Jethro Tull's David becomes a woman

Evening Standard ^ | 23 January 2004 | Humfrey Hunter

[presidio9]

A former member of legendary Seventies band Jethro Tull has had a sex-change operation and become a woman called Dee.

Keyboard player David Palmer has shed the beard seen during the band's most successful years, and now has long blonde hair, along with make-up and black leggings.

Palmer, 66, a former soldier in the Royal Horse Guards and Fellow of the Royal Academy of Music, is now set to embark on a solo career. She said: "I want to be judged on my musical ability alone, and nothing else."

Her desire to change sex had been an "open secret" in the music business for many years, she said, but she did not go ahead with the operation until the death of wife Margaret nine years ago.

Palmer lives in Hove, East Sussex, but is currently in the Spanish resort of Lanzarote, recording her first solo album before launching a British tour next month.

She said: "I've felt like this since the age of three. It's not just wimps who want to do this. To be a girl, it goes a lot deeper than that. Yes, you are speaking to the person you thought I was - the keyboard player in Jethro Tull."

Her friends and family have supported her decision, she claimed. But one family friend said: "That's not true. It's not that anyone is prejudiced. It's just the way he's gone about things. He doesn't seem to appreciate the massive impact this is going to have on his family."

However Ian Anderson, Jethro Tull's frontman, stood by his former bandmate, saying: "I found it difficult at first but I fully support his decision."

Anderson finally accepted the news when Palmer rang him to say: "There's something I need to get off my increasingly ample chest."

Jethro Tull was formed in 1968 and had a string of hits including Living In The Past and Teacher. Palmer left the band in 1980, returning to film, advertising and session work. He was a highly-regarded orchestral arranger before joining Jethro Tull and orchestrated the Beatles album Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.

[Cardini]

Hey are you Jim Noble of Noble Systems?

All I can say about this issue is HELLO!

[sarasota]

When your chromosomes say you're a man, I'm gonna call you a "he". Your body knows which gender you are, man.

[presidio9]

Jethro Tull is not the name of a guy in a band.

Yeah. I know.

[joesnuffy]

Kinda shoots that ole frog saying : Viva la differance

[N. Theknow]

HE did not change HIS sex. HE just de-tooled and became a mutilated male.

Changing from a goesinta to a goesonta doesn't qualify as anything more than that.

[Revolting cat!]

Jethro Tull is not the name of a guy in a band.

Yeah, we know. It's the drummer's name!
To quote Chet Baker, "a good drummer is better than no drummer at all!"

[gathersnomoss]

I'll go check. George Martin was my recollection also.

[Dick Vomer]

Well let's Bungle in the Jungle... well that's all right with me.

I'm a tiger when I want love, but I'm a snake if we disagree

[radiohead]

Ian Anderson, Jethro Tull's frontman

I met Ian Anderson years ago in the Holiday Inn parking lot. I had tickets for a Tull concert that was cancelled on very short notice (we were already at the venue).

I'd heard that the Stones stayed at the nearest Holiday Inn and I figured Tull would probably do the same. (obviously this was many years ago. I'm sure Jagger hasn't seen the inside of a Holiday Inn for years.)

Anyway, Ian and the boys were in the parking lot. Turns out they had arrived but their gear truck had broken down on the road. Did the typical fan thing, had a short chat, got some autographs, found out Ian is short.

[zx2dragon]

When your chromosomes say you're a man, I'm gonna call you a "he". Your body knows which gender you are, man.

Oh, really? What if it's XXY? How will you address me?

[sarasota]

I don't know what you're talking about but I'm listening.

[GSWarrior]

[zx2dragon]

Look up the term intersexed on your favourite search engine.

[Revolting cat!]

What if it's XXY? How will you address me?

Mr X?

[ItsOurTimeNow]

"And your wise men don't know
how if feeee-eee-eeee-eeeeels
to be sick
with no d**k."

[wiseone]

rock star 66 now sex change to a SHEILA!!

I don’t know what is uglier, an english rock star or a transvestite ??

What is it with the english and their faggotry?
Is it the church of england?
Private schools?
Fish n chips??

[zx2dragon]

LOL!