Which British rock group formed in the late 1960's, with a flute-playing lead singer, named themselves after an 18th Century inventor of farm implements?

The distinctive sound of a flute cutting through heavy guitar riffs is the unmistakable signature of this legendary British group. Fronted by the charismatic Ian Anderson, famous for his wild stage presence and tendency to play while standing on one leg, the band took its name from an unlikely source. The original Jethro Tull was an 18th-century English agricultural pioneer whose inventions, most notably the horse (Review)-drawn seed drill and hoe, were instrumental in the British Agricultural Revolution.

The band didn’t choose the name out of a deep appreciation for farming history, however. In their early days in 1967 and 1968, the group had trouble getting re-booked at London clubs, so they frequently changed their name to get new gigs. The names were often supplied by their booking agent's staff; one of whom, a history enthusiast, suggested Jethro Tull.

On the night they used that particular name, the manager of the famous Marquee Club liked their performance and invited them back. From that point on, the name stuck. It proved to be a fittingly unique moniker for a band that constantly defied categorization, blending progressive rock, hard rock, folk, and blues into a sound that was entirely their own.