As a passionate fan of Martin Barre and admirer of his unique style of guitar playing, I am calling for his induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame under the Award for Musical Excellence.

As this category honors “artists, musicians, songwriters and producers whose originality and influence creating music have had a dramatic impact on music,” Martin Barre hits all those notes.

Widely known as the guitarist for Jethro Tull for over 43 years, Barre’s virtuosity helped propel Tull to the top of the charts and was the complementary force behind the sound and success of one of the most legendary bands in rock history.

Barre wrote and played on Jethro Tull's studio LPs from their 1969 album Stand Up to their 2003 album The Jethro Tull Christmas Album … composing and performing some of the most notable lead guitar riffs and solos in rock history.

As an artist and musician on albums that have sold over 60 million units - including 9 silver (UK), 5 gold (UK), 12 gold (USA), 2 platinum (USA) and 1 triple-platinum (USA) albums - Barre’s contribution to Tull remains undeniable and interconnected to the unique studio recordings and the stage spectacle of the band’s live shows.

Barre’s signature solo on the 1971 Jethro Tull album title-track Aqualung has been rated by critics as one of the 100 Greatest Guitar Solos in the history of rock. And in 1988, Barre earned a Grammy for his playing on the album, Crest of a Knave.

Reviewers have described Martin Barre's playing as "tricky" and "complicated," highlighting his ability to compose melodies instead of simply soloing … and his “originality and influence creating music have had a dramatic impact” on scores of musicians including Dire Straits leader Mark Knopfler, who in a 2005 interview, called Barre's work with Tull “magical.”

Other guitarists like Joe Satriani, Eric Johnson and Steve Vai also cite Martin Barre as an inspiration, and Joe Bonamassa names Martin Barre as a direct influence - especially in his blues guitar playing on Tull’s early albums. And Rush's Geddy Lee mentions the "great guitar sounds" of Martin Barre when remembering the album Thick as a Brick.

Other notable musicians who have been influenced by Barre include Iron Maiden's Steve Harris and Bruce Dickinson, Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder, Dream Theater's John Myung, W.A.S.P.'s Blackie Lawless and the Decemberists' Jenny Conlee.

In addition to performing with Jethro Tull, Barre has worked with many other notable artists including Gary Moore, Joe Bonamassa, John Wetton and Chris Thompson along with Rock & Roll Hall of Famers, Paul McCartney and Phil Collins and has shared the stage with Hall of Fame legends Jimi Hendrix, Fleetwood Mac, Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin.

In the early 1990s, Barre began a solo career and has recorded 9 studio albums and continues to tour the world with his own Martin Barre Band.

For over 50 years, Martin Barre has pushed the boundaries of multiple musical genres as one of our era’s most legendary guitarists and his originality and influence creating music has clearly had a dramatic impact on music, thereby making him worthy of the Award for Musical Excellence.

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