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Primer: UK Cult Rocker John Otway - Touring Aotearoa NZ With His Band

Primer: UK Cult Rocker John Otway - Touring Aotearoa NZ With His Band

Clean Dirt / C.C. / Monday 23rd March, 2026 2:42PM

Consider this to be your one-stop introduction to the world of British cult rock genius John Otway. The legendary two-hit-wonder is here in Aotearoa New Zealand this week for his first ever nationwide tour with his live band (previous visits have been solo adventures), a crucial four date run taking them to Tāmaki Makaurau's Whammy Bar, Ōtepoti's The Crown, Ōamaru's The Penguin Club and Ōtautahi's A Rolling Stone from Tuesday onwards.

Subject of director Steve Barker's 2013 documentary Rock and Roll's Greatest Failure: Otway the Movie, John Otway's achievements extend far beyond what his endearingly self-effacing nickname suggests. Scholar in the field of all things Otway, Clean Dirt shared a handful of significant moments from the artist's illustrious (and sometimes infamous) career, spanning more than five decades thus far. Here's a handy entry point for new fans and / or a timely reminder for long-term devotees as to why YOU need to catch him at the following dates...
 

John Otway and Band

Tuesday 24th March - Whammy Bar, Auckland
Wednesday 25th March - The Crown, Dunedin
Thursday 26th March - The Penguin Club, Ōamaru
Saturday 28th March - A Rolling Stone, Christchurch

Tickets on sale HERE via UTR

THE quirk of rock and roll nature that is John Otway... five unforgettable moments of his 55+ year career.
He returns to Aotearoa this week with band for four shows. He will also be recording at Sublime Studios just north of Ōamaru in the middle of a world tour that sees John perform in Canada, Aotearoa, Australia and Japan.


John and his 'moment' on The Old Grey Whistle Test

Otway remembers his 1977 performance on that programme as the scene of one of those triumphs. Cavorting around, he landed on his "testicles, live on television, in front of 5.5 million people."


A friend of John's roasts him

Dawn French says... "We needed someone cheap and talentless to do the music… One piece of music that he wrote was faiiiirrrrly listenable… But sadly, he sang it – which ruined the whole thing."


Rock and Roll's Greatest Failure trailer

Otway ! Otway ! Otway !


Motörhead, The Damned, and last of all John Otway all performed on English cult comedy The Young Ones.


Burn Baby Burn... shameless.


Headbutts... literally...

Links
johnotway.com/
instagram.com/john.otway/

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John Otway And Band
Buy
Tue 24th Mar 7:30pm
Whammy Bar, Auckland
John Otway And Band
Buy
Wed 25th Mar 7:30pm
The Crown Hotel, Dunedin
John Otway And Band
Buy
Thu 26th Mar 7:30pm
The Penguin Club, Oamaru
John Otway And Band
Buy
Sat 28th Mar 7:30pm
A Rolling Stone, Christchurch