John Otway live at The Marr’s Bar, Worcester
Friday 19th January 2024
Doors 8:00pm
£15 in advance
Crafting Notoriety Through Eccentric Charm and Unforgettable Mishaps!
John Otway, an English singer-songwriter, has cultivated a substantial cult following by touring extensively, infusing his performances with a surreal sense of humor, and adopting a self-deprecating underdog persona.
It wasn’t until 1977, amid the punk movement, that Otway’s aspirations for fame and fortune materialized. His appearance on the BBC’s Old Grey Whistle Test, where he spontaneously leaped onto his colleague’s amplifier during a performance, became a memorable moment, capturing the audience’s attention. Despite the mishap, the incident propelled Otway into the spotlight. His sixth single, the partly spoken love song “Really Free,” surged in popularity, reaching number 27 on the UK Singles Chart. An appearance on Top of the Pops solidified his status as a star, marking a pinnacle in his career.
Despite subsequent attempts to re-enter the charts, Otway had to wait 25 years for another taste of chart success. In the interim, he ventured into acting, authored an autobiography titled “Cor Baby That’s Really Me: Rock and Roll’s Greatest Failure,” and performed sold-out shows at prestigious venues like London’s Astoria and Royal Albert Hall. Otway also made regular appearances at Glastonbury and Edinburgh Festivals and earned the distinction of having the nation’s seventh favorite lyric of all time, surpassing legends like Bob Dylan and Paul Simon.
In 2002, Otway realized his desire for a second hit with the disco pastiche “Bunsen Burner,” reaching number 9 on the charts. Despite a collapsed world tour, Otway continued extensive gigging around the UK either with his band, as a duo with Wild Willy Barrett, or solo. His follow-up autobiography in 2010, titled “I Did It Otway: Regrets I’ve Had a Few,” chronicled his experiences.
To celebrate his 60th birthday in 2012, Otway created his debut movie, “Otway the Movie: The Story of Rock n Roll’s Greatest Failure.” The film, showcasing scenes from its premiere on the red carpet, premiered at the Cannes Film Festival and toured cinemas in the UK and North America. It garnered recognition, being voted the second-best film of the year by readers of The Guardian newspaper.
In 2022, Otway achieved another milestone by receiving an Honorary Doctorate from Oxford Brookes University, officially becoming Dr. Otway.
