Murray 'Muzza' Inglis Muzza spends his afternoons happily playing his favourite discs from the swinging '60's and seductive '70's. His daily show between 2 and 7pm is networked right across New Zealand on Solid Gold FM. A veteran of radio with 45 years experience, he was NZ's premiere 'Shock Jock' way back in the 70's and was voted by Billboard magazine in 1977 as one of the Top 10 radio DJ's in the world and the very best in the southern hemisphere. We got to know the man behind the mic a little better... GayNZ.com: Hi Muzza! How long have you been working in radio and how did you get started? Muzza: 45 years now! It was all I really wanted to do from about nine years old, growing up in New Plymouth. I was turned down 28 times in NZ so I headed to Oz when I was about 19 and eventually landed a job in a tiny town in South Australia called Berri. The station was 5RM. What do you love about working in radio? The daily challenge, the freedom to be creative, the fun - the music, the people I've met... everyone from Tina Turner, Mick Jagger, Elton John, Bob Geldof, David Bowie, Lauren Bacall, Peter Ustinov, Bette Davis, Robin Williams, The Village People, and a very quick dinner with Michael Jackson back in the 80s in Sydney. I also love that my jobs have allowed me to see the world, I have worked in London, Memphis, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Hobart, Christchurch and in many towns in Australia and NZ. When did you come out as gay, and what was it like for you at the time? I guess always knew I was different to my brothers and their friends, so I hid it from my family. My mother later told me she had known since I was four but wanted me to tell her. I guess I came out when I went to Sydney in the '60s it took me a while to tell my radio workmates. It turned out they had also guessed! It was quite tough back then I guess, but the industry I work in is very nonchalant and attracts creative people anyway. What do you think are the most pressing issues currently facing NZ's LGBT population? Drugs, the apathetic attitude towards local and international gay issues, and getting the safe sex message across to upcoming generations. Which LGBT people do you most look up to? Sir Elton John, Ellen DeGeneres, Bruce Kilmister, David Robertson, Tess Tickle, Buckwheat, Steve Gray, Deb Stanaway, and The Topp Twins. What are your worst habits? Gossiping, moodiness and sarcasm! What's your biggest fear? Being sat on by Miss Ribena. Which books are you currently reading and recommending? Alistair Cooke's Letters from America - I just bought it from Fishpond.co.nz. Blink by Malcolm Gladwell and Hell Raisers by Robert Sellers. Also the life and inebriated times of Richard Burton, Richard Harris, Peter O'Toole and Oliver Reed, it's an absolute riot. Your favourite music at the moment? The new Beatles boxed remastered set, the Black Eyed Peas, new country rock. And a life-long adoration of the Stones. Your favourite movies? Just saw Seraphine - wonderful. South Pacific, A Streetcar named Desire, Shine a Light - Martin Scorcese's Stones film. Your favourite TV programmes? Lark Rise To Candleford, Coronation Street of course, Shameless, Chelsea Lately, and WWE. Who in the world would you most like to have a coffee and a chat with and why? Howard Stern, a truly great broadcaster who understands his audience, plays to it, and isn't afraid of shocking people. Ellen DeGeneres, because love her humour and again she knows her audience and how to relate to them. John Cena just because he's hot, and Josh Hartnett for the same reason. If you could have one wish granted what would it be? To have my own talk show with my best mate Pam Corkery, or sing in a rock band! What's coming up in the near future for you? Overseas travel, some MCing as part of the Auckland Heritage Festival, writing my book... gossip about well known Kiwis I have come across. And still enjoying my radio show each day on Solid Gold FM. Matt Akersten - 29th September 2009