Tuesday, November 17: Rock n Roll Birthdays

Happy Birthday today to guitarist Martin Barre of Jethro Tull. He's 69. Also celebrating is current Guns N' Roses and Dead Daisies guitarist Richard Fortus (49).

Martin Barre recorded and toured with Jethro Tull from their second album in 1969 until the band dissolved in 2014. Jethro Tull achieved commercial success in 1969 with their second release "Stand Up" which went to number 1 in the U.K. and resulted in regular touring throughout the U.K. and the United States. Their musical style shifted from a folk, blues sound to a more progressive rock sound with the albums "Aqualung", "Thick as a Brick", and "A Passion Play" onto a hard rock/folk sound with "Songs From the Wood".

Rolling Stone magazine described Jethro Tull as "one of the most commercially successful and eccentric progressive rock bands." Jethro Tull have sold over 60 million albums worldwide, with 11 gold and five platinum albums. As he was concentrating on a solo tour, Ian Anderson said that Jethro Tull were finished in April of 2014.