Torchwood's John Barrowman: I love that Tom Jones sings from his crotch
Torchwood's John Barrowman: I love that Tom Jones sings from his crotch
John Barrowman from Doctor Who spin-off Torchwood spills the beans on new album Tonight's The Night, what artists he grew up listening to - and the special name he gives his groupies.
John Barrowman became a household name thanks to the TV series Desperate Housewives, Doctor Who spin-off Torchwood and Tonight's The Night (Picture: Getty)
There are only two new songs on your greatest hits album. Are you getting lazy in your old age?
The record company wanted me to put out just songs from all the other albums, and I said: 'You can't do that.' You have to have something new that entices people in.
Who is your fan base? Older ladies?
I love that you think it would just be older ladies! The weird thing is my fans range from 18 to 25-year-olds. A lot of young women out there like this kind of music.
Do you get groupies?
Oh yeah. I call them my Johnettes and they travel all over the place. There's a group that always wear something sparkly when they come to see my show. There's usually a couple of guys too but they're a bit more reserved - they don't wear as much sparkly stuff.
But they know you're gay, these ladies, so what's going on?
I have no idea. If I had the answer I would sell it and there would be a lot more people in the business coming out of the closet.
Have you always been out?
There was a period before I was in the public eye when I wasn't out because I was still coming to terms with things. I think a lot of people are in the closet for personal reasons and that's fine. But if they're in the closet for a career reason, that's just stupid. It's 2011 - get out!
Do you ever get any flak for it?
I've been called names but if someone calls you a poof or a queer I don't see that as being bad. If someone says to me: 'You're a big poof, then?' I just kind of say: 'Well, yeah, I am. What's the big deal?'
Are Captain Jack [Barrowman's Torchwood character] groupies different from the music fans?
They're all geeks and nerds. And I say that with love because I'm a nerd myself: I wear superhero T-shirts; I go to Comic-Con; I buy all the memorabilia.
Have you ever, erm, dipped your fingers in that fan base?
No, never. But there's always a cute 27 or 35-year-old. The best is when women bring their husbands up and say: 'My husband thinks Captain Jack's fantastic.' And the husband says: 'John, if I was ever to do it with a bloke then you'd be the one.' And I'm like: 'Call me. You are hot.' But no, I've never done it. I have a partner. Plus, maybe I won't live up to their expectations.
Who was your first boyfriend ever?
I was a virgin until I was 23 or 24. I'd never been in a long-term relationship with a guy. Growing up where I did, you just couldn't. Not in Glasgow and not in Midwest America. Everybody was dating girls. There were no gay people in high school, even though it turns out the quarterback was. The first kiss I ever had was in a swimming pool in Nashville, Tennessee. It was one of those ones that still makes me giddy and giggle but we were very hush-hush about it because of the fact we were in Tennessee.
And that was your first proper boyfriend?
No, my first boyfriend was Paco Perez, the flamenco dancer. I was doing the show Matador and people started recognising me as being openly gay because I was dating the bull: I was the matador and he was the bull. When I saw Paco, I was like: 'I'm having this!' I was determined but we had a relationship before we actually did it.
Whose greatest hits would you buy?
I like Michael Bublé. I love the fact he gets up and sings; he doesn't lip-sync. He's a bit awkward looking and he doesn't care. He reminds me of singers I loved growing up, listening to in my car, people such as Shirley Bassey, Tom Jones or Barbra Streisand. What I love about them is that they sing from their crotches.
Tonight's The Night: The Very Best Of John Barrowman -Sony) is out now.
Read more: http://www.metro.co.uk/music/875102-torchwoods-john-barrowman-i-love-that-tom-jones-sings-from-his-crotch#ixzz1XjjF9Wsa
John Barrowman from Doctor Who spin-off Torchwood spills the beans on new album Tonight's The Night, what artists he grew up listening to - and the special name he gives his groupies.
John Barrowman became a household name thanks to the TV series Desperate Housewives, Doctor Who spin-off Torchwood and Tonight's The Night (Picture: Getty)
There are only two new songs on your greatest hits album. Are you getting lazy in your old age?
The record company wanted me to put out just songs from all the other albums, and I said: 'You can't do that.' You have to have something new that entices people in.
Who is your fan base? Older ladies?
I love that you think it would just be older ladies! The weird thing is my fans range from 18 to 25-year-olds. A lot of young women out there like this kind of music.
Do you get groupies?
Oh yeah. I call them my Johnettes and they travel all over the place. There's a group that always wear something sparkly when they come to see my show. There's usually a couple of guys too but they're a bit more reserved - they don't wear as much sparkly stuff.
But they know you're gay, these ladies, so what's going on?
I have no idea. If I had the answer I would sell it and there would be a lot more people in the business coming out of the closet.
Have you always been out?
There was a period before I was in the public eye when I wasn't out because I was still coming to terms with things. I think a lot of people are in the closet for personal reasons and that's fine. But if they're in the closet for a career reason, that's just stupid. It's 2011 - get out!
Do you ever get any flak for it?
I've been called names but if someone calls you a poof or a queer I don't see that as being bad. If someone says to me: 'You're a big poof, then?' I just kind of say: 'Well, yeah, I am. What's the big deal?'
Are Captain Jack [Barrowman's Torchwood character] groupies different from the music fans?
They're all geeks and nerds. And I say that with love because I'm a nerd myself: I wear superhero T-shirts; I go to Comic-Con; I buy all the memorabilia.
Have you ever, erm, dipped your fingers in that fan base?
No, never. But there's always a cute 27 or 35-year-old. The best is when women bring their husbands up and say: 'My husband thinks Captain Jack's fantastic.' And the husband says: 'John, if I was ever to do it with a bloke then you'd be the one.' And I'm like: 'Call me. You are hot.' But no, I've never done it. I have a partner. Plus, maybe I won't live up to their expectations.
Who was your first boyfriend ever?
I was a virgin until I was 23 or 24. I'd never been in a long-term relationship with a guy. Growing up where I did, you just couldn't. Not in Glasgow and not in Midwest America. Everybody was dating girls. There were no gay people in high school, even though it turns out the quarterback was. The first kiss I ever had was in a swimming pool in Nashville, Tennessee. It was one of those ones that still makes me giddy and giggle but we were very hush-hush about it because of the fact we were in Tennessee.
And that was your first proper boyfriend?
No, my first boyfriend was Paco Perez, the flamenco dancer. I was doing the show Matador and people started recognising me as being openly gay because I was dating the bull: I was the matador and he was the bull. When I saw Paco, I was like: 'I'm having this!' I was determined but we had a relationship before we actually did it.
Whose greatest hits would you buy?
I like Michael Bublé. I love the fact he gets up and sings; he doesn't lip-sync. He's a bit awkward looking and he doesn't care. He reminds me of singers I loved growing up, listening to in my car, people such as Shirley Bassey, Tom Jones or Barbra Streisand. What I love about them is that they sing from their crotches.
Tonight's The Night: The Very Best Of John Barrowman -Sony) is out now.
Read more: http://www.metro.co.uk/music/875102-torchwoods-john-barrowman-i-love-that-tom-jones-sings-from-his-crotch#ixzz1XjjF9Wsa