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Mick Abrahams, original Jethro Tull<\/a> guitarist and founder\u00a0of blues rock band Blodwyn Pig,\u00a0died Friday\u00a0at 82.<\/p>\n Martin Barre<\/a>, who succeeded Abrahams in Jethro Tull and\u00a0played with the band until its dissolution in 2011, posted a tribute to\u00a0his\u00a0predecessor on Facebook<\/a>.<\/p>\n “My friend and mentor Mick Abrahams has passed,” Barre wrote. “He was so nice to me and that is something I will never forget! What a magnificent guitar player who gave us so much! Rest in peace.”<\/p>\n READ MORE:<\/strong> Jethro Tull Albums Ranked Worst to Best<\/a><\/p>\n Born on April 7, 1943 in Luton, Bedfordshire, England, Abrahams co-founded\u00a0Jethro Tull in 1967 alongside vocalist Ian Anderson<\/a>, bassist Glenn Cornick and drummer Clive Bunker. He played on the band’s debut album,\u00a0This Was<\/em>, released in October 1968.<\/p>\n Abrahams’ tenure with Jethro Tull was short-lived. He left the band in December 1968, in part because of disagreements over the band’s musical direction. Abrahams brought prominent blues rock and jazz fusion elements to the group, while future releases would feature Jethro Tull’s classic mix of prog and folk rock.<\/p>\n Following his departure from Jethro Tull, Abrahams formed the blues rock band Blodwyn Pig. They released two albums, 1969’s\u00a0Ahead Rings Out<\/em> and 1970’s\u00a0Getting to This<\/em>, both of which reached the Top 10 on the UK Albums Chart.<\/p>\n \u201cWe could hold our own with any company,” Abrahams told\u00a0Prog<\/a><\/em> in 2018.\u00a0“It didn\u2019t bother us if we were put on the bill with Crimson<\/a> or Zeppelin<\/a>. Nothing changed for us, and nothing phased us.\u201d<\/p>\nMick Abrahams’ Early Career: Jethro Tull and Blodwyn Pig Success<\/h3>\n