MOSCOW, April 27. /TASS/. British prog-rock band Jethro Tull will play concerts in three Russian cities as part of the group’s 50th anniversary world tour. On Friday, April 27, the band will rock the stage of the Crocus City Hall in Moscow.

Speaking at a press conference at the TASS news agency ahead of the concert, Ian Anderson was ironic about the band’s date anniversary.

"Fiftieth anniversary is not a big deal. Another Western rock band is celebrating its 50th anniversary…We’ve got Jethro Tull, Yes, King Crimson, Deep Purple (the bands that also turn 50 this year - TASS). It is not so uncommon," the veteran rocker noted.

Anderson said that doing this tour was not his first intention.

"I am not a nostalgia person. My original thought was that I would not do anything special in 2018. But then I changed my mind," he said.

The musician explained that by marking this date with worldwide concerts he pays his respect to the band’s fans and also to all the musicians that had been part of Jethro Tull over the years.

"There are 36 musicians that were part of the group over 50 years. That changed my mind and I decided to postpone the new album," Anderson said adding that he had started working on the new material last year.

"A new album we have actually to wait until September 2019. I am halfway through it. I will be back to it fresh later this year," he said.

When asked if it will be released as Ian Anderson’s album or an album of Jethro Tull the musician said: "That is the last thing I think about. I think I probably have the title of the new album but in terms of discussing it with record company I am not ready to talk about that now."

Later this year, the band is going to release a career spanning collection of songs titled "50 for 50". The three CDs will contain 50 songs, which are Ian Anderson’s personal choice.

"Fifty songs are my choice but it was a very close match to suggestions that came from the record company," he noted. He added that when working on this compilation he tried to pick up songs that "cover different styles, tempos and keys" and that flow together in an interesting way.

About Jethro Tull

Formed in 1968, the band took its name after Jethro Tull, the 18th century agriculturist. Initially playing blues rock the band later developed its own style incorporating elements of hard-rock, jazz, classical music and folk in their songs. Jethro Tull sold more than 60 mln copies of their albums becoming one of the most commercially successful rock bands in the world. The band’s leader, composer and vocalist Ian Anderson is the most famous flutist in rock and pop music.

Following their Moscow tour, Jethro Tull will perform in two more Russian cities - in Yekaterinburg on April 28 and in St. Petersburg on April 29.