Original JETHRO TULL guitarist Mick Abrahams has passed away at the age of 82. Mick Abrahams appeared on Jethro Tull’s debut album, “This Was”, before going on to form Blodwyn Pig.
Abrahams died on Friday, December 19, as confirmed by friends and a member of his family. Martin Barre, who replaced him in Jethro Tull, later shared a tribute on Facebook: “My friend and my mentor Mick Abrahams has passed,” wrote Barre. “He was so nice to me and that is something I will never forget. What a magnificent guitar player who gave us so much. Rest in peace”.
Born in Luton on April 7, 1943, Abrahams joined The John Evan Band in late 1967, shortly before the group adopted the name Jethro Tull.
He performed on the band’s 1968 debut album, which reflected a blues- and jazz-influenced approach, predating the progressive rock sound that would later define their legacy.
Abrahams departed the group following the release of “This Was”, amid growing tensions with frontman Ian Anderson.
“I got very pissed off with Ian Anderson, who saw Tull as his band, and he wasn’t prepared to let anyone else voice their opinion on what was going on,” Abrahams said in the past. “So I left. But what I told them at the time was that I’d stay on until they found a replacement for me, because there was no way I wanted to leave them in the shit.
“A short while later, I was called to a meeting at the office of Terry Ellis, the band’s manager. You know what he said to me? ‘Ian and the boys don’t want you in the band any more so you’ve been fired.’ I just replied to Terry, ‘How can you fire me when I quit three weeks ago? Just go fuck yourself!’”.
After leaving Jethro Tull, the guitarist went on to form Blodwyn Pig, releasing Ahead Rings Out (1969) and Getting To This (1970), and performing at major events including the Bath Festival Of Blues, the Isle Of Wight Festival, and the Reading Festival.
Following Blodwyn Pig’s split in 1972, he formed the short-lived Wommett, before going on to lead The Mick Abrahams Band.
Abrahams later balanced a solo career with occasional reunions of Blodwyn Pig and The Mick Abrahams Band.
Even after suffering a heart attack in 2009 that affected his mobility, he continued to perform and record. His final release was “Revived” (2015), issued under his own name.
