A STOURBRIDGE teen had a taste of the rock 'n' roll lifestyle when he joined Black Stone Cherry on their European tour.

Connor Di Leo worked as a drum technician for the American rockers on their 30 day tour, which saw them play at major arenas across 21 cities.

The 18-year-old said it was "a dream come true" as he had been a fan of the band for many years and had become friends with the drummer, John Fred Young.

He said: “I learned so much, especially how to work as part of a team, and how to adapt to the different challenges the different venues brought, as well as making some excellent contacts.

"There were lots of problems during the gigs with replacement bits needed constantly because John Fred is quite a passionate drummer, but my role was to ensure he could carry on playing throughout the gig, without the audience noticing."

During the tour, Connor visited cities including Munich, Milan and Paris but admitted the busy schedule left little time for sightseeing.

However the BTEC Music Performance student said he was able to find the time to return to Stourbridge before the Birmingham show: "I took John Fred to Stourbridge to experience some of the Black Country culture. We took a special tour of the Enville Brewery and rounded off the day with a curry."

Although Connor enjoyed his time on tour, he hasn't given up on his ambition to become a businessman.

He said: “I could probably use the skills I gained on tour to get a job as a drum technician but I still want to gain qualifications and go to university."

Andy Edwards, Connor's tutor at Kidderminster College, added: “This was a once in a lifetime opportunity for Connor to learn how to be a drum technician on a very demanding tour.

"He used the experience as part of his coursework and completed assignments when he was away in Europe.

"I am sure he is heading for a superb result on his course, helped by what he learned while on tour, and this will boost his prospects of going to university."