PH Jethro Tull are one of the biggest selling rock bands of all time

Jethro Tull are one of the biggest selling rock bands of all time. Their immense and diverse catalogue of work encompasses folk, blues, classical, progressive and heavy rock. The group became one of the most successful and enduring bands of their era, selling over 60 million albums worldwide. Founder, frontman, songwriter and flautist Ian Anderson is rightly credited with introducing the flute to rock as a front line instrument, not to mention the codpiece in his famous theatrical live performances. Their debut album This Was was released in 1968. Now, with the 50th anniversary approaching, to celebrate this Golden anniversary Ian Anderson will present 50 years of Jethro Tull in eight UK concerts during April 2018.

Express.co.uk catches up with a busy Ian Anderson as he prepares for the forthcoming activities surrounding his band's milestone. Jethro Tull played their first concert at the famous Marquee Club in 1968 of which Ian has fond memories. Ian recalls: " It was actually the fourth time that we played there as a band, albeit under other names in the weeks before. We knew the venue and its manager. It was important to do well there and build a following as a stepping stone to venues in other cities." As the frontman of a rock band, Ian attracted a lot of attention by playing the flute when not singing, thereby creating the defining sound of Jethro Tull.

PH Their immense and diverse catalogue of work encompasses folk, blues, classical and rock

Ian explains: " It was Eric Clapton that inspired me to take up the flute, in a roundabout way. I was a guitar player in 1967, but I soon realised that I would never be as good as Clapton. So I looked around for another instrument, one that he and the many other great guitarists of the time couldn't play. It's better to be a big fish in a small pool than the other way round."

It was Eric Clapton that inspired me to take up the flute, in a roundabout way Ian Anderson

With worldwide sales surpassing 60 million albums, Tull mastered and covered a wide range of musical styles from folk, classical and progressive rock - Anderson was named Prog Rock God by the highly acclaimed Prog Magazine in 2013, this years recipient is the equally legendary Carl Palmer of ELP - Ian finds combining all musical forms quite a test to play in a concert. He says: " They are all a challenge to play in their different ways: technically, musically and emotionally. My favourite songs to play on tour are pretty much the same as the fans. There are some 300 songs to choose from in theory, but maybe about 100 in practice. My own favourites come and go and I keep re-discovering material from the earlier albums which capture my attention and my heart. At least for a while."

As the sole songwriter for the band, Anderson clearly has a lot on his very full plate when it comes to writing an album and shaping its direction. He doesn't wait for inspiration to strike, but adopts a hard work ethic to his approach. He reveals: "I find it quite easy to write music today. The lyrics are the most demanding, so I have to learned to tackle the words early on and not leave them to later. I'm not really a believer in inspiration. I adopt the notion that you have to go looking for it rather than wait to be visited by the muse. After a fruitless hour or two, something usually comes along. As I get older, the process has speeded up a bit. I assumed that it would get harder but have found the reverse to be the case. I definitely find it easier to write songs these days, but not necessarily easier to write good ones!"

Rock Bands: Then and Now Thu, December 8, 2016 Express Pictures takes a look back at the rock and heavy metal bands that made history with their music, and where they are today. Play slideshow 1 of 17

With the 50th anniversary concerts in mind, the band will be playing material from all eras and genres. There have been many talented musicians who have played their part in Jethro Tull over the past fifty years. Will any of them be joining Ian on the tour? Ian reflects: "There have been over thirty two band members in the band, so it's a little impractical to factor in some without leaving out others. The four guys with me for the last twelve years have their marbles, their own instruments and their boarding passes. Many of the past members gave up music a long time ago or are not able to play anymore. A few, sadly, are no longer with us..." Clearly with an ongoing career lasting fifty years, Anderson has plenty of recollections and stories from the road to fill an auto-biography if he so chooses. Especially, coming from a band that has topped the charts and headlined all the famous concert halls around the globe. Ian shares some of those stories that can be printed with express.co.uk.

GETTY As the frontman of a band, Ian attracted a lot of attention by playing the flute when not singing

Ian says: " There are so many stories that I can't share. Or, rather, shouldn't share! I once had a violinist travelling with the band and crew on the tour bus. I asked her to share with me her experiences of being the only girl on the tour. She replied, 'what happens on the tour bus, stays on the tour bus'. I thought it best to leave it at that...but memories of things happening to me, whether funny or downright embarrassing, have never been a problem to talk about. Being struck on my bare chest by a used tampon during a show or having a pint of pee poured over me as I walked out to the stage in Shea Stadium come to mind. Rather brings a man down to earth, wouldn't you say?" Such lurid experiences happen very rarely now to a band entering its half century. And with the creative juices flowing Anderson is still not one to dilly-dally. There is plenty of activity planned involving special re-releases of albums and newly recorded material in the making too. The legendary frontman adds: " I have actually postponed the new studio album until early 2019 to avoid the plethora of re-releases, boxed sets and live stuff coming out in 2018. I think that next year, uncharacteristically for me, should be a year of looking back and celebrating past times, rather than unleashing unfamiliar new material on a nostalgic fan base."

GETTY They have sold over 60 million albums worldwide