Murray's in the back seat playing his guitar,

Murray's in the back seat of the big red car!

-- "Toot Toot, Chugga Chugga, Big Red Car" by the Wiggles

Yep, that's Murray Cook, all right. He's the "Red Wiggle." The tall Wiggle. The guitar-playing Wiggle. The thoughtful Wiggle.

Don't know what a Wiggle is? Hmmm. Must not have any preschoolers bouncing around your house like a hot potato.

The Wiggles are a quartet of Australian singers and performers who have tickled, entertained and educated children since forming in 1991. The Wiggles are a major brand name, starring in their own TV show, selling millions of CDs and DVDs and performing live before millions of children and their families worldwide. The Wiggles even have their own amusement park.

On the heels of their hit single "Monkey Man," which features Aussie singer Kylie Minogue, the Wiggles are bringing their show to Roanoke.

"The Wiggles Go Bananas Live!" tour stops at the Roanoke Performing Arts Theatre on Friday.

Murray, 49, the Red Wiggle, called us recently to talk about the show.

Q: What can fans expect from the Wiggles' live show?

Murray: We do a lot of interactive songs. There's a lot of acrobatic circus elements. All of our friends will be there. It's quite spectacular, really.

Q: How are your live performances different from your TV show?

Murray: I love the immediate feedback from the audience. Live shows are high-energy fun. They're crazy for the audience. When you tape a TV show or a DVD, you're aware that you're talking to an audience, but it's so much easier to do live. They're talking back to you. We read signs. I like the immediacy. You can bounce things off the children, which leads to something else you can play off.

Q: You've been entertaining children for nearly 20 years. How different are children now than when you started?

Murray: Children that [preschool] age have not changed that much. They still find the same kind of things funny. Keep the energy high, and they'll laugh right along.

Q: You've been doing this so long, pretty soon you'll be entertaining the children of your earliest fans.

Murray: It's funny, but that's actually happening in Australia a little bit. Children who were there at the very beginning are coming with their own young children. Some of our first fans are in their early 20s. It's amazing, but it makes you feel older, too.

Q: You really are a guitarist, and a couple of Wiggles once played in rock bands. Tell us about your musical background.

Murray: I loved the Beatles and the Rolling Stones growing up. Australia really has a great music scene.

When I was coming along as a musician, you could see a band every night. You guys probably remember Men at Work, but there were many great bands. It was a great time to become a musician. I would love it if somebody got into playing guitar because of me.