Main image

Born October 2, 1952, in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire.
John Otway, self-proclaimed as 'Rock and Roll's Greatest Failure', began his assault on the music industry in the mid-1970's in partnership with one 'Wild Willy' Barrett. They reached Number 27 in 1977 with the single 'Cor Baby, That's Really Free' but Otway's most remembered for accidentally crushing his 'crown jewels' on an amplifier whilst performing a cover of the Bob Lind song 'Cheryl's Going Home' live on the BBC's 'Old Grey Whistle Test'. Aside from numerous 'on/off' stints with Barrett he has also collaborated with Attila The Stockbroker and has gained a hardcore following performing as a solo artist and also with his 'Big Band'. Some 25 years after the 'Hit' he achieved his second (and highest charting) hit with 'Bunsen Burner' (straight in at Number 9) which was achieved via a Social Media campaign and the incredible support of his fan base. In 2013 Otway premiered his biopic 'Otway - The Movie' at the Odeon, Leicester Square, which was received with critical acclaim by the media. Ever the one for clever ways to sell his records Otway has tried them all (with varying degrees of success and failure) from releasing singles without vocals to circulating discs with counterfeit WEA labels to using the sleeves as free entry to gigs. Add to this the huge deposit paid (and lost) to hire a jet to take his fans on a World Tour that never got off the ground and two autobiographies and you have a remarkable career of more than 40 years that defies belief!

ALBUMS


John Otway & The Big Band
The Set Remains The Same Live
2024, CD, Album, Gat, Red Bowler Records,
John Otway And The Big Band
Montserrat
2017
Otway* & Barrett*
The Rest Of Otway & Barrett
2014, CD, Comp, Not On Label (John Otway Self-released)
John Otway
A John Otway Christma5
2014, CD, Maxi, Not On Label (John Otway Self-released), ,
Pop Rock
John Otway
Otway The Movie
2013
Otway* & Barrett*
40 ODD Years 1971-2011
2011, CD, Comp, Not On Label (John Otway Self-released)
Ben Reel (2), Jud Charlton, John Otway With Lineage
Scoring Goals
2008, CD, EP, Message Parlour Records
Splodge* & Otway*
No Offence
2008
John Otway And Wild Willy Barrett
Strung Together
2007, DVD, Comp, PAL, Living Beat, ,
Pop Rock
John Otway
The Patron Saint Of Losers
2007, 2x CD, ,
Pop Rock
The Hamsters / Wilko Johnson / John Otway
The Mad, The Bad & The Dangerous
2006, DVD, Ltd, Not On Label, ,
Country Rock/Modern Electric Blues/Pub Rock/Rhythm & Blues/Rock & Roll
John Otway
Bunsen Burner The Album
2006, CD, Comp, Amazing Feet Records, ,
Pop Rock
John Otway
The Ultimate And Pen-Ultimate
2006, 2xCD, Comp, Microstar (2)
John Otway
Ot-Air
2004, CD, Album, Microstar (2)
John Otway
Scraps
2003, 3xCD, Comp, Not On Label (John Otway Self-released), ,
Pop Rock
John Otway
The Cube
2003, VHS, Comp, PAL, Microstar (2)
Otway*
The Year Of The Hit
2002, CD, Comp, U-Vibe
John Otway
Abbey Road: Otway Sessions
2002, CDr, CD-ROM, Comp, U-Vibe
John Otway
Greatest Hits
2002
John Otway
Bunsen Burner
2002
John Otway & The Big Band
The Set Remains The Same
2000, CD, Album, Enh, Otway Records, ,
Pop Rock
John Otway & The Aylesbury Youth Orchestra Featuring The Big Band
John Otway & The Aylesbury Youth Orchestra featuring the Big Band
1999, CD, EP, Otway Records, ,
Classical
John Otway
Back From The Bin
1998, CD, Comp, Promo, Not On Label, ,
Pop Rock
Otway* & Barrett*
Way & Bar + The Wimp & The Wild
1998, CD, Comp, The Music Corporation, ,
Folk Rock/New Wave/Folk
John Otway & The Big Band
The Really Free Show
1997, VHS, Album, PAL, Not On Label (John Otway Self-released)
John Otway
All Balls & No Willy + Where Did I Go Right?
1996
John Otway
'Delilah' - The Otway Sings Jones E.P.
1995, CD, EP, Strike Back Records, ,
Pop Rock
John Otway
Premature Adulation
1995
John Otway
In Conversation
1994, VHS, Comp, PAL, Not On Label (John Otway Self-released)
John Otway And The Big Band
Live!
1993, CD, Album, Amazing Feet Records
John Otway And The Big Band
Live At The Square, Harlow
1993, VHS, PAL, Not On Label
John Otway & Wild Willy Barrett
John Otway & Wild Willy Barrett / Deep And Meaningless
1993, ,
Folk Rock
John Otway
Two Little Boys
1992, CD, Maxi, John Otway Records
John Otway
Under The Covers And Over The Top
1992, ,
Pop Rock
MC Trainspotter And The Platform 2 Live Crew / John Otway
Boys In The Hood (Trainspotter Rap) / Cheryl
1991, 7", Single, Strike Back Records
John Otway with Ronnie Caryl
Live At The Fleece And Firkin Bristol 19/12/90
1991, Cass, Album, Not On Label (John Otway Self-released)
Attila* & Otway*
Cheryl - A Rock Opera
1991
John Otway, Wild Willy Barrett
Otway & Barrett Live
1990, VHS, Album, PAL, Strike Back Films
John Otway
Cor Baby, That's Really Me!
1990, ,
Pop Rock
Otway* & Barrett*
The Wimp & The Wild
1989, LP, Album, VM Records, ,
Pop Rock
John Otway
Whoops Apocalypse
1987, 7", Single, WEA
Otway* & Barrett*
Last Of The Mohicans
1987, 7", Single, VM Records, ,
Pop Rock
John Otway
Nearly Free Video E.P.
1986, VHS, P/Mixed, PAL, Not On Label
John Otway
"Yawto" Sings - John Otway's Gleatest Hits
1986
John Otway
The New Jerusalem
1986, Vinyl, ,
Pop Rock
John Otway & Wild Willy Barrett
The Definitive Anthology 1977-1982
1985, 2xCass, Comp, Not On Label,
John Otway
Mass Communication
1983, 7", Single, Gre, Empire Records (13), ,
Pop Rock
John Otway
Middle Of Winter
1983
John Otway
All Balls & No Willy
1982, LP, Album, Empire Records (13), ,
Pop Rock
John Otway
In Dreams (Funeral Wake Party Mix)
1982, 7", Single, Empire Records (13)
John Otway & Wild Willy Barrett
12 Stitch
1982
John Otway
The Turning Point
1981
John Otway & Wild Willy Barrett
I Did It Otway
1981
John Otway & Wild Willy Barrett
Headbutts
1981, ,
New Wave
John Otway & Wild Willy Barrett
Gone With The Bin - The Best Of Otway And Barrett
1981
Otway* And Barrett*
Birthday Boy
1980, 7", Single, Polydor, Polydor, ,
Pop Rock
John Otway
The John Otway EP
1980, 7", EP, M/Print, Stiff Records
Otway* & Barrett*
DK 50/80
1980
John Otway
The John Otway EP
1980
John Otway
Green, Green Grass Of Home
1980, ,
Pop Rock
John Otway & Wild Willy Barrett
Way & Bar
1980
John Otway
Deep Thought
1980
John Otway
Where Did I Go Right?
1979
John Otway
Frightened And Scared
1979
John Otway
Baby's In The Club
1978, Vinyl, ,
Pop Rock
John Otway
Geneve
1978, ,
Pop Rock
John Otway & Wild Willy Barrett
Deep & Meaningless
1978, ,
Folk Rock
John Otway & Wild Willy Barrett
John Otway & Wild Willy Barrett
1977, ,
Folk Rock
John Otway And Wild Willy Barrett
Cor Baby That's Really Free!
1977
John Otway & Wild Willy Barrett
Racing Cars (Jet Spotter Of The Track)
1977, ,
Pop Rock
Otway* & Barrett*
Live At The Roundhouse
1977
John Otway & Wild Willy Barrett
Louisa On A Horse
1976, 7", Single, Track Record
John Otway
Louisa On A Horse
1976, 7", Single, Viking Records (10), ,
Pop Rock
John Otway and Wild Willy Barrett
Murder Man
1973
John Otway
Misty Mountain / Gypsy
1972, 7", Single, Mono, County Recording Service, County Recording Service, ,
Pop Rock
John* & Willie*
Misty Mountain
1972, Acetate, 7", S/Sided, Not On Label
Various
A Hard Nights Day - 45 Classic Singles - A History Of Stiff Records
1997, 2x Cassette, ,
Punk/New Wave/Hard Rock/Pop Rock/Synth-pop
Various
The Stiff Records Box Set
1992, 4x CD, Box Set, ,
Alternative Rock/Punk/Pub Rock/New Wave/Pop Rock/Synth-pop/Power Pop/Reggae/Rock & Roll/Ska/Soft Rock/Folk Rock/Country Rock/Blues Rock/Rockabilly
The Crowd
You'll Never Walk Alone
1985, Vinyl Damont Pressing, ,
Synth-pop

APPEARANCES +


John Otway
Beware Of The Flowers - John Otway Live
2004, DVD, Cherry Red Films
Krissy Matthews
Krissy Matthews & Friends
2024, 2x Vinyl Gatefold, ,
Blues Rock
Alan Clayson And The Argonauts*
This Cannot Go On.........
2017, CD, Album, Rush Release (3)
Graham Bonnet
Graham Bonnet / No Bad Habits
2016, ,
Pop Rock/Blues Rock
The Ukulele Orchestra Of Great Britain
(Ever Such) Pretty Girls
2015, CD, Album, Not On Label (The Ukulele Orchestra Of Great Britain Self-released),
Various
Sex Drugs And HIV
2014, 2x CD, DVD, ,
Punk/Post-Punk/Pop Rock/Folk Rock/Space Rock/Shoegaze/Goth Rock/Hard Rock/Ska/Alternative Rock/Indie Rock/Garage Rock
Various
The Old Grey Whistle Test (Live)
2012, 3xCD, Comp, BBC, Rhino Records (2), ,
Classic Rock/Pop Rock/Country Rock/Folk Rock/Hard Rock/New Wave/Punk/Mod
Various
I'll Give You My Heart I'll Give You My Heart (The Cherry Red Records Singles Collection 1978-1983)
2008, 8xCD, Comp + Box, Cherry Red, ,
New Wave/Punk/Indie Rock
The Ruts Featuring Henry Rollins
London 16th July 2007
2007, 2xDVD-V, Ltd, PAL, Not On Label, ,
Punk/Dub/Acoustic/Roots Reggae
Eberg
The Twinkle Tune
2006, CD, Promo, Instant Karma
Various
Ambition Volumes 1 & 2 - The History Of Cherry Red Records 1978 – 1988
2005, 2x CD, ,
Alternative Rock/Leftfield/Indie Rock/Punk/Avantgarde/New Wave/Experimental
Eberg
DreamChild
2004, CD, Single, Rotator,
John Shuttleworth
Radio Shuttleworth 2
2003, 2xCD, Comp, Chic Ken
Ollie Halsall
Caves
1999, CD, Album, Market Square
Various
Instrumentally Yours
1993
Tough At The Top
Johnny B. Rotten
1988, 7", Single, Roundblack Records
Tough At The Top
Johnny B. Rotten
1988, 7", Promo, Roundblack Records, ,
Pub Rock
Johnny Japes And His Jesticles
Bags Of Fun With Buster
1987, 7", Single, Fulchester Records
Various
Urgh! A Music War
1984, DVD MOD DVD, Widescreen, 16x9, 1.85:1, Dolby, ,
New Wave/Roots Reggae/Punk/Art Rock/Synth-pop
Morgan - Fisher*
Seasons
1983
Tommy Keenan
Telling It Like It Is
1981, LP, Black Eye, ,
Folk
Various
URGH! A Music War
1981, LP, Album, Promo, Smplr, A&M Records
Various
URGH! A Music War
1981, 2x Vinyl, ,
New Wave/Psychobilly/Punk/Synth-pop
Various
The Last Stiff Compilation
1980, Vinyl, ,
New Wave/Punk/Post-Punk
Janne "Loffe" Carlsson*
Strikt Kommersiell
1980, Vinyl,
Various
Miniatures (A Sequence Of Fifty-One Tiny Masterpieces Edited By Morgan-Fisher)
1980, Vinyl Red label, ,
Abstract/Poetry/Experimental/Comedy/Minimal/Parody
Morgan - Fisher*
Genève
1979, 7", Single, Cherry Red
Wild Willy Barrett
Call Of The Wild
1979, LP, Album, Polydor
Graham Bonnet
Can't Complain
1979, LP, Comp, Mercury, ,
Pop Rock
Various
BBC TV's Best Of... Top Of The Pops Vol. 6
1978, LP, Comp, Super Beeb Records,
Graham Bonnet
Can't Complain
1978
Various
20 Of Another Kind
1978, ,
New Wave/Punk
Graham Bonnet
No Bad Habits
1978,
Various
Miniatures 2020
2021, 2xCD, Comp, The 62nd Gramophone Company, ,
Abstract/Alternative Rock/Avantgarde/Chanson/Contemporary Jazz/Leftfield
Various
The Cherry Red Records Singles Collection Part Eight
2013, 23xFile, MP3, Comp, VBR, Cherry Red, ,
Indie Pop/Indie Rock/Post-Punk/New Wave/Synth-pop/Experimental
Various
Dirty Water 2: More Birth Of Punk Attitude
2011, 2x CD, ,
Punk
The Coodabeen Champions
Cut From A Different Cloth
2008, CD, Comp, ABC Music
Various
Miniatures One+Two
2008, CD, CD, All Media, ,
Spoken Word/Abstract/Poetry/Experimental/Comedy/Minimal
Barry Upton
The Greatest Barry Upton Hits Album In The World... Ever!
2007, 2xCD, Album, Comp, Promo, Cordella Music
Various
Classic Cuts 66 - Punk/New Wave
2006, CD, ,
Punk/New Wave
Marillion
Wish You Were Here
2005, ,
Prog Rock
Various
Pepsi Chart 2003
2002, 2xCD, Comp, Virgin, Virgin, Box Music (3), ,
Europop/Eurodance/Trance/Rhythm & Blues/Pop Punk
The Young Ones
Every Stoopid Episode
2002, 3xDVD-V, BBC Video, ,
Comedy
Various
I Love 2 Party 2003
2002, 2x CD, ,
Dance-pop/Disco/Europop/New Wave/Pop Rock
Various
The Old Grey Whistle Test
2001, Box Set Gatefold Digipak, 2x DVD 4:3, Region 0, ,
Alternative Rock/Rock & Roll/Pop Rock/Reggae/Country/Punk/Soul/Ska
Various
A Hard Nights Day - 45 Classic Singles - A History Of Stiff Records
1997, 2x CD, ,
Punk/New Wave/Hard Rock/Pop Rock/Synth-pop
Various
Anarchy The Best Of Punk
1993, CD, Comp, Nectar, ,
Punk
Various
The Stiff Records Box Set
1992, 4x CD, Box Set, ,
Folk Rock/Reggae/Pop Rock/Country Rock/Rock & Roll/Blues Rock/Punk/New Wave/Soft Rock/Power Pop/Ska/Rockabilly/Pub Rock
Various
Revolution No. 9 (A Tribute To The Beatles In Aid Of Cambodia)
1991
Various
Both Sides Live (Part 1 UK)
1984, VHS, PAL, Peppermint Video Music, ,
New Wave/Post-Punk/Experimental/Electro/Synth-pop
Kid Jensen
New Product Promotions
1982, Cass, Album, Comp, Promo, Smplr, New Product Promotions
Various
URGH! A Music War
1982, Laserdisc, ,
New Wave/Roots Reggae/Punk/Art Rock/Synth-pop
Various
The Last Stiff Compilation
1980, ,
New Wave/Punk
Various
Top Of The Pops-687
1978, LP, Transcription, BBC Transcription Services, BBC Transcription Services, ,
Classic Rock/New Wave/Public Broadcast
Various
Jem Records Presents: Free Festival / The Jem Import Sampler No. 4
1977, LP, Comp, Promo, Smplr, Jem Records, ,
Punk/Pop Rock
Various
Top Of The Pops-685
1977, LP, Transcription, BBC Transcription Services, BBC Transcription Services
Various
Polydor Sampler
2xLP, Album, Comp, Promo, Smplr, W/Lbl, Polydor,
Various
Rockinbeerfest - The Early Years Compilation
CD, RBF Festival Ltd
Various
The Exotic Beatles - Part One
CD, ,
Alternative Rock/Spoken Word/Indie Rock/Pop Rock/Novelty/Parody/Beat
Various
The Bambi Chronicles (The Young Ones Unofficial Soundtrack)
2023, LP, Comp, Unofficial, American Vinyl Co., ,
Soundtrack
Various
Revolution No. 9
1991, CD Obi, ,
Alternative Rock/Pop Rock/Indie Rock
Marillion
Fish Out Of Water - Rarities Part 3
1986, LP, Unofficial, Northlake Records
Various
20 Of Another Kind
,
New Wave/Post-Punk/Punk