The singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Ian Anderson co-founded Jethro Tull in 1967 and has remained the band’s leader and the only member to appear on every album they released. He played a fundamental role in the evolution of Progressive Rock, with Jethro Tull selling an estimated 60 million records worldwide. After nearly six decades in the music business, Anderson has witnessed countless new artists and musical styles emerge. Over the years, he has shared his thoughts on some of them, including more recent names such as Ed Sheeran and Taylor Swift. What is Ian Anderson’s opinion on Ed Sheeran and Taylor Swift As expected, Ian Anderson is not a fan of artists like Ed Sheran and Taylor Swift. He talked about them when comparing the music from his era and the current state of songwriting. "I'm in a situation now that some of my musical heroes, some 17, 18 teenager fan listens to them for the first time. (Then they think) 'Wow, I want to do that'. Because we do have some younger fans who are excited by the music of the great area of Classic Rock music. From mid-60s onwards really a huge success particularly from British acts to some degree in the USA." "But a lot of British Rock bands who began in the late 60s and perhaps by the early 70s were internationally well-known. They are the great Classic Rock bands of the period and it's hard to go today very far without comparing their music with music today. You have to choose between Ed Sheeran, (I'm trying to) think of another singer. Cat Stevens, let's say, singer-songwriter from the early 70s." He continued: "I mean, surely you couldn't have any hesitation in saying: well, Cat Stevens was a great singer-songwriter. Not only in terms of performance but the fact that the music and the songs that he wrote. We never heard that before whereas something like Ed Sheeran. No offense to Ed Sheeran, he's a very talented Pop singer and Pop songwriter. But I don't think you can claim that it's very original. Because the way he sings, contents of his lyrics and music. It's stuff we've heard many, many, many times over the years, like Taylor Swift." "To some people it seems new. But to people like me who've been exposed to music for 60 years, it doesn't sound very interesting or new. So I'm grateful that we are part of that Classic Rock tradition. Progressive Rock, Folk Rock, whatever you wanna call it," Ian Anderson told Rocknews in 2025 (Transcribed by Rock and Roll Garage). Ian Anderson said his music is for people who seek something deeper than Ed Sheeran The musician had already said that somebody has to do what he does as a songwriter. Because people won't get this kind of "searching philosophical" analysis from artists like Ed Sheeran. Anderson explained that unlike Pop artists nowadays, he is a songwriter who doesn't care if he gets called pretentious for the songs he writes. (Translated by Rock and Roll Garage) "I'm not interested in introducing myself to the new generations. If someone doesn't know who I am, it's better for them to go listen to Ed Sheeran and his pleasant-to-the-ear music. Mine is different. It's a harsh, complex, deep listening experience... Most musicians write songs about relationships or being in love. And then there are those of us who try to create a setting. (They) tell a story, create images. (They) talk about other worlds that people aren't familiar with," he told LOC in 2023. Anderson said Rock is music for adults these days https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Vv-BfVoq4g&list=RD2Vv-BfVoq4g&start_radio=1&pp=ygUKZWQgc2hlZXJhbqAHAQ%3D%3D Already back in 2018, Anderson mentioned the two artists when talking about the current state of music. "Rock is now music for adults. The boys listen to pop, followed by Ed Sheeran and Taylor Swift. Rock has grown up with the old guys, the ones who had the ideals," he told Il Giornale. Ian Anderson was born in 1947 and Jethro Tull was formed in 1967. So when Ed Sheeran was born in 1991 and Taylor Swift in 1989, Anderson had already been in the music business for more than 20 years. By the time they began their musical careers in the early 2000s, Jethro Tull had already been active for over three decades. So it is common for artists from different generations not to like what is being done these days. With technology and internet, a lot changed in the world, especially the way people perceive music. It's interesting because a lot of young people never listened to an entire album. Many artists who are aligned with the taste of the new generations are not even worried about making a complete record. Because most of the time EPs or only singles are enough for their success. Although a person can hear almost any band they want these days with one click, most people are passive when it comes to music. Because the algorithms choose for them what they will hear. So there is no need anymore to search and discover new groups if you're not a big music fan. Not only music changed but almost everything around it. So it's quite different from the late 60s when Tull was formed.The post Ian Anderson’s opinion on Ed Sheeran and Taylor Swift appeared first on Rock and Roll Garage.