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It's all in this song. Just skip to 2:20:

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Hey Jethro Tull live is pretty good, saw it on Direct TV.

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Yeah, I love them. A lot. The question is, do you think they're metal?

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Love the Tull, but they're not metal

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Can you back it up?

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Bump, cuz I want people to discuss this.

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I think the burden of proof actually lies on you, Rory. I'd wager that far more people wouldn't ascent to the claim that Jethro Tull is metal than those who would.

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Ok, that's fair. I think they're metal because they have the complexity of metal, which most rock and roll lacks. Their music is in the time-frame of other music that has been retroactively labeled heavy metal. They've taken a lot of influence from European folk, and their riffing fits the mold that I generally associate with prog metal.

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How about artistic intent? Has Jethro Tull or any of its members (are they still active? I don't know) self-identified the group as a metal band?

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I don't know. Has Ritchie Blackmore ever told the world that Rainbow is a heavy metal band?

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I did some research for you. According to the bio on their website, they actually stay away from labeling themselves. In a few instancesy they elude to a style (i.e. blues-oriented, "more sophisticated and evolved stylistic extravagance was far from the Pop and Rock norm"). Perhaps the most accurate is at the end of the bio when they say their sound appeals to "fans, young and old, [of] Rock, Folk, Jazz and Classical-inspired music for grown-ups." Metal isn't expressely mentioned anywhere in the bio. Perhaps the subject may have been broached in an interview...

Also, they are still active.

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Well, is that a critical point in determining whether or not we can call them a metal band?

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I think it should be given due consideration. I'd it's far from unimportant.

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No doubt. But since we've established that their expressed intent wasn't to create heavy metal, my question is, is that a determining factor? I don't think Rainbow was trying to create metal when they recorded "Rising", but we still label it such.

And can't the other facts outweigh that single point?

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I think that if you can consider Deep Purple is metal, you can say Jethro Tull is too.  BUT, I consider both bands rock.