WHATEVER Orient do to fix their patchy league home form, world-famous fan Julian Lloyd Webber is adamant that their jaunty theme tune must stay.
The renowned cellist, who used to be married to an Afghan princess, comes to Leyton to support his team in League One whenever he can.
Though he has not seen his heroes win at Brisbane Road this season, the classically-trained musician declared his love for Tijuana Taxi to the Guardian.
The Orient players emerge from the tunnel to the latin-flavoured tune each home game.
Unfortunately, home is where the O’s have hit most of their bum notes in recent times in League One.
But Lloyd Webber is a massive fan of Taxi.
He said no other tune would do.
“Tijuana Taxi is good because the away side must think ‘they’re really a bunch of nutters here’, so they get a bit scared,” mused Webber.
“You can’t change it,” he stated.
And he is adamant that it has the power to aid Orient in their quest for a first league win of the season at home, against Carlisle United this Saturday.
“That’s our tune. Barry (Hearn, Orient chairman) tried to change it once and everyone revolted. I think he wanted to have We Will Rock You, and there was a complete revolt.
“I say, stay with it. It’s not the tune that needs changing, it is a couple of things on the pitch.”
He said that life can be tough for an O’s fan.
“It’s a stressful club to support.
“I wish sometimes things would swing our way more often. There’s one mistake at the back, or one shot doesn’t go in.
“But it’s early in the season.”
Webber said he misses games on Saturdays because he is often playing his 17th-century cello to packed audiences in concert halls around the world.
But he wants to be at Brisbane Road to cheer on Geraint Williams’ team during this campaign.
He said: “It seems to me that in League One you already have three divisions.
“You have the sides who have got the money, and sides who are in the midst of things, and sides who are going to struggle.
“I don’t think we’ll go down but you have to be careful in football because you certainly don’t need lots of home defeats. It’s not great.”
Tijuana Taxi was written by Herb Alpert, who later founded A&M records.
It was first played at Brisbane Road in August 1968, against Tommy Docherty’s Rotherham United, after it caught the ear of the club DJ.
In 2000, Alpert gave the club a signed picture of himself.
Orient historian Neilson Kaufman said: “Taxi is still heard today, 41 years since it was first played.”
However, chairman Barry Hearn is reported not to be a fan.
What tune do YOU think should hearld the Orient players entrance onto the pitch?
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