Mick Abrahams, 1st Jethro Tull Guitarist and Blodwyn Pig Founder, Dies

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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.”

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.

Watch the Mick Abrahams Band perform “Greyhound Bus” in 1971