On the 12th of February I had a very interesting concert come my way...

It was to take place in Brussels. One concert only. I talked to Shaun and Dave about playing this concert (it was a “one off” so to speak), not something we would normally do… well, we decided to do it.

It was very hard for me to get any information about the concert. All I was getting from my Agent in the UK and my Agent in Holland was that these guys were famous, but not promoters.

Well I started to worry like all good drummers do.  “Who the hell is this” I said to myself. The next day we were all on our way to Brussels (great place… love it!). We played the concert to about five hundred people, more like a private party, in a small theatre in the center of Brussels.

The two Guys who had put this together were Thierry Culliford and Fredric Jannin - both very famous in Belgium. Who are they? Well, Fredric Jannin is one of the great cartoonists in the country as is Thierry Culliford but Thierry had a secret. Yes, he is… wait for it… Mr. Smurf!!!

So that is where the drawing comes from. We had been taken to a very nice restaurant in Brussels - great place! I had a steak, which I have to say, I eat once every two years. FANTASTIC.

And then Thierry gave me the SMURF! Drawing at about 3 am in the restaurant, I was completely taken aback. That was the Big Secret! He was the owner of the Smurfs. A great night was had by all.

The next day we were back in the UK ........ oh well, just another day. What a great life I have being a drummer!

Carl