Otway & Barrett - Celebrating fifty years of music and mayhem

Otway and Barrett initially emerged from the acoustic, roots, and folk genres, with Otway drawing significant inspiration from early Bob Dylan. During their early gigs, Otway performed on the folk circuit, while Willy Barrett gained a notable reputation within the folk scene of the early '70s. Willy's talents were recognized on The Contemporary Folk Guitar album, alongside esteemed musicians such as Bert Jansch, John Renbourn, Gordon Giltrap, and Ralph McTell. He also graced the stage multiple times at the prestigious Cambridge Folk Festival and worked as a guitarist with George Hamilton IV.
However, Otway & Barrett's distinctive blend of grungy, fast-paced fiddle, banjo, and guitar, accompanied by their harmonious yet contrasting vocals, eventually became associated with the punk rock/new wave genre.
Since their initial performances in 1971, the duo has experienced numerous splits and reunions. The iconic debut album, "John Otway & Wild Willy Barrett," was produced and featured performances by Pete Townshend of The Who.
One particularly memorable moment occurred during a legendary performance on the Old Grey Whistle Test, where Otway's failed amplifier leap resulted in a painful crash onto his most sensitive parts. Despite the discomfort, the incident propelled their song "Really Free" to become a Top 20 hit and secured appearances on Top of the Pops.
Over the years, Otway & Barrett have headlined numerous festivals, including a noteworthy gig at Aylesbury Market Square, where over 10,000 fans attended. This event was filmed for the ITV documentary "Stardust Man," shedding light on Otway's previous occupation as a dustbin man.
Otway's career highlights include headlining the Reading Rock Festival and making numerous appearances at Glastonbury. Wild Willy Barrett remains a regular performer at the esteemed Cambridge Folk Festival. Additionally, the duo performed on the main stage at Cropredy and entertained a crowd of 150,000 while supporting The Police in Toronto.
Their success on the charts has been somewhat sporadic. In 1980, a BBC cameraman's dispute resulted in the cancellation of Otway & Barrett's scheduled Top of the Pops performance for their single "DK50/80," causing it to drop out of the charts. The BBC also banned their single "Headbutts." However, Otway enjoyed a Top 10 hit in 2002 with "Bunsen Burner," which he performed during one of the final episodes of Top of the Pops.
Recently, Otway celebrated his 5000th gig, a testament to his enduring popularity and the duo's cult following. Their stage shows are characterized by an enduring, hilarious, and utterly entertaining live performance. Barrett showcases his incredible talent as a musician and his knack for humor, effortlessly transitioning from Django Reinhardt-style playing to punk rock. He demonstrates his versatility by playing blues slide guitar with an egg and using a hacksaw and claw hammer to strum the classical guitar (usually owned by Otway). Otway, on the other hand, is a brilliant songwriter, and their sets encompass a range of musical styles, encompassing beautiful ballads, grunge-folk-punk tunes, and their well-known hits such as "Bunsen Burner," "Really Free," "Geneva," and the seminal "Beware of the Flowers ('Cos I'm Sure They're Going to Get You Yeah!)."
Interestingly, in 2000, "Beware of the Flowers" was voted the seventh favorite lyric in the BBC National Poetry Day poll, ranking higher than The Beatles' "Yesterday," which came in sixth.
#otway #johnotway #music

[@user-ir3ob9nk2e]

Myself and some mates got to see John in Belfast many years ago, and, despite a bomb scare, John went on to play a Stormer.

[@user-kp8jx6ot7i]

A thoroughly enjoyable video & gig (yes I was there at Otford Memorial Hall) - wearing my teeshirt from his Lockdown performances!

[@Britclip]

Well done Cathy - Thanks for your comments.