Mick Abrahams, 1st Jethro Tull Guitarist and Blodwyn Pig Founder, Dies
by Best Classic Bands Staff
Mick Abrahams, the original guitarist for Jethro Tull, who left after the English band’s debut album to form Blodwyn Pig, has died. According to a statement posted on the Jethro Tull Fans Facebook page, Abrahams died yesterday, Dec. 19, 2025. The post did not state a cause of place of death.
The statement says, “Very sad news that Luton-born musician Mick Abrahams, original guitarist with the band Jethro Tull, died yesterday. He was 82.”
According to Abrahams’ Wikipedia page, the guitarist played on the Tull album This Was, in 1968, “but conflicts between Abrahams and Ian Anderson over the musical direction of the band led Abrahams to leave shortly after the album was finished, but not before contributing guitar to one further non-LP single. Abrahams wanted to pursue a more blues/rock direction, while Anderson wanted to incorporate more overt folk and jazz influences.”
On Dec. 21, Anderson posted a tribute to Abrahams on Tull’s Facebook page. “It is with great sadness that we learned yesterday of the passing of Jethro Tull founding member Mick Abrahams. Mick was vitally important to the early Tull formation out of the ashes of The John Evan Band and McGregor’s Engine, the blues band he formed with Clive Bunker in the Luton/Dunstable area. We all offer our condolences to Mick’s family and close friends, who can feel justifiably proud of his achievements and musical legacy.”
Mick Abrahams (uncredited photo from Jethro Tull’s website)
Michael Timothy Abrahams was born April 7, 1943, in Luton, Bedfordshire, England. The musician “went on to found Blodwyn Pig and the group recorded two albums, Ahead Rings Out (1969) and Getting to This (1970), before breaking up in 1970…Abrahams soldiered on with the short-lived Wommett, then the Mick Abrahams Band, and he continued to release albums by himself and with reunited versions of Blodwyn Pig,” says the Wiki entry.
He then “worked as a driver, lifeguard and financial consultant…occasionally playing gigs, especially to support causes in Dunstable, Bedfordshire…Abrahams suffered a heart attack in 2009 and the following year he revealed he had Ménière’s disease.”
The fan group’s statement added, “Mick’s autobiography, What is a Wommett, published in 2008 with a foreword by Old Grey Whistle Test presenter ‘Whispering’ Bob Harris, is well worth a read.”
Watch Blodwyn Pig perform “See My Way” in 1970
The Wikipedia entry noted, “In 2015, Abrahams announced a new studio album called Revived!, with several guests–among them Martin Barre, his replacement in Jethro Tull.”
Jack Lancaster, another Blodwyn Pig co-founder, who played saxophone and flute, died earlier in 2025.
Related: Musician and celebrity deaths of 2025
Watch the Mick Abrahams Band perform “Greyhound Bus” in 1971
Blodwyn Pig recordings are available in the U.K. here and in the U.S. here.
7 Comments so far
Jump into a conversationDear Jill…
ONCE AGAIN, BCB delivers sad/shocking news 2 me of passing of beloved musician Mick Abrahams of Jethro Tull/Blodwyn Pig/Mick Abrahams Band…certainly loved Mick as guitarist for Jethro Tull THIS WAS 1st album, both BLODWYN PIG albums, and band under his name..I am reminded of discovering 1st B PIG album as I was coming back from classes @ University, and fellow was selling new unopened record albums out of crate in his car trunk…album 1st in crate was 1ST BLODWYN PIG, with hilarious pic of pig wearing headphones, black sunglasses, joint in his mouth…that cover made me buy album, a grand $2.69 then [not recalling if other albums bought @ same time)..took album immediately home & put it on turntable, being blown away by uniqueness of sound…very BIG BIG SOUND, use of horns usually not my fave, hard rocking driving sound…both BLODWYN albums some of greatest rocking tunes, and also greatest mellow beautiful tunes as well…jazz blues rock folk..I recommend all Mick’s music to be sought, listened to and loved…RIP Mick…you are loved, appreciated, will be missed..by me and all your other fans and ideally your NEW FANS finding your music…
One of the Top Ten Album Covers of ALL TIME
Blodwyn Pig
“Ahead rings Out”
I liked “This Was”- Jethro Tull the best out of the 4 albums I bought by them. It was jazzy and bluesy and had none of the excess the later albums had. By Benefit which was the last one I bought they had lost all of the jazz and blues influence Mick had brought to the band. They went on of course to be a world renowned band, very big in the States but left me behind. RIP Mick.
Yes, they lost me with Aqualung. Although the Christmas song was nice and I’m a big Dave Pegg fan so maybe I should listen to some of the folky stuff.
Little known acoustic blues solo album “One”, had Mick reuniting with Ian Anderson on four tracks with Anderson playing mandolin, harmonica and of course, flute; and is exquisite. Has Abrahams originals as well as covers of tunes by other blues artists. Can’t recommend it highly enough.