MAKING it big in Hollywood was once the preserve of those wishing for the kind of fortune and glory once reaped purely on the big screen.

Now it seems there are a host of bands vying for their own piece of celebrity action, albeit via its equally competitive rock scene.

The latest contenders to emerge, Orson, have been blazing a trail over the last few months having scored a sizzling top 10 hit, No Tomorrow in the UK charts.

Described as the missing link between the Scissor Sisters and The Rolling Stones, they trade in a smooth brand of radio-friendly grooves that pack plenty of punch.

As their bass-man Johnny Bentjen revealed, they are on a high with their soon to be released debut album, Bright Idea, that’s destined to swiftly lodge itself in the upper reaches of our charts.

"We have put a lot of blood and guts into making it happen. It’s all a crazy dream that’s come true for us as we all had day jobs at the time we were putting it together.

"I was working in set construction, Jason our singer was a PA to a script writer and the other guys were in TV production. We still had those jobs until November, now we’ve been touring with Duran Duran."

Working to a wafer thin budget they had put the album together themselves in a low-key LA studio and have barely had time to think since it was put out in LA last year.

Like any self-respecting rock act they have their own clearly defined sense of style. They’ve developed a penchant for retro Hollywood hats and especially sharp suites which sets them apart from many acts around.

Of course, you need the substance to back the style, which fortunately for them they have in spades. Advanced copies of their infectious album have been winning rave reviews.

Appearances on everything from Top of the Pops to the Jonathan Ross and Davina McCall shows have raised their profile to an impressive level considering they’ve yet to undertake their first tour of Britain. With all the hype and major label promotion you might expect them to be feeling the pressure.

"So far it’s going well, but ask me in a year and see how it went! Our record company have done nothing but the positive things that you would expect from being on a big label.

"They left our album completely intact from the way we recorded it when many companies would normally just change everything."

Johnny’s story is little different from many aspiring young musicians. Hooked on music from a young age, he grew up on a diet of classic acts including Led Zeppelin and the squelchy vibes of Funkadellic which sparked his interest in forming groups in his late teens in LA.

After sneaking into bars under-age he gained plenty of playing experience that paved the way for his entry into Orson, who are named after one of the city's greatest, if not universally loved film icons, Orson Welles.

Confident they have the right goods, the band are about to take to the road with dates in London and on the South Coast at the Brighton Concorde beckoning.

Though he admits their breakthrough has been some time in the making since forming three years ago, they are now eager to make their mark. And with major gigs and festivals including V on the horizon the signs are looking good.

"We’re biting our nails in anticipation at this UK tour as being on stage as a live act is what we’re all about. We can’t wait for V as well as the tour as we’ll get to get to see Morrissey and Radiohead which should be great."

* Orson play the London Koko Club on Thursday, May 27 and Brighton Concorde on Wednesday, June 7. For details see www.orsonband.com.