More than 50 years after that first release, the mismatched but dynamic duo are on the road again with their WHAT THREE WORDS: OTWAY AND BARRETT tour.
Otway and Barrett initially met in Aylesbury as schoolboys. Nine years later, Barrett had become Aylesbury’s most promising multi-instrumentalist and was running the town’s folk club. Otway succeeded in getting an unpaid floor spot and was allowed to return on a semi-regular basis. A fortune teller predicted that John would enjoy huge success with a ‘blonde-haired musician’. Contacting the only blonde musician he knew, Otway persuaded Barrett to do some recording and a show together. Almost inevitably, they split up before they’d even appeared together. Otway’s wild, chaotic solo set emptied the hall; Willy’s tuneful and inventive set re-filled it……..so he refused to allow Otway back for the scheduled duo set, vowing to never work with him again.
When Pete Townshend heard their recordings he offered his production services and became the catalyst for the duo to reunite. Sadly, John’s style really didn’t appeal to the folk club audiences Willy was playing in and, as the Murder Man single failed to chart, the seemingly mismatched duo again went their own ways.
Forward to1977. With punk in the ascendance, Willy thought Otway’s wild performances, elementary guitar skills and terrible voice might now work. He was right – the duo developed a following on the pub rock circuit and were invited to appear on the Old Grey Whistle Test. John’s performance on the show is now legendary. Five million watched what has since been voted one of the worst ever moments on television. Yet Within two weeks of the leaping Otway landing on his testicles astride Barrett’s amplifier, the duo were in the charts and on Top Of The Pops (introduced by Elton John) with their single: Cor Baby That’s Really Free.
Of Course, it wouldn’t last. Otway insisted the all important follow-up be credited to him alone and replaced Wild Willy with a cheesy hundred piece orchestra. The single flopped and they split up acrimoniously.
Since then Otway and Barrett have regrouped, fallen out, and split more times than a curdled sauce. One tour was even titled ‘The Incompatible Otway And Barrett‘. ‘I think he’s genuinely fascinated by what I do’ said Otway of Wild Willy ‘but totally horrified at the damage it does to his reputation as a musician’. Willy countered ‘I do rather find that performing alongside his imbecilic antics distracts from the music I’m playing. I’m a little bit more tolerant of him now but it used to really cut to the quick in the early days’. Yet here they are, celebrating over 50 years of attempted escapes and still loved for their in-yer-face originality.
Older but wiser, the contrast between the deadpan humour of Barrett and mad onstage antics of Otway are hilarious to watch. John’s lyrical genius and Willy’s outstanding musicianship continue to entertain. Let’s hope they don’t fall out again. On second thought let’s hope they do, it’s far more fun!
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