With a crowdfunded album to keep his fans happy, John Barrowman tells Katherine MacAlister why cutting out the middle man was one of the best decisions he’s ever made

When John Barrowman’s record label dropped him during the recession four years ago, he shrugged and moved on.

The 48 year old loves recording, singing and touring, but he’s a pragmatist with many strings to his bow, so concentrated instead on his acting career.

The former Dr Who and Torchwood star, landed a main part in Arrow, a massively successful Sky 1 drama series. Four series in, it’s still going strong and selling out around the world.

Life was good, he was living in Palm Springs in America and finally able to marry his civil partner Scott Gill in 2013, was awarded an MBE in 2014 for services to entertainment and charity, and returned to his homeland, Scotland, to star in the panto every Christmas.

While hosting a Q&A one day, he was asked about his music. He explained the situation and a young woman stood up and asked him to let his fans fund his next album through crowdfunding.

“I had never heard of it before, but when this girl said ‘use us, we’ll pay for it, and then you can record what you want,’ that’s how it started,” John tells me.

“We raised the first pledge in 30 seconds and the entire album was all funded in one day. Unbelievable,” he grins.

“Now the fans are asking for a Christmas album and and a musical theatre album and they’ll get one. They are the producers. It’s fantastic recording the songs I want, knowing that the fans will appreciate them.”

In short, he’s cut out the middle man and is making music directly for his fans, a smart move So is his current You Raise Me Up tour two fingers to his former record company? “Not at all. I’m a businessman and I understood. I’m realistic. I thought they were dumb dumping me but I’m not bitter.”

As a result, John Barrowman is screeching into Oxford on Monday for one night only.

“It’s good to be back,” he confirms. “These shows are different to anything I’ve done before and a real insight into my life, that I’d usually only share with family and friends.”

What sort of things? “Things that have happened over the past four years, songs I’ve picked, photos and videos that I share. There’s a narrative that threads the songs together. This is more of a variety show. More entertaining. We have dancers and a band. Each number is very different. It is an intimate look into my life.”

Did he feel obliged to stage it that way because of the fundraising? “No, that’s the way I’ve always done it. It would be quite boring otherwise to just be singing, wouldn’t it?” he laughs. “My philosophy is only to do things I want to, not because I’m told to.”

A fortunate position to be in then? “An enormous privilege,” he agrees. “I’m not being flippant. I work hard and I’m a grafter but I’m also very lucky to be in this position, some people never get a break.”

Hailing from Scotland, John says he inherited his strict work ethic from his family: “My grandfather was a war warden, then worked in the steel mills and then the council. I was taught not to sit back and wait for things to come to you which has held me in good stead.”

And his favourite Oxford memory? “I love Oxford. I love the bookshops and just wander around incognito with a cap on and spend a fortune on books, but my favourite? Probably talking at the Oxford Union, which was awesome,” he grins. “I was overwhelmed to be asked and talked about time travel in Dr Who and Torchwood. I did an acappella song, some Cole Porter, and took questions.I felt so buzzed afterwards.”

SEE IT
John Barrowman’s You Raise Me Up tour comes to Oxford’s New Theatre on Monday.
For tickets see atgtickets.com/oxford or call 0844 871 3020