 In 1992 Otway appeared at GuilFest.In 1993 he was able to draw 2,500 fans to a gig in London and, in 1998, 4,000 celebrated his birthday with him at the Royal Albert Hall, coinciding with the release of "Premature Adulation", his first album of new material for over ten years.By then, Otway had realised he could use his fanbase, who were in on the joke, to engage in minor publicity stunts.