Music News | Music Reviews + Commentary | Christmas Gifts for Musicians | New Releases | Interviews



RSS Feed For Blog Entries

John Otway – review + watch videos

By Dave Tommo on Jun 15, 2009 in Albums, Reviews and Commentary, Videos | Tags: , , , , , ,

John Otway, Wild Willy Barrett

John Otway is a name most people might not be familiar with. In his own words, he is one of music’s most successful losers. He’s been playing since 1976, starting his career with Mr. Wild Willy Barrett on guitar. They first appeared on TV’s “Old Grey Whistle Test” back in 1977-78 ish.

This video clip shows how random John’s gigs were.

I was at that gig. It was at the Portsmouth Guildhall for a music film being made called “Urgh A Music War”. I thought John looked like my girlfriend’s dad at the time. This must have been 1979, and I was bitten by the Otway bug. I found his single “The Green Green Grass Of Home” in a local record shop. A Tom Jones cover. ‘Much greener than Tom Jones’ it said on the sleeve.

John had a love hate relationship with Wild Willy. You never knew whether you were gonna get John or John and Willy at gigs.

John is still playing live and has a very loyal and dedicated fan base. It’s like I said – once you get it, you are addicted to this man’s madness. He plays Oxford every May Day at six in the morning.

Back in 2002 he asked all his fans to choose a song for him to perform on Top Of The Pops, and then got everyone to buy it so that it would chart. The song was “Bunsen Burner”. This was probably the best 50th birthday present anyone could have given John.

Watch “Bunsen Burner” video:

If you fancy a new addiction – you know, something different, go check out his website and you may find yourself starting a lifelong obsession with this chap!

John Otway on amazon.co.uk

John Otway Official Website

By: Dave Tommo



More Music: myspace.com/JennyMayMusic

Jenny May / Band Weblogs on Twitter

Search for music: Amazon.com | amazon.co.uk

  1. 1 Comment(s)

  2. By Dave on Jun 15, 2009 | Reply

    John Otway plays Newbury’s Arlington Arts on 26th June 2009. Should be a great gig…

Post a Comment





More blog entries:


« The Damned, The Alarm, Henry Cluney review – LIVE at O2 Academy Oxford
The Donnas release single, album + FREE MP3 + tour dates w/ Blondie and Pat Benatar »
Subscribe to blog entries by Email | RSS Feed
Subscribe to Band Weblogs Podcast Show by Email | RSS Feed



Trackback URL

  • --------

  • 10 things bands can do to become famous
  • 10 reasons why music blogs are great for bands
  • Bands on Twitter
  • Free online distribution for bands, musicians - music blog entries + band press releases
  • Music publicists, PR companies: READ THIS!
  • Buy Music!

  • Band Blogs/Music Blogs

    Music Blogs, Page 1
    Page 2 | Page 3 | Page 4 | Page 5 | Page 6