Mick Abrahams, founding member and original guitarist for the legendary British rock band Jethro Tull, has died. He was 82.
Jethro Tull’s chief vocalist, Ian Anderson, confirmed the devastating news in a statement shared on the band’s official website on Sunday. Abrahams reportedly passed away on Dec. 19.
“It is with great sadness that we learned yesterday of the passing of Jethro Tull founding member Mick Abrahams,” Anderson, 78, wrote. “Mick had endured worsening ill health for the last 15 years leaving him finally unable to perform or interact socially to any degree.”
“I spoke to Clive Bunker from the Choir of Southwark Cathedral to get confirmation that the reports earlier in the day were, in fact, correct,” he continued. “And, yes – Clive had received a phone call from Mick’s family to communicate the sad news.”
Anderson went on to note that Abrahams, who played in the band from its formation in 1967 until his departure in December 1968, was “vitally important to the early Tull formation” and a “strong vocalist and experienced, powerful and lyrical guitarist.”
Born in Luton, England, in April 1943, Abrahams co-founded the group that would become Jethro Tull in 1967 and played guitar on their debut album “This Was” in 1968.
However, he ultimately departed the band two months after the record’s October release due to creative differences with Anderson.
In his statement over the weekend, Anderson noted that he and his late former bandmate shared “11 months of mutual benefit and learning experiences before the eventual falling-out.”
He revealed that Abrahams’ decision to leave Jethro Tull in its infancy was “caused primarily by our different preferences as to future musical direction.”
“I wanted to embrace broader musical influences while Mick – died-in-the-wool rocker and blues man – wanted to stay with the more traditional style of our first album,” Anderson explained.
The multi-instrumentalist, who is the only original member of Jethro Tull still playing in the band, ended his touching statement with a thoughtful message to Abrahams’ grieving loved ones.
“We all offer our condolences to Mick’s family and close friends, who can feel justifiably proud of his achievements and musical legacy,” Anderson concluded.
Shortly after leaving Jethro Tull in 1968, Abrahams went on to form the blues-rock group Blodwyn Pig with Jack Lancaster on saxophone and flute, Andy Pyle on bass and Ron Berg on drums.
Although Blodwyn Pig ultimately disbanded in 1970 after the release of the two albums “Ahead Rings Out” and “Getting to This,” the musicians later reunited for several studio and live stints in the 1990s.
Abrahams also launched a successful and prolific solo career beginning in 1971 with his self-titled record “Mick Abrahams.”
The late guitarist’s last solo project, “Revived,” was released in 2015 – six years after he suffered several shocking health scares in November 2009.
“I had two heart attacks and a stroke almost at the same time,” Abrahams told the music outlet Prog in 2018. “Those have left their mark on me.”
“These days, I can join in a bit on guitar with others, but nowhere near the level I was once able to achieve,” he added at the time. “That upsets me.”
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