It’s been 40 years since Jethro Tull released their concept album, “Thick as a Brick,” and Tull front man Ian Anderson plans to celebrate with a sequel and a tour.

The lyrics in the original Thick as a Brick album are built around a poem written by a fictitious boy named Gerald Bostock. The “Thick as a Brick” sequel will examine what became of Gerald as he grew from boy to man and beyond.

Ian spoke about the sequel saying, “As we baby-boomers look back on our own lives, we must often feel an occasional ‘what-if’ moment. Might we, like ‘Gerald,’ have become instead preacher, soldier, down-and-out, shopkeeper or finance tycoon? And those of more tender years - the social media and Internet generation - may choose to ponder well the myriad of chance possibilities ahead of them at every turn...”

“Thick as a Brick 2” comes out on April 2^nd and on the 40^th anniversary tour Anderson, with a band and special guests, will play the original Thick as a Brick in its entirety, then perform the entire sequel. Special guest for the European leg will include Iron Maiden’s Bruce Dickinson and Justin Hayward from the Moody Blues.  The tour kicks off in the UK on April 14^th and comes to the US in the Fall, and will feature a theatrical production with video and more.

US dates have not yet been finalized. Read more at jethrotull.com