RADIO STATION JINGLE: (Dorie Jackson)

Music radio...
The Hour of Rock!
Mike Tiger!

FIRST RADIO INTERVIEW (Judge & David Shaw-Parker)

TYGER:
My guest today is one of Rock music’s most enduring icons. For over thirty years he’s been one of our most influential guitarists, and I’m delighted to welcome George Orfeas to the show.

ORFEAS:
Good to be here…

TYGER:
You’re in the middle of a major tour, with a new album out. So, at the age of fifty-five, you’re not slowing down yet.

ORFEAS:
Fifty-five; yes, thanks for reminding me about that, Mike. Well, I still seem to be able to find new things in the music, and as long as that’s happening, I might as well carry on.

TYGER:
The album’s called ‘Live and Kicking’ and it’s new performances of your classic numbers. It has been a while since we heard any completely new material from you…

ORFEAS:
Well, it’s true I’m not writing anywhere near as much as I used to, but I think people want to hear me improvise. That’s what I do. The solos. And if an old tune of mine still inspires me to do something exciting with it, I’m happy to keep playing it.

TYGER:
How do you account for your phenomenal ability to do that; to constantly find new ways of putting notes together?

ORFEAS:
I think I must have a special brain. All I know is I pick up old ‘Furry Dice’ and off I go. I don’t have to think about it much.

TYGER:
‘Furry Dice’, that’s your guitar, isn’t it. I did read somewhere that you stole it.

ORFEAS:
Oh right, now it’s the lawyers… Yes, well, I might have said that a long time ago. I think I was trying to sound hard. The truth is I found her. I came back off-stage to the dressing-room one night, on the first ever tour I did, and it was locked, the room, by the way, and there it was, an old guitar on the table. Don’t know how it got there. Nobody claimed it, but she suited me a treat, so I’ve still got her. Never play anything else in fact. It’s a weird make of guitar as well. The lettering’s really worn, but I think it says ‘Furry Dice’, and I’ve never managed to find out anything about it.

TYGER:
You have interests outside music as well, don’t you. You collect and restore classic cars.

ORFEAS:
Just Bristol Cars, Mike. Yes, I’ve got a few of them. Lovely things. And I’m single again now, for the second time, so, y’know, a boy needs a hobby. Yeah, the big Bristols are what I go for…Cars.. and wives, as a matter of fact.

TYGER:
And on that note, George Orfeas, thank you for joining us on the Mike Tyger Hour of Rock.

ORFEAS:
Always a pleasure, sir.

TYGER:
And you can catch George and his band at the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham on Wednesday…