Glenn Cornick

Glenn Douglas Barnard Cornick (23 April 1947 – 28 August 2014) was the first bass guitar player in the progressive rock band, Jethro Tull.

Cornick played bass in a number of bands before joining Jethro Tull, including Jailbreakers, The Vikings, Formula One, The Hobos, The Executives, and John Evan's Smash, and was one of Tull's founding members, playing with both virtuosity and strong presence in their music. He left the group in 1970, after the release of their third album, Benefit, then founded his own band, Wild Turkey.

He also played in the German band Karthago, and with Bob Welch' Paris.

Wild Turkey

We were a pretty good band but we probably should have spent more time working on improving ourselves.

After leaving Jethro Tull, Cornick formed Wild Turkey in 1971, initially with: Graham Williams (guitar), Alan 'Tweke' Lewis (guitar), John "Pugwash" Weathers (ex-Pete Brown & Piblokto!) (drums) and Gary Pickford-Hopkins (ex-Eyes of Blue) on vocals; but Weathers and Williams left to join Graham Bond's Magick before Wild Turkey recorded any material - soon after, Weathers joined the progressive rock band Gentle Giant. They were replaced by Jon Blackmore (guitar and vocals) and Jeff Jones (ex-Man) (drums) who joined Cornick, Tweke and Gary to record Wild Turkey's first album Battle Hymn - which only reached number 193 in The Billboard 200.[3] The album was promoted on UK and US tours supporting Black Sabbath, Tony Iommi having briefly played with Cornick in Jethro Tull. About the concerts with Black Sabbath, Glenn stated: "It was great fun but didn't do much for our careers."[2]

In 1972 Mick Dyche replaced Jon Blackmore, Steve Gurl joined on keyboards and the band recorded their second albumTurkey. Early in 1974, Lewis left to join Man and Wild Turkey continued with one guitar player until Bernie Marsden joined. Kevin Currie then replaced Jones on drums, and three new tracks appeared on a four disc sampler Don't Dare to Forget. When Pickford-Hopkins left to join Rick Wakeman, it was decided to disband Wild Turkey in June 1974. Gurl and Marsden joined Babe Ruth.

About the disbanding of Wild Trukey, Glenn Cornick said: "After 4 years of playing together with no real success, when Gary left, it seemed hopeless to start again. I think we were all ready for a change."

Karthago and Paris

Cornick then joined the German band, Karthago (not to be confused with the Hungarian band of the same name), with whom he recorded just one album Rock'N'Roll Testament before leaving to form Paris with guitarist Bob Welch (ex-Fleetwood Mac) and Thom Mooney (ex-Nazz) on drums. They recorded an eponymous album Paris in 1975, before Mooney was replaced by Hunt Sales (ex-Todd Rundgren's Runt), and in 1976 recorded Big Towne, 2061.[4] When Paris disbanded in 1977, Cornick moved to the US where he currently resides.

Wild Turkey again, the 1990s and recent work

In the mid 1990s Wild Turkey reformed to make an album, Stealer of Years, and perform at two Jethro Tull 'conventions'. Cornick (bass) was rejoined by Pickford-Hopkins (vocals), and Lewis (guitar) with new member Brian Thomas on drums. About this album, Glenn said that: "It really isn't a Wild Turkey album and has no continuity with the previous albums. It isn't bad, it's just not my style of music though there are a couple of high points on it. I think Gary's vocal on 'Gunslinger' is the best vocal he ever did and I think that 'St Catherine's Bells' is probably the best song I have ever written."

In 1996, Cornick participated in a Jethro Tull tribute, called To Cry You A Song - A collection of Tull Tales, playing on the songs "Nothing Is Easy", "To Cry You a Song", "New Day Yesterday", "Teacher" and "Living in the Past", together with the former Tull members Clive Bunker, Mick Abrahams and Dave Pegg, together with John Wetton, Glenn Hughes, Robby Steinhardt, Wolfstone and Keith Emerson.

In the early 2000s two live albums were released, and in 2006 the fourth studio album, You and Me in the Jungle, was recorded by Cornick, Pickford-Hopkins, Dyche and Gurl, who had all appeared on earlier albums. They were joined by Graham Williams (ex-Racing Cars) (guitar), John "Pugwash" Weathers (percussion) and Clive Bunker (ex-Jethro Tull) (drums) all of whom had played with Cornick in the past.

With the death of Gary Pickford-Hopkins, a reunion of Wild Turkey became impossible.

Cornick died in Hilo, Hawaii on 29 August 2014 due to congestive heart failure. Jethro Tull band-mate Ian Anderson paid tribute on the band's website.

Discography

With Jethro Tull

• This Was (1968)
• Stand Up (1969)
• Benefit (1970)
• Living in the Past (1972 compilation)
• Nothing is Easy - Live at the Isle of Wight (1970 - released in 2004)

With Wild Turkey

• Battle Hymn (1971)
• Turkey (1972)
• Don't Dare To Forget (1974) (3 new tracks on a 4 disc sampler)
• Stealer of Years (1996)
• Final Performance (2000)
• Live In Edinburgh (2001)
• You & Me in the Jungle (2006)

With Karthago

• Rock 'N' Roll Testament (1975) Bellaphon 288-09-036

With Paris

• Paris (1976) - Zoom Club ZCRCD56
• Big Towne, 2061 (1976) - Zoom Club ZCRCD62