SPECIAL TO THE PVT Derik Jordan, guitarist for Razorback, stands on the red carpet for his moment of fame during the Academy Awards last weekend. SPECIAL TO THE PVT Derik Jordan of Pahrump poses with actor Lou Gossett during the luncheon for Oscar nominees at the famed Four Seasons Hotel on Sunday. Advertisement

The Play Station Guitar Hero game is a lot of fun, but it doesn't hold a candle to the experience of being a rock star in real life.

Just ask the Jordan family, who were guests at the recent 16th annual luncheon for Oscar nominees at the Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif.

Rose and Dave Jordan and their children, 14 year-old Derik and 11 year-old Ashley, along with the kids' uncle David Totino, made the trip to Los Angeles after Derik received an invitation from Dick Michaels, chairman of the board of the American Society of Young Musicians.

Michaels, who was a member of the Dave Clark Five in his younger days, heard Derik, a ninth-grader at Pahrump Valley High School, play at a music industry convention in January.

"He talked to us for half an hour in Anaheim at NAMM," said Dave Jordan. "He said he was really impressed with Derik. He really liked him."

For the past three years, Jordan has given his son, who plays with the classic rock band Razorback, a new Eddie Van Halen guitar to take to the NAMM convention so Derik can get it autographed by his favorite recording artists.

At this year's event, Derik played his newest Van Halen guitar, Wolfgang, to a very receptive audience.

"People kept telling us how great he played," said Jordan. "They got his autograph and wanted pictures with him. People thought he was Eddie Van Halen until they got up close and saw how young Derik is."

That's when Michaels told Jordan, "I really want to have you and your son involved with our organization."

Razorback has played for many Pahrump functions, including the Fall Festival and the annual Fourth of July celebration at Petrack Park.

"Doug Farr, the high school band director, is one of Derik's great supporters," said Jordan, also mentioning that musician Dennis Keating, a member of the Nye County School Board of Trustees, has Derik thinking about possibly going after a college scholarship.

However, Derik's biggest fan and supporter is his dad.

"My son is my best friend in the world. I work the phone every day and promote him in every way possible," said Jordan. "I'm trying to get him on a couple of TV shows and we have a gig coming up in Vegas on April 17, at the Whisky-A-Go-Go.

"My garage is a recording studio for the band," said Jordan. "We've got Chris Brown on base, and two drummers: Alex Glynn and Erik Maddy." Razorback plays classic rock by the likes of Metallica, Van Halen, Led Zeppelin, Guns N' Roses and Black Sabbath.

Jordan's wholehearted support for the band doesn't mean he's easy on them, however. "I tell them if they screw up, I have a size 12 shoe and I'll use it to kick them in the butt. I've been telling them that for so long now that it's a joke between us," explains Jordan. "I talk to Derik and the guys about alcohol and drugs and everything else. I give them examples about how that stuff has killed rockers or ruined their lives.

"Sometimes I walk into the garage and give them a look, and one of them will say, 'We know, size 12.' Our whole house is all about music, constantly, all the time," said Jordan.

Jordan has taught his son solid values and down to earth skills.

"Derik is a skilled carpenter and just a week ago did the brake job on my car all by himself. He knows how to work with tools. He's a responsible kid," Jordan said.

"I would never consider doing anything without my kids. We've been to more concerts together than I can count. I didn't become a father to ignore my kids. It's a privilege to have kids and it's a responsibility to help them be the best they can be."

According to his dad, Derik does his part to follow his dream.

"He wakes up in the morning and the first thing he does is grab his guitar. He practices 10 hours a day in the summer, when school is out.

On the weekends during school, he's got his guitar in his hand all day long, unless he's doing chores or homework," said Jordan.

To help Derik play his dream gig at the Whiskey A-Go-Go April 17, buy a $12 ticket to attend or make a donation at Guitar West, 940 S. Pahrump Valley Blvd. Tickets will be placed on "will call" at the club.