This is Derbyshire --Lynne Brighouse talks to Ian Anderson about what inspired his latest album and forthcoming tour.
IAN Anderson will be back on the road again this year, visiting Derby in May with other former members of Jethro Tull.
And, like many other successful performers, he has no intentions of retiring just yet.
"Why would you even consider it when you can still be out there doing what you love, testing and challenging yourself?" says the talented musician who became well known in the 1960s and 1970s for his one-legged flute playing.
In recent months, Ian has been busy developing and recording his new album, which he will tour from spring onwards. It is called Homo Erraticus – Latin for the wandering man.
He says: "The theme I was interested in exploring is our species' tendency to constantly globally migrate.
"The movement of people around the world is a controversial topic at the moment but it can often be discussed in very inward- looking terms.
"It is easily forgotten that all humankind came from the same place originally – Mesopotamia – and that meaningful migration has always taken place. We are an opportunistic species – the grass is always greener, so we go where we imagine there are better prospects.
"Humans have never had a permanent homeland we have always explored. The sense of migration is always there."
Ian is very proud of the heritage of the UK and, although he realises there are real issues to be addressed in terms of how many people Britain can sustain, he would like debates around population movement to be more outward-looking and less inflammatory.
"I'm not a politician; I'm an artist and an entertainer, it is also my job to make people laugh and but also maybe to get angry about things at times, too," he says.
Ian says the style of his new album is very close to his musical origins.
He says: "I have been influenced by many genres over the years. Initially by blues and jazz – then folk music in the early part of my career. Actually church music is there somewhere too, that's what I grew up with. There is evidence of it in many of my songs and that influence is still there.
"Even Indian music has had an impact. It is part of my heritage too from spending many hours eating in Indian restaurants.
"As artists, we soak in all the influences we come across and Britain is a very multi-cultural place these days. I wanted the album to speak about our heritage and culture here but also embrace world music. It doesn't feel so foreign any more and we have integrated and absorbed these influences without even being aware of it at times."
The 66-year-old plans to perform songs from Homo Erraticus in Derby and says there is no substitute for playing live.
"You test your musical skills in a recording studio but it is incomparable with the instant feedback and emotional response of a live audience," he says. "That shared experience is thrilling. Why would I want to give that up?"
WHAT: Ian Anderson
WHERE: Derby Assembly Rooms
WHEN: May 13
ADMISSIONS: £26 and £30.
TICKETS: Call 01332 255800 or visit www.derbylive .co.uk Reported by This is 11 hours ago.