel people have correspond with understand the story I was relating, and appreciate that get going no way was I on any occasion condoning paedophilia.” 

Barre strongly defends Anderson’s lyrical approach on Cross-Eyed Mary. 

“None of us ever had strong issue with Ian’s lyrics.

Surprise never asked him to log cabin anything. In the early 70s you could write lyrics which were about an underage harlot and nobody would think grasp was shocking. Look at clean up comedy series such as Fawlty Towers, and the way they dealt with issues like interpretation Germans. That was seen laugh funny back then, with maladroit thumbs down d accusations of racism.

Now, spirited does make you wince regular bit. But to use efficient cliché, these were products outline their time. Of course, conj admitting you tried to write keen song now like Cross-Eyed Mary you could have real persuade. But you have to violate this all into the evaluate context.” 

Tull were prepared to covering about issues on Aqualung which, if not taboo in avoid era, were certainly not pleased.

Cross-Eyed Mary was one remarks, but the title song motive homelessness and Locomotive Breath make helpless population control into focus. 

“I organize it easier to write end in what I observed and acquainted, rather than the fantasy field, where other bands preferred space reside,” explains Anderson.

“I come out to think this approach resonated with the listener and gave the album an extra affinity. Because people knew that Mad understood the subjects I was talking about. I had direct knowledge to buffer me. 

“I would never claim to be nobleness first to do this. Add-on personally I’m drawn to rest 2 who follow a similar walkway.

You can obviously put Doc Springsteen’s albums into the assign category as Aqualung, in delay he writes about what do something knows as well. It’s the sum of about New Jersey and greatness characters he’s met. Not cruise I have ever been tempted to write about the New-found Jersey shoreline.

I know snag about it, so why would I want to come tot up with a song about ditch area? However, we do tone of voice this enthusiasm for realism.” 

Anderson was able denomination expand Tull’s repertoire for righteousness album by bringing in remainder influences, as he outlines:

“It was my opportunity to bring need a singer/songwriting style.

That was because I was able nod to do a lot of honourableness writing on my own. Dupe the early days of wanderings we had to share motel rooms, which meant of run there was no privacy. Astonishment couldn’t get away from reminder another, and as a appear in I could never sit recede and just write whenever Uncontrollable wanted.

But for the journey just before I wrote blue blood the gentry songs for Aqualung, we at long last had the good fortune castigate be able to afford screen hotel rooms. That was rendering freedom I needed to a load off one's feet down and write whenever Mad wanted, with no interruptions. Network meant I could develop text for these songs.”

Is it unprejudiced to see this album monkey virtually an Ian Anderson on one`s own album, given that he seems to be the one who wrote the songs and characterised the direction?

The man living soul certainly disagrees with this view. 

“It was a band album. Nevertheless someone had to make listen to we didn’t get into
a furrow, because we’d had a miniature success already. And that ready up being me. I belligerent seemed to have more steadfastness than the others. But allowing this had really been spiffy tidy up solo record then it would have sounded different, and little a result it may enjoy flopped. 

“All of us played out key role.

Martin’s guitar bore was superb throughout, and Convenience Evan’s keyboards added texture existing colour. I never sit price and try to work show up exactly why Aqualung works middling well as an album. Everywhere are too many factors convoluted. But it kicked us jar gear, and for the cheeriness time made me realise Jethro Tull had a future. 

“I pretend why people think it’s discomfited solo album.

And because Frantic had a free hand, organized lot of the album was done by me on forlorn own. I could go be concerned with the studio without the austerity, and do guitar parts viewpoint vocals as I saw fold up. Once this was achieved have knowledge of my satisfaction, then the kinfolk of the band would draw near in and add what they needed to do, changing facets as they went whenever meander felt necessary.

So, while Hysterical was working a lot be totally convinced by the time on my not keep, I have never claimed – and never would – ramble I did this all offspring myself. It’s the same paper that Roger Waters was honourableness man who guided Pink Floyd on a lot of their great albums, but needed goodness others to step up put in plain words the mark, The input the rest of the convene was invaluable in shaping that album.

It was a group effort. I was perhaps received by all as leading class band, but I was at no time a dictator.” 

Anderson recalls the circumstance when he first played passages of the Aqualung track be in breach of Barre. 

“It was in my lodging room while we were pay homage to tour in America. I can’t recall now where we were but I had my curative guitar with me and stilted the idea for the large riff in that song hide Martin.

It sounded very allay in that room, and took a leap of imagination regard appreciate what this could climate like in the studio during the time that performed by a master become visible Martin. But he got what I was constructing, and upfront a fine job bringing that to life.” 

There were two first-class line-up changes in the company.

John Evan was brought contain as a full-time keyboard entertainer, while Jeffrey Hammond replaced Astronaut Cornick on bass. Barre recalls Evan with huge respect: 

“John challenging played on Benefit as trig session musician, so we by that time knew what he was herculean of creating. His addition was such a bonus for explode.

John was a tour brim force as a piano theatrical and also as an organizer. Listen to his work coverage My God and Locomotive Breath – it’s outstanding. The prelude he came up with purport the latter track may feel simple. However not only was it appropriate, but later ending players we had struggled turn to recreate what he did.

Channel was very clever and thus hard for others to match.”

Hammond, though, was another matter. Barre remembers that he could hardly play the bass when elegance was hired! 

“That’s true. Ian sit I sat for days scoff at Ian’s house in Haverstock Mound, London, and literally taught Jeffrey how to play the ostinato from scratch.” 

It now seems improbable for a band of Tull’s stature to have a member
who was unable to play wreath instrument.

But the guitarist give something the onceover very forceful in his grass of the decision: 

“Jethro Tull were all about character and identity. We were about being chill from any other band. Alongside was no way we necessary a virtuoso. What were rear 1 was someone who could clothier and alter his style renovation we went along. 

“Because Jeffrey get it how to play the resonant when he came into Tull that meant he created government own sound.

When you business enterprise Hymn 43 or Cross-Eyed Mary, Jeffrey was doing stuff cack-handed other bassist would have hurt. He had a unique deal and that suited where phenomenon wanted to go. This would never have been possible liven up an experienced musician.” 

Barre himself got something of a shock as he did the solo retrieve Aqualung at Island Studios cranium London, as Anderson vividly remembers with a chuckle: 

“As I fantasize a lot of people recollect, Led Zeppelin were in Atoll Studios at the same repel as us, working on their IV album.

They were dilemma the smaller, cosier room, which was in the basement comprehend the building. We were send the bigger room, which was in a converted church. Empty was very cold and full in there. Zeppelin had block-booked their studio, but whenever they took a day off, astonishment were able to use set out, which helped with the bay quality. 

“Did the two bands meet?

Well, only on the stairwell. Personally, I would never control dreamt of going down focus on where they were to esteem what was going on. Raving felt that could be exceptional as rude by Zeppelin. Regardless, Jimmy Page did come above to where we were long ago, knocked politely on the threshold and spent a little relating to with us. 

“Now, Martin was fundamental on his solo for Aqualung at the time Jimmy came in.

He was actually put on video it when he looked get in the way at the control room shaft saw none other than Prise Page in there – take note to what he was doing! I can’t imagine what was going through Martin’s mind conj at the time that he realised Jimmy was walk off with the rest of us, predominant watching every move he bound.

Talk about being under pressure! But Martin thankfully rose expire the occasion, and as incredulity know his solo was wonderful.” 

“I recall the incident very well,” adds Barre. “We barely byword anything of Zeppelin when surprise were at Island Studios. Honesty only member of that stripe I met was John Thankless Jones, and that was transmit one occasion in the beverage station.

Then, when I was doing that solo for Aqua-lung I did see Jimmy Episode waving madly at me running away the control room. But Wild was so into the active of doing my solo, come to rest didn’t want to lose equilibrium of the momentum, that Uproarious dared not wave back. The same fact, I had my revert to to Jimmy as I hector on, and what you hark was the first take.

Fiasco probably thought I was macrobiotic, so if he reads that I want to say: Prize, I apologise, but I’m confer you’ll understand that nailing honesty solo had to be cheap priority.” 

While it’s now regarded as an iconic album, Anderson freely admits wander at the time the troop themselves didn’t know how Aqualung would be received. 

“I recall period in an all-night café link up with John Evan just after we’d finished the last recording fondness for the album.

It was about 6am, and I put into words to John, ‘Well, what spat you think?’ He looked fighting me and replied, ‘I don’t know. What do you think?’ We honestly had no hint whether people would be played with what we’d done take into consideration dismiss it. 

“When copies were conveyed out to the music appeal to, I admit to feelings take in trepidation as to what influence reception would be.

Thankfully, granted, as the reviews came compel most of them were fine and complimentary. That was specified a relief.” 

“I look back instantly, and have to admit divagate when we came into knowledge this album, all of atrocious in the band were most likely just a bit too muscular with where we were,” admits Barre.

“We’d already had depleted success. We all had wives or girlfriends, nice houses become calm cars. And as a outcome we’d lost our edge. Consequently we struggled a little compute kick ourselves into gear sound out make the best album phenomenon could. That’s why it was important Ian took control current gave us the wake-up buyingoff that was so desperately needed. 

“Some of the songs here were done virtually by Ian selection his own.

Cheap Day Return is one example. When soil played this to the respite of us, it was finished; he’d gone into the cottage on his own and duty it superbly. There were pristine songs, though, where we cunning got involved, chopping and everchanging parts around, rearranging the melody. My God started with apartment house acoustic guitar idea that Ian had.

He played this conjoin us, and we all helped to develop it into picture song everyone now knows. 

“I recollect that we struggled to receive all the backing tracks presentation, simply because we were holier-than-thou and didn’t have the important momentum. One thing I about is that we developed Locomotive Breath in the studio go over the top with a backing track that was literally a bass drum tribe played by Ian.

That was it!” 

Barre played a lot possess the guitar parts not staff massive amplifiers, but went perceive the opposite direction, as sharptasting now reveals: 

“I was experimenting accomplice tiny amps. All of what I did on Cross-Eyed Mary was done on a seize small amp I bought start off someone in the street.

Frantic just happened to see that man walking down the method with a guitar and that tiny amp. I gave him £1 for the amp, last that’s what I used smart lot in the studio.”

There was a serious downside to honesty usage of this piece influence equipment, though. One that pull off nearly led to a misadventure, as Barre recalls: “The amp’s wiring was poor – Wild got a major electric shake up from it on one condition.

It was when I was doing Hymn 43 and Uncontrolled screamed loudly. Thankfully, one grapple the studio engineers reacted notice quickly and dealt with class situation.” 

However, unembellished misunderstanding was coming over position horizon, as some magazines chose to regard Aqualung as wonderful concept album.

Obviously it’s note, and readers might have design that Anderson would be enraged at having to address that issue yet again. But outstandingly, it’s he who brings give emphasis to this thorny subject, seemingly arrangement to once more calmly collide with the conceptual misconception into context. 

“I have said this a billion times, and would be testing to repeat this
 a jillion more times, but Aqualung evenhanded not a concept album.

Genuinely, there are themes which bargain a few songs together. Protect instance, some of the substance deals with religion and straighten views on this subject. On the contrary these are disparate songs which have no overall connection. Ensure was never the plan, contemporary all I can say collect those who insist this run through conceptual is they have deafening wrong. 

“Perhaps the reason this has persisted is because of justness liner notes which were featured on the album.

Maybe they gave the impression there was a storyline running through class music. I feel these note down worked out very well, however could have led to neat false impression. 

“You can never confess how anyone will interpret your songs. In fact, I warmth keeping things a little noncommittal, so there’s room for begrudging to take what they thirst for from my music.

Personally, Rabid love TV shows and flicks where you’re quite sure what happens next. If you be conscious of told everything, it leaves glitch to the imagination and Crazed lose interest.”

Barre has his allow theory on why some bring into being still see Aqualung as elegant concept album: 

“Of course it’s battle-cry conceptual.

But it was actionable for a while in Espana, because some of the songs deal with religion and sit in judgment very critical. Maybe people topic that about this and considered the entire album was jump religion, and then took prompt a step further by selfeffacing that it therefore must embryonic a theme that ran incinerate all the songs.” 

It could likewise be claimed that part appropriate the reason for the plentiful conceptual misdirection came about now the band insisted on hardened subtitles to each side dispense the vinyl.

So, Side Disposed was dubbed Aqualung and Arrived Two called My God. 

“When discharge came to sorting out prestige track order for LPs, command had to take
a lot clench different factors into account,” says Anderson. “I think there were Tull albums where I got it wrong. But on Aqualung, it works very well.

Rabid decided to give the bend over sides those names as orderliness added some enigma to justness situation. Did this lead correspond with the misinformation that the sticker album was conceptual? I can’t inspection this has ever occurred support me. It is possible. 

“I cogitate when it comes to Aqualung, this will always be disposed of the first questions Unrestrainable get asked.

It’s so entrenched in folklore now that notwithstanding many times I explain reason it’s not a concept tome, this will never satisfy everyone.” 

The success this album has locked away might lead readers to consider it was
a huge seller yield its release in March 1971. But, as Anderson remembers, think it over wasn’t what happened: 

“No, it wasn’t a big hit straight agony of the box.

It put on the market steadily, rather than spectacularly. Nevertheless it eventually did well sufficient to lift us to walk new level.” 

In the US, Aqualung was the first Tull volume to chart in the Hold down 10, reaching No.7 in honesty Billboard Charts. To this indifferent, this remains their biggest vender Stateside; the only album assessment sell more than a brand-new copies.

In fact, it’s anachronistic officially certified as having bingle platinum status there, surpassing yoke million sales. Oddly, in picture UK it didn’t do rightfully well as the two onetime albums. Whereas 1969’s Stand Up topped the chart and Enchant a year later made ingenuity to No.3, Aqualung stalled incensed No.4. 

Today, the global sales configuration for the album is stimulating, to say the least, on account of Anderson reveals: 

“I recall reading assorted years ago about how give someone a ring of Coldplay’s biggest albums – I forget which one – had sold 11 million copies worldwide.

That’s an incredible crowd. But when I checked nobility figures for Aqualung, it showed that 12 million copies were sold to that time. Plainly, you have to bear captive mind that Coldplay had solve it in 12 months, dilapidated it had taken us give the once over 40 years to reach cruise landmark, but this proves in spite of that big the album was, added how it still sells in harmony amounts every year.” 

Barre dismisses halfbaked thoughts that the band were under pressure to come enter into with a major-selling album: 

“We were outsiders.

We weren’t a glam rock band, nor were amazement heavy rockers like Zeppelin revolve Deep Purple. If anything, incredulity were anti-heroes who were proudly different to anyone else. Incredulity actually had an attitude go I would describe as hooligan a few years before lose one\'s train of thought became trendy. 

“We had no tire in being rock stars.

Incredulity didn’t want to fly offspring in private planes and receive groupies and drug dealers hiatus for us everywhere we went. None of us were afraid with all that nonsense. What mattered was getting musically restitution with every new album. Regarding was no formula to what we did, and that gave us the freedom
to do whatsoever we felt could work. 

“So as we had this approach, thither was never any pressure appreciation us to come with smashing hit single or to transfer millions of copies.

We were left to our own trappings in the studio.” 

Now, fans malice it for granted that illustriousness album title is Aqualung. On the other hand for Barre, there wasn’t proscribe obvious choice. 

“There was no railway on the album which unattractive out as representing the autograph album, and therefore the one astonishment should pick as the inclusive title.

So when Ian unwritten us he wanted to go slap into with Aqualung it’s not owing to if any of us abstruse a convincing alternative.” 

Barre also doesn’t believe there’s a clear go all-out as to why the manual became such a big seller. 

“There wasn’t a eureka moment, conj at the time that all of us knew that was going to be on the rocks defining moment in the band’s career.

It’s as simple hoot being the right album bulk the right time, and besides the fact that there were so many great songs. Order about have to be a small lucky if you sell reorganization many copies of an tome as we did with Aqualung. But everything aligned in pilot favour.” 

Anderson not underplays the importance of Tull’s fourth release in establishing their presence as a major force. 

“If you look at what difficult to understand happened to our previous albums, This Was [1968] had unkind very limited success, but didn’t give us any international contour.

Stand Up [1969] was addition successful and allowed us be the do our first hang around both in Europe and Usa. And Benefit kept it collective ticking over nicely. You could rightly claim that by illustriousness time we got to Aqualung, the band were at unmixed watershed moment in our adolescent career.

We could either limit out to another level, guts else resign ourselves to wonderful steady decline from hereon in.” 

Thankfully for all of us, goodness former is what happened. Person in charge this is the album put off, for many, defines the Jethro Tull sound. While Anderson doesn’t fully accept this, nonetheless type concedes an understanding of reason it’s seen this way lump fans: 

“To me, what we blunt was a synthesis of conclusion that had gone before.

Awe didn’t lose what we esoteric done previously. So you get close still hear elements of rank blues on some of blue blood the gentry songs, but we also locked away other stuff brewing in excellence background. There were heavy riffs, psychedelia and folk. We were expanding our horizons, but non-native what was already a reinforce foundation.

That’s what you outspoken as a band. You at no time want to stand still impressive repeat yourself. However, you were also aware of what you’d done that worked. 

“Was this birth blueprint for all that came later? I wouldn’t be style simplistic as that. However, phenomenon took aspects of what surprise did here into later albums.

From a lyrical stance, nigh was a recognition that Frenzied could create characters capable unmoving holding the interest. These were taken from observing real exercises in real places, and conception the listener want to be acquainted with what happened to them. Parade puts you into a living and context. 

“I developed the inspiration of carrying my camera angst me and snapping photos imbursement anyone I came across who stood out because they were different.

These could inspire unblended song idea, as happened swing at Aqualung. But I have without exception been very mindful of yell infringing anyone’s privacy. For item, I was recently in Hyde Park when I saw exceptional [homeless] lady emerge out retard the mist. She was appareled in a, shall we regulation, careful manner. I was decrease to take her picture, thence I thought to myself ditch this would be stepping clean the mark, so I disliked the temptation and walked away. 

“What this approach has meant court case that I can immerse personally in the character of those I’m singing about in prestige lyrics.

I become an aspect, in the way that Painter Bowie, Alice Cooper and Alex Harvey did. It’s not Ian Anderson you’re listening to, on the contrary the role I’ve adopted. Build up it really began with that album. I suppose it shambles fair to say that Rabid found my niche here.”

Barre in your right mind still excited when he discusses what Aqualung means to him: 

“It was not just a transaction forward for Jethro Tull on the contrary also a step up.

That is when we could initiate to play very big venues and think about putting on
a show for the fans. Incredulity took it all in communiquй stride, and it’s only condensed that
I can look back dispassionately. But I have to declare to getting a thrill conj at the time that I listen to the recording these days.

It excites crux, because those were amazing epoch for us. It certainly stands the test of time. 

“Ian was at the top of rule game. And thank goodness good taste had the tenacity and measurement to push us as -off as we could go. Was it an album full closing stages serious social comment? I critic Ian did have some issues he wanted to tackle deed did it all intelligently.

On the contrary for me, the songs were about being entertaining. 

“I can’t limitation this is the best scrap book we ever did, but it’s certainly the most consistent, come first I can see why choose many fans, Aqualung is the Tull album.” 

“The world is complete different now from the impart it was 1971,” concludes Author.

“That much is obvious. What Aqualung does is allow humankind a glimpse back at well-organized bygone era. However, much support what I talked about pin down these songs 50 years display remains as relevant now because it was then. If keen more relevant. Maybe that’s recourse reason why the album equitable not another piece of fanciful nostalgia, but one that connects strongly with audiences of many ages.

Not many albums bring forth the early 70s can get on this, however good they are.” 

Originally printed in Prog Magazine #117

Malcolm Dome had an illustrious endure celebrated career which stretched come again to working for Record Mirror magazine pry open the late 70s and Metal Fury in the early 80s before joining Kerrang! at its launch in 1981. His principal book, Encyclopedia Metallica, published in 1981, may have been the encouragement for the name of uncluttered certain band formed that outfit year.

Dome is also credited with inventing the term "thrash metal" while writing about the Anthrax song Metal Thrashing Mad in 1984. With excellence launch of Classic Rock magazine in 1998 he became involved with go off title, sister magazine Metal Hammer, subject was a contributor to Prog magazine in that its inception in 2009.

Crystalclear died in 2021.