Martin Barre

Born Martin Lancelot Barre on November 17, 1946, in Kings Heath, Birmingham, England, Martin Barre’s musical journey began with the flute before he transitioned to guitar. His early career included playing saxophone with The Moonrakers in the early 1960s, followed by joining The Noblemen, which later became The Motivation and then The Penny Peeps. With The Penny Peeps, he released two singles in 1968: “Little Man With a Stick” and “I See the Morning.” By mid-1968, the band evolved into Gethsemane, a blues outfit, where Barre played both guitar and flute.

Barre’s most significant career turning point came in late 1968 when he auditioned for Jethro Tull. Despite a nervous initial audition, he secured the position of lead guitarist. He joined Jethro Tull in 1969, replacing Mick Abrahams, and remained with the band until its initial dissolution in 2011. During his tenure, he played on every Jethro Tull album from their 1969 release “Stand Up” to “The Jethro Tull Christmas Album” in 2003. His guitar work became a defining element of the band’s sound, blending virtuosity with classical influences, notable on tracks like “Aqualung” and “Minstrel in the Gallery.”

Beyond Jethro Tull, Martin Barre embarked on a solo career in the early 1990s, releasing several albums including “A Trick of Memory” (1994), “The Meeting” (1996), “Stage Left” (2003), and “Away with Words” (2013). His solo work explores a range of styles including blues, acoustic folk, and hard rock. He has toured with his own band, Martin Barre’s New Day, and has been recognized for his contributions to rock music, with his solo on “Aqualung” being voted among the top rock guitar solos. He received a Grammy award in 1988 for his playing on Jethro Tull’s album “Crest of a Knave.” Barre continues to record and tour, celebrating his musical legacy.