CLICK HERE TO ADD YOUR EVENT

John Otway

Get ready for a wild night at Broadcast Glasgow with the legendary John Otway, where he'll rock your socks off with his electrifying performance!

John Otway

About John Otway

John Otway is an English singer-songwriter who has built a sizeable cult audience through extensive touring, a surreal sense of humour and a self-deprecating underdog persona.

From the age of 9, 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.

Not only did he see a surge in his audiences, sales of Otway’s sixth single, the half-spoken love song Really Free increased dramatically and reached number 27 in the UK Singles Chart. An appearance on the BBC’s flagship music programme Top of the Pops, where Otway & Barrett were introduced by Elton John later, Otway was finally a star. It would however, be his greatest success for some time.

Despite numerous attempts to get back into the charts, Otway would have to wait 25 years for his next taste of chart success. In the intervening years, Otway would become an actor; write an autobiography (Cor Baby That’s Really Me: Rock and Roll’s Greatest Failure); perform sold out shows at London’s Astoria and Royal Albert Hall; make regular appearances at both Glastonbury and Edinburgh Festivals; and write the nation’s seventh favourite lyric of all-time (beating Bob Dylan and Paul Simon in the process).
The full force of the impact was absorbed by the most tender body parts, but in doing this one simple act of recklessness and his wanton disregard for his own safety, Otway was the talk of everyone who watched that evening’s programme.

Find tickets with See Tickets: Search now

Sponsored Links

Glasgow Science Centre
Glasgow City Council
East Renfrewshire Culture
Fayre Play
Children's Classic Concerts
Ashley Rawson
City Of Glasgow Chorus

Similar events you might like...

Trad Thursdays at Sleazys

Trad Thursdays at Sleazys

Selected dates between 2nd January 2025 - 18th December 2025

Brought to you by Falasgair their resident Trad band, come along to Nice N Sleazy every Thursday for knee slapping traditional Scottish music!

READ MORE
One Night In Tennessee

One Night In Tennessee

Selected dates between 9th January 2025 - 31st March 2026

Inspired by the open mic nights of Bourbon Street, Old Bohemia and their talented friends take to the stage and cover your favourite country classics at Maggie's Rock N Rodeo!

READ MORE
Maggies Rock N Rodeo Cowboy Ceilidh

Maggies Rock N Rodeo Cowboy Ceilidh

Selected dates between 10th January 2025 - 6th March 2026

Get ready to go buck wild at Maggies Rock N Rodeo's sellout Cowboy Ceilidh - the wildest country party this side of Texas!

READ MORE
Sloans Famous Friday Night Ceilidh

Sloans Famous Friday Night Ceilidh

Selected dates between 10th January 2025 - 27th March 2026

Sloans Famous Friday Ceilidh is back and it's bigger and better than ever... it's a must for everyone visiting Glasgow and any true weegie!

READ MORE
The Bobby Deans Big Band

The Bobby Deans Big Band

Selected dates between 12th January 2025 - 28th December 2025

Join The Bobby Deans Big Band on Sunday afternoons at the Paloma Lounge for some great live big band sounds!

READ MORE
BIG Soul Events

BIG Soul Events

Selected dates between 2nd February 2025 - 7th December 2025

Join in the fun and dance to the best in Soul, Disco, Motown, RnB, BIG Soul Classics to today's floor fillers when BIG Soul Events come to Pollokshaws Burgh Hall!

READ MORE
Live Jazz

Live Jazz

Selected dates between 15th February 2025 - 30th November 2025

Sit back, relax, and listen to live jazz whilst indulging in classically French food and drink every weekend at Atlantic Bar & Brasserie!

READ MORE
Ukulele Classes For Wee Fingers

Ukulele Classes For Wee Fingers

Selected dates between 24th March 2025 - 1st March 2026

Looking for the perfect way to introduce your child to music? Amplify's fun and engaging ukulele classes are designed just for 5 to 8-year-olds—the perfect stepping stone into music education!

READ MORE
Adult Music Workshops

Adult Music Workshops

Selected dates between 24th March 2025 - 1st March 2026

Always wanted to play an instrument? Now's your chance! Join Amplify Music Academy for their relaxed, one-hour daytime group lessons for adults!

READ MORE

Sponsored Links

Hilton Glasgow
Glasgow Vintage Vehicle Trust
City Sightseeing Glasgow
Hilton Glasgow
Tea Green
King Pins
Glasgow Marriott

Find other events in Glasgow

Sponsored Links

Glasgow Science Centre
Glasgow City Council
East Renfrewshire Culture
Fayre Play
Children's Classic Concerts
Ashley Rawson
City Of Glasgow Chorus
Hilton Glasgow
Glasgow Vintage Vehicle Trust
City Sightseeing Glasgow
Hilton Glasgow
Tea Green
King Pins
Glasgow Marriott

Popular Events

The Steamie
Step inside a 1950s Glasgow washhouse on Hogmanay, where the water's hot and the gossips even hotter when Tony Roper's classic play The Steamie comes to the King's Theatre Glasgow!
Glasgow’s Winter Wonderland
Glasgow's Winter Wonderland, the city's most anticipated festive celebration, will transform Glasgow Green and St Enoch Square into enchanting winter wonderlands of light, laughter and seasonal cheer!
Big Nights Out At The Bandstand
Big Nights Out At The Bandstand is back! Glasgow's iconic Kelvingrove Bandstand will host a series of unmissable outdoor summer concerts in June!
Clydeside Christmas Village
Get ready for something truly special this winter... introducing Clydeside Christmas Village, arriving in Glasgow for the very first time between Saturday 29th November and Sunday 4th January!
James Acaster
Little Wander in association with PBJ Management present... James Acaster at the King's Theatre Glasgow with a brand new show, full of everything you love about James and more!

Popular Listings

Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum King's Theatre Glasgow King Tut's Wah Wah Hut O2 Academy Glasgow SEC Armadillo Theatre Royal Glasgow The Pavilion Theatre Glasgow The Glasgow Barrowland Ballroom The Glasgow Royal Concert Hall The OVO Hydro