After two consecutive new Jethro Tull album releases in 2022 and 2023, a new studio record – Curious Ruminant – was recently released in March to much acclaim. Consisting of nine new tracks varying in length from two and half minutes to almost seventeen minutes, this is an album of mostly full band music. Amongst the musicians featured are former keyboardist Andrew Giddings and drummer James Duncan, along with the current band members David Goodier, John O’Hara, Scott Hammond, and, making his recording debut with the band, guitarist Jack Clark.
Today, the band has shared a video for the track “Over Jerusalem”, a track they have recently started playing live on tour, animated by Studio Sparks in Portugal. Watch it now below.
Ian Anderson comments: “Having visited Jerusalem to perform in concert and in Israel generally many times since 1986 I, like much of the world, have felt growing distress at the political, social and cultural dilemmas facing all in the region. After the first visit or two, I decided to continue to perform there but to donate all proceeds to various local NGOs: mostly to those supporting co-education of Arabs, Jews, and Christians and often with a musical bias.
“The deep and complex history of Jerusalem – brilliantly chronicled in the book “Jerusalem: The Biography” by Simon Sebag Montifiore – would be best read by many taking the simplistic view and taking polarised sides. Montefiore refers to “Jerusalem Syndrome”, which sums up my somewhat tortured views,” Anderson added.
“I continue to hold a deep reverence and concern for the future of one of the most important cities of all time and its pivotal place in the current world. I say in the final line of the song, “I’m not over Jerusalem.” Like a tragic love affair, it remains a memory that time cannot erase. Don’t get me started about Moscow or Kiev….”
