BOA rock music views and reviews

How can you simply describe John Otway:-

Rock and Roll's Greatest Failure?

The last of the great English eccentrics?

Rock and Roll's top “Alternative comedian”?

Or just a man desperately in love with fame.

John Otway in 1978 on the cover of the record that changed his career forever.

In case you didn’t know Otway is the proud possessor of a hit – Yes 1 hit - 20 something years ago.. And for the past two decades Otway has been touring promoting this hit. For those of you not old enough to remember, the hit was called Cor Baby that’s Really Free with a B - side of Beware of the Flowers (cause I’m sure their going to get you Yeh). It was released in 1977 at the height of the Punk movement. Wings Mull of Kintye was No.1 and St Winifred's Girls choir “singing” Grandad were number 2. Otway and Barretts hit entered with a bullet at number 27!

Since the hit Otway, with Barrett, without Barrett, with Barrett etc etc has been relentlessly touring / recording/ acting and making TV commercials, forever chasing that next big hit. The story of this quest, Otway’s autobiography “Cor Baby, That’s Really Me” is as hilarious as his stage show. Concentrating on Otway’s greatest mistakes and stunts it is now, other than the hit, the most successful thing Otway has produced.

Otway played my hometown last week with his Big Band so I took the opportunity to talk to him. The interview had, unfortunately, to be done later by E-Mail as the gig overrun.

I.O- Thanks for the great gig last Friday. It was really good seeing you with a full band line up. What a really tight band! Can you tell me a little bit about the members?

Otway- I first met Richard Holgarth when I was working with Attila the Stockbroker. Attila brought Richard in to produce the CD "Cheryl a Rock Opera" I started using Richard as guitarist in a duo show. The rest of the band were members of his old band and all from Harlow in Essex. When I needed a band Richard just brought them in. The bands been going for 7 years now without a line- up change - and we still all speak to one another - Adam Batterbee - the drummer & Murray Torkildsen -the other guitarist both play in a band called The Sweeney. Seymour is the Bass player.

I.O- What do you consider yourself first and foremost A comedian a musician/ singer -songwriter or indeed actor?

Otway -I've just done what I fancied or thought would be most successful at the time. I note you have missed out author in the question:-) I love comedy and have a problem with not going for a joke if I spot one, however serious the thing is I'm doing.

I.O- You always go down a storm at Glastonbury. Most of your audiences are now so young that they don t even remember that you had a hit. Are you disappointed that the world at large sees you foremost as a comedian?

Otway - I don't think the world at large sees me very much at all - if there's a disappointment at all it's that I wasn't much more famous, that was the goal I didn't mind too much what I was famous at. I can't complain too much I've got a degree of micro - stardom and I still think my best work is yet too be done.

I.O- Live, you have one of the biggest cult audiences in the UK and if this was translated into record sales. I am sure that you would be a well-known recording artist. Are you disappointed that your live fans still do not buy your actual records?

Otway- I've listened to these records myself - so it's, disappointed yes - Surprised no:-)

I.O - You write serious songs - Is there any one song that you would like people to sit down listen to and really appreciate Otway the songwriter instead of Otway the performer?

I.O - Did you ever get to meet the muse of Geneve again?
* A lovesick Otway, at the height of Punk, followed up his hit with a slushy orchestral love song Geneve that was dedicated to an old girlfriend that had deserted him. The single sunk without trace.

Otway- No - I still hope that someone's going to walk up at a gig and say "Hi I'm Lisa"
* So, if your out there Lisa - Please get in touch!!!

Otway- Can you remember Graham Bonnett - He covered Can't Complain. Both Les Grey (from Mud) and Rick Wakeman had a go at Geneve but the versions were never released.

I.O - Is their anyone you would like to cover one of your songs (serious or comic)? Which one?

Otway - I'd get a copy of music week and pick the best selling artist in the last five years and say - Do whatever you like.

I.O - How would you feel if somebody were to remix one of your own songs into a dance number? Maybe a re release of the hit?

Otway - I've tried it - the rhythm is a bit Rock and Roll for a dance number - Something like Telex from the All Balls and No Willy album would work better - or even Beware of the Flowers.

Otway - Katrina from Katrina and The Waves I've thought would be both fun and feasible - never followed the idea up though

I.O - Your book and your routine is now based around you being Rock and Rolls Greatest Failure. Do you ever worry that, having built up your career as such an accomplished failure, one of your singles might actually enter the charts?

I.O - Talking about the book (Highly recommended) Has this now been your greatest commercial success?

I.O - The book is based upon your greatest mistakes and self-promotional stunts. Which is your favorite stunt?

Otway - The Tent tour - which involved hyping the Charts
* In an attempt to rig the charts did gigs in towns where record shops were doing chart returns. Instead of paying admission punters could just present a copy of the single. However Otway suddenly realised that he then wasn’t earning any money on the door – So the band had to sleep at the nearest campsites.

Otway - Obviously the Hit - but I think getting my first band The Aylesbury Youth Orchestra on stage with me at the Albert Hall was pretty neat.

Otway - I started writing the Book Christmas 88 when I reached this point in my life when my career home and marriage were all visited simultaneously by catastrophe - and I realised that I was the person responsible.

Otway - Putting Beware Of the Flowers on the B side of the hit and therefore ensuring I had one hit instead of two.

I.O - Are you happy in what you do? If so, have you always been - or have you had any moments when you seriously considered getting a more sensible job?

Otway - Sensible has never been an option - Any time when I've not been happy with my work I've just done something I fancied like acting or writing - None of them sensible but they've kept me happy most of the time

I.O - Your routine of stage stunts looks quite damaging to your health. What is the worst injury that you have incurred on stage?

Otway - I once dived on to my hands from a twelve foot PA column - I lay on my back unable to feel anything from the neck down. I was lying there for what seemed an age while the band played on and the audience went wild - I remember lying there and the only thing I could think was "there was no flashes, no one got a photo of it. The feeling came back eventually and I leapt up and carried on trying to look like I'd done something clever. I don't dive from anything higher than about eight foot now.

I.O - You must be in your mid forties now. Are you having to calm your stage show?

I.O - 1993 - 2000th gig you sold out the Astoria London. There were actually touts outside the theatre... Last year you played the Royal Albert Hall. How did that feel to Rock and Rolls greatest failure?

Otway - None yet I'll think of something though. I'm thinking of doing my own Millenium festival though.

Otway - Can't see it happening – “Gig 'till you drop” And then - Hopefully the skeleton in a medical school - so students can still take the piss out of me - I've left my body to medical science for this reason

(I'm answering these questions as they come up so it cracked me up to see this one next)

I.O – How do you decide what numbers to play each night. Do you have set-list?

I.O – And the final obvious question, will there ever be yet another Otway / Barrett reunion?

Otway - I hope not - Only if I get really broke, and I hope that doesn't happen.

Otway’s site where you can purchase all his CDs and his book (This is really a must), is at http://www.doremi.co.uk/otway/