[Susan Foreman]

The first in an occasional series, which I am calling... "Weird segments on children's television"

"Although 'Top Of The Pops' might be the best remembered British music programme, it wasn’t the only show of it's type, particularly during the 1970s, when ITV made a series of pop shows specifically aimed at younger audiences. Chief among these was 'Supersonic', which ran between 1975-77, and featured many of the leading chart acts of the day, including Bay City Rollers, David Essex, and, Gary Glitter.

But it also featured a number of rock acts and, unlike TOTP, they weren’t forced to appear only to promote their latest chart releases.

In 1976, it was time for Jethro Tull to get down with the kids…

It was rather an odd time to do it, though, given that Tull’s live act at the time was inspired by the album 'Too Old To Rock ‘N’ Roll, Too Young To Die', a concept piece about bikes, 'birds' and booze – not exactly kiddie friendly teatime pop material. Which is probably why they chose to lead off their appearance with a perky version of their 1969 hit, 'Living In The Past'

Nevertheless, it’s still delivered with a manic exuberance. A gurning John Evan plays the claves introduction on Barrie Barlow’s be-helmeted head, while Ian Anderson is as wild-eyed as ever, his snaggle-tooth leer and pulsing temple vein liable to put any watching innocent off their fish fingers. Then Evan is let loose on the maracas, shaking them for all he’s worth and looking like he’s on the verge of some kind of episode

After that, they played 'Too Old To Rock ‘N’ Roll, Too Young To Die' and this is the point at which concerned parents around the land must have thought it would be a good idea to turn off their television sets. The song started innocently enough, with Anderson and newly recruited bassist John Glascock sharing the mic for the chorus. It’s only when Anderson produces a pint of beer that things go awry - particularly when he attempts to drink and sing at the same time.

By the end of this performance, drenched in both sweat and alcohol, Anderson looks very much like the man your mother told you not to talk to in the park – though arguably this had been his schtick from the very beginning"