Wild Willy Barrett is Roger John Barrett, a British experimental musician and multi-instrumentalist from Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, who has been active since 1971. He is best known for his long-running collaborations with John Otway. His playing spans folk, blues, psychedelia, pop and punk rock, and his live shows are noted for dry humour and onstage wit.

Musical style and instruments

Barrett is known for virtuoso fiddle playing and for his ability on a wide range of stringed instruments. He also plays slide guitar using a whole raw egg, a technique known as egg-necking. In later Otway and Barrett performances, he introduces the “wah wah wheelie bin”.

Collaborations and session work

He contributes guitar, fiddle and vocals to recordings by other artists, including Rolf Harris’s version of “Bohemian Rhapsody”. He also plays fiddle, guitar and mandolin for George Hamilton IV. In addition, he plays pedal steel guitar on Keith Hudson’s reggae album Rasta Communication, alongside Sly and Robbie.

Sleeping Dogz and French Connection

Barrett performs vocal and strings with Sleeping Dogz. He forms French Connection in 2012, using the Sleeping Dogz line-up with French vocalist Mary-Laure added to the group.

Live appearances and recordings

He closes the Cambridge Folk Festival in 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2009. He tours with John Otway in autumn 2009 and with Sleeping Dogz in spring 2010. His 1986 album Organic Bondage has a wooden sleeve made by Barrett himself when he does not have the money for a printed sleeve.

Other work

Barrett is also a skilled woodworker and carver, and he makes highly distinctive furniture over many years.