John Otway

The Boileroom, Guildford.

John Otway
Tickets total -
Transaction fee £1.25

Under 16s must be accompanied by an adult. We cannot issue refunds to under 16s who are not accompanied by an adult.

Ticket type Cost (face value)? Quantity
GENERAL ADMISSION £24.15 (£21.50)
Tickets total -
Transaction fee £1.25
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More information about John Otway tickets

John Otway remains one of Britain's most enduring cult figures-an eccentric singer-songwriter whose career has thrived on near-misses and unwavering devotion. Bursting onto the scene in the late 1970s with the chaotic charm of his hit "Really Free," he built a reputation not through chart dominance but through sheer persistence and theatrical unpredictability. Otway's performances feel part comedy, part confession, delivered with a disarming sincerity that keeps audiences fiercely loyal. His self-proclaimed status as "rock and roll's greatest failure" only strengthened his legend, turning setbacks into mythology. Decades on, he stands as a testament to resilience, originality, and unapologetic enthusiasm.

From the age of 9, John Otway knew he wanted to be a pop star. But even at that young age, having listened to his sister's Beatles and Stones records, he knew he would never be able to do what they do. However, when his sister got the latest Bob Dylan album, he knew there was a place for him and he set about learning how to play guitar.

Otway had to wait until 1977 and the rise of punk before his dream of fame and fortune would finally become a reality. Having caught the eye of the producers of the BBC's Old Grey Whistle Test, Otway's performance on that show would grab the attention of the watching audience. Otway, ever the showman, decided to jump on to the amplifier of his colleague during a performance of Bob Lind's Cheryl's Going Home. (Un)fortunately for Otway, he misjudged his leap and sent Wild Willy Barrett's amplifier tumbling as he crashed down straddling the box under the amp.