Ian Anderson Explains Why He Apologized To Alice Cooper

Jethro Tull’s Ian Anderson recently joined Artists On Record for an interview and admitted apologizing to Alice Cooper after an embarrassing moment at the Grammys.

In 1998, the National Academy Of Recording Arts And Sciences added a category for the 31st Grammy Awards, named ‘Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance.’ The nominees were AC/DC’s ‘Blow Up Your Video,’ Iggy Pop’s ‘Colf Metal,’ Jane’s Addiction’s ‘Nothing’s Shocking,’ Jethro Tull’s ‘Crest Of A Knave,’ and Metallica’s ‘…And Justice For All.’

When the winner was announced, many got surprised by this decision as Jethro Tull’s sound wasn’t part of the heavy metal music genre. Fans and music critics thought that Metallica would win the award. Even Jethro Tull’s manager told them not to attend the ceremony. However, Jethro Tull’s ‘Crest Of A Knave’ ended up winning.

Alice Cooper and Lita Ford presented Jethro Tull with the award during the Grammys. When Cooper and Ford announced Jethro Tull’s win, the audience began booing because they thought Metallica would win the prize. According to Anderson, Alice Cooper felt pretty awkward, which was the worst moment of his life.

In a recent interview with Artists On Record Starring Adika, Ian Anderson remembered when this incident occurred. He stated that his wife came across Alice Cooper in an airport, and he apologized to Cooper for that awful and embarrassing moment. Anderson then said Cooper didn’t seem to mind too much about that.

During the conversation, Ian Anderson said the following:

“I met Alice Cooper for the one and only time many years later. My wife actually had met him in an airport when she was wandering around the shopping area. She came across Alice Cooper and dragged him back to the British Airways lounge to say hello.

The first thing I did was to say, ‘Listen, the first thing I got to say is that I really must apologize for that awful, embarrassing moment when you had to step up to accept a Grammy award on our behalf. You were met with catcalls, boos, hisses, and general disapproval.’ I said, ‘I’m so sorry. It must have been embarrassing and awful. But thanks for doing that.’ I can’t remember what he said. He didn’t seem to mind too much.”

You can watch the interview below.