RADIO STATION JINGLE: (Dorie Jackson)

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

TYGER:( David Shaw-Parker)
Just over a year ago, the musical world was shocked to hear that George Orfeas, the doyen of British Guitarists, was close to death, following a catastrophic car accident in a road tunnel near his Sussex home. Against all medical predictions, he survived, made a full recovery, and he’s with us today on the Mike Tyger Hour of Rock. Welcome back George. You’re looking well.

ORFEAS: (Judge)
Good as new Mike. Thank you.

TYGER:
But your recovery has been quite a struggle.

ORFEAS:
Well, it took a lot of time, and a lot of work, other people’s mostly, for which I’ll always be grateful, particularly as it was my own stupid fault I smashed up in the first place.

TYGER:
I understand that, at the time, you had some sort of Near Death Experience.

ORFEAS:
Well, something happened. It’s all a bit hazy, but I went somewhere and met someone, or something, And I might have had to stay there, but in the end I got sent back. I don’t remember much about it, but I’m a different person as a result, that’s for sure.

TYGER:
In what way?

ORFEAS:
Well, I’m bloody glad to be alive, for one thing, that’s new for me, and, you know my career better than most, Mike. I’ve been playing the same sort of thing for years, kind of resting on my whatsernames.

TYGER:
Laurels.

ORFEAS:
Yeah, and now I just can’t do that any more. I can’t look back. I’ve got to go forward, do different things, play different music. I just feel I must not look back.

TYGER:
And you’re on the road again.

ORFEAS:
Yes, but now we’re playing smaller clubs. That’s something different after all those years in the stadiums and arenas. It’s very exciting for me; getting back to where I started.

TYGER:
With the same band?

ORFEAS:
Same guys, with Ronnie on the squeezebox and everything, but I’ve also been working with the American rapper and producer Hi Crimes, and he’s come on the road with us. The hip-hop thing is a whole new sound for us; opens up all kinds of possibilities.

TYGER:
So what kind of music can people expect?

ORFEAS:
It’s all new material. I don’t do any of my old stuff now. That’s all behind me. Sorry, but if people want to hear those tunes, they’ve got the albums. These days, it’s no looking back for old George.

TYGER:
And your famous guitar survived the crash too.

ORFEAS:
Eurydice? Unscathed. There’s a hundred-and-fifty grand’s worth of motor smashed to pieces, me with a dozen broken bones and lord knows what else, and Eurydice is in what’s left of the boot with not a scratch on her. The funny thing is that it shouldn’t have been in the car in the first place. I swear that guitar’s got a mind of its own.

TYGER: (to fade)
So how’s this new direction going down with your fans? Has there been any protest about you not playing your classic hits any more?