In a recent interview with Canada’s The Metal Voice, Jethro Tull’s frontman Ian Anderson delved into a variety of topics, from Jethro Tull’s new album ‘The Zealot Gene’ to the band’s extensive reissue catalog. However, a particularly intriguing part of the conversation emerged when Anderson discussed his unexpected connection to the 80s new wave band Men Without Hats, specifically their iconic hit, “Safety Dance.”
Anderson recounted how his positive comments about “Safety Dance” led to a collaboration with Men Without Hats on their song “On Tuesday” from the album ‘Pop Goes the World’. According to Anderson, Ivan Doroschuk, the lead singer of Men Without Hats, was recording in London and heard about Anderson’s appreciation for “Safety Dance”.
“It’s a nice tune,” Anderson said, referring to “On Tuesday,” “that I was asked to play on because Ivan, the main man, was in London recording an album, and he must have got wind of me having some positive comments about the Safety Dance.” Anderson elaborated on his fondness for the track, highlighting its unique appeal within the 80s music scene. “The song was quite a hit in the UK (Safety Dance), and a refreshing one it was. It was almost an abandoned crazy hippy kind of video at a time where everything else was synth-pop and rather contrived.”
He emphasized the refreshing contrast “Safety Dance” offered to the prevailing synth-pop trends of the era. “This was a fun, abandoned, wacky song, but everybody loved it in the UK, and I enjoyed it too.” This appreciation, it seems, paved the way for his involvement with Men Without Hats. “I guess Ivan heard about that and said, ‘Oh, can we get Ian Anderson to play on a song?’ and the record company got the message.”
Anderson described his studio session for “On Tuesday” as a straightforward and altruistic endeavor. “So I trotted into the studio in London and recorded it, and that was the end of it really.” True to his artistic principles, Anderson mentioned his policy when contributing to other artists’ work. “When I play on other people’s records, I politely refuse any form of payment because I choose what to do. I don’t do everything, and I am certainly not a gun for hire.”
He further explained his criteria for collaborations, emphasizing the need for genuine artistic contribution and personal connection to the music. “You can’t pay me to overcome my feelings for perhaps this is not the right thing for me to do, or that I don’t really think I can add anything useful to your song. I have to feel like I can make a contribution.” Anderson also revealed a preference for projects that push him beyond his musical comfort zone. “I am more likely to make that contribution if the music is someway away from what I do because then it becomes more of a challenge, and I can step out of my normal musical area and tackle something a little different that I have not played before.”
Beyond his unexpected foray into 80s new wave with Men Without Hats, the interview also touched upon other aspects of Anderson’s career. He provided updates on the Jethro Tull reissue project, mentioning that “Broadsword and the Beast” is the next album slated for reissue.
Additionally, Anderson shared anecdotes about meeting Iron Maiden’s Steve Harris and his past performance with Bruce Dickinson. He recounted Steve Harris’s admiration for Jethro Tull and Bruce Dickinson’s professionalism and ease to work with, even hinting at a potential future live project with Dickinson.
While the interview covered a range of topics relevant to Jethro Tull fans, Anderson’s reflection on “Safety Dance” and his collaboration with Men Without Hats provides a unique and charming insight into the interconnected world of music and the unexpected bridges that can form between artists of seemingly different genres. It highlights Anderson’s open-mindedness and willingness to explore musical landscapes beyond his own, driven by genuine appreciation and the desire for meaningful artistic contribution, even to a song as famously quirky as “Safety Dance.”
