He’s best known for playing one of British soap’s legendary bad guys – now John Altman is starring in the video for a York band’s latest single.
Cult actor John will soon return to EastEnders to take up his mantle as the lying, murdering, mum-baiting ‘Nasty’ Nick Cotton.
But on his way to Albert Square he took a detour to menace The Van Doos in the video for their extremely catchy new song Baby Be Brutal.
The Van Doos, an indie four piece comprising York based guitarist Louis Bamber, singer Simon Hutchinson from Helmsley, Fred Baty on bass and drummer Dom Antony, are joined by John at his snarling best.
In trademark leather and with slicked-back hair, John welcomes the band into a dingy East London poker night, and proceeds to make mincemeat of the musicians. Only the game at the table isn’t poker: it’s Scrabble…
For a man whose life in Walford has seen him commit two murders, fake his own death, succumb to heroin addiction and even attempt to poison his “dear old ma”, a family board game might seem small-fry.
But if anyone can make wordplay intimidating, it’s John Altman.
It boils down to a face-off between the original East End bad boy and charismatic frontman Simon Hutchinson. We won’t tell you who triumphs…
Stills from the Baby Be Brutal video. Click to see the full size images
As well as playing lead guitar, Louis also directed the video.
“With a song title like Baby Be Brutal, who better to bring a bit of nastiness to it than John Altman?” Louis said.
“I’d happened to see him playing a local cricket match in North London earlier this year and chanced my arm. Unbelievably, he said ‘yes!’
“He’s a great guy, and a joy to work with. We couldn’t have had more fun on set!”
The Van Doos have been tipped for great things by the NME, BBC Introducing and XFM. They are produced by Tristan Ivemy (Frank Turner, The Heartbreaks), and cite Pulp, The Teardrop Explodes and The Jesus And Mary Chain as influences.
And with John Altman on board, many more music fans will soon “Cotton” on to their music.