'Ullo John, got a new venue?

FEW SCENARIOS are as unlikely as John Otway headlining at the Royal Albert Hall. The veteran pub rocker's name invariably invokes one of three reactions: "John who?"; "Is he still at it?"; or "Yeah, I've seen Otway about 300 times by now." Back in 1977, he and erstwhile partner Wild Willy Barrett stormed the charts with "Cor Baby, That's Really Free". It reached the dizzying heights of No 27. But it was, nonetheless, a hit, albeit his only one. Undeterred by several dozen subsequent flops, Otway (above) still insists on bringing his manic yet entertaining show to the nation's venues. It involves somersaulting across the stage, flying off ladders and headbutting the microphone; his mercifully tight backing band maintain order amongst the cheerful chaos. He seems to have inspired a bizarre loyalty among his thousands of devoted fans, attracted perhaps to his endearing failure to retain the heady chart position hew once achieved of No 27. They affectionately chant "Can't sing, can't play, what's his name, Otway!" In 1990, he chronicled his mainly futile efforts at stardom in his autobiography, Cor Baby, That's Really Me, which perversely sold more than his entire previous output. The self-confessed "Rock 'n' Roll's Greatest Failure" has been relentlessly trumpeting "The Hit" for 21 years now, and he wants to celebrate his baby's birthday in style. Hence the Albert Hall. He's bringing his Big Band, including sidekick guitarist Richard Holgarth, and, as a special touch, the Aylesbury Youth Orchestra. Sounds odd, but it was Otway's first band (he played violin), and he has brought in French arranger Jean-Paul Metzer to orchestrate several numbers. As Otway has never performed live with a full orchestra, the walls of that venerable hall may never recover.

John Otway: Royal Albert Hall, SW7 (ticket hotline 01491 682304; box office, 0171 589 8212), Fri. MARY NOVAKOVICH