John Otway at SVA

Following initial chart success in 1977, John Otway's musical career took a nose dive. He dealt with it by becoming a master in self-deprecation.

"I did not realise I was a failure until my publishers, on accepting my autobiography, told me they were going to market me as rock 'n' roll's greatest failure," he said.

"It turned out that they had published a lot of successful rock and rollers, and as they said, "you are certainly not one of those, are you?"

"And it turned out to be very good marketing. As well as selling more books, I also discovered that it worked with other merchandising items. The John Otway one hit wonder t-shirt, the John Otway it's nearly Rock and Roll But I Like It t-shirt, and the John Otway - the hitless years t-shirts were very popular. And oddly enough, even a CD Rock and Roll's Greatest Failure did better than a greatest hits."

I wondered who John considers to be successful.

"Everyone else who plays an instrument or sings a song. Otherwise I would feel that they would have claim to my title," he said.

An evening with John Otway will be hosted by Keith Allen at SVA, John Street, on Friday at 8pm.