RHYTHM Man Frank Reid can't quite believe his luck. He used to spend his evenings drumming with bands in pubs and clubs around Leicester but he's now set to tour America with the group he used to worship as a fan -- the Fun Lovin' Criminals.

Frank, 28, was signed up as one of the New York trio four months ago in a move, he feels, was fated.

"I'm just walking round with a big smile on my face," he admits.

"It's like it's come full circle. I always should have been their drummer.

"I've known the band for eight years since they first came over to the UK.

"I used to DJ at their after-show parties and I've opened their show a few times with smaller bands.

"They knew how much I loved their music.

"So when their other drummer stepped down, joining them just seemed like a natural thing."

Frank claims he was one of the first fans of The Fun Lovin' Criminals, consisting of singer Huey Morgan and guitarist Brian "Fast" Leiser, when they burst on to the scene back in the early '90s.

Hits like Scooby Snacks and King of New York propelled them to number one slots in the UK, but their fresh, hip-hop sound had attracted Frank long before they found mainstream success.

He explains: "I heard one of their songs on 24/7, a Channel Four basketball show, and afterwards I rang up the TV company to find out what the band was called.

"Then I went to one of the local record stores and they got it for me on import.

"This was long before they went big with Scooby Snacks."

Despite his eagerness to join the band, Frank knew he had some pretty big shoes to fill.

He explains: "Their last drummer, Mackie, was a bit of a legend. It was quite daunting filling in for someone I think was really up there.

"However, we've got a great fan base in this country. I'm a big dude and I was expecting people to ask, 'What's he doing up there?'

"But I've been very fortunate -- the fans seem to have taken to me."

Frank has also enjoyed making his mark on the Criminals' music, particularly tracks from their new album Welcome to Poppy's.

He says: "I joined the band when the majority of the album was done and there were only two tracks left to record.

"When we're playing live, there's quite a few hits where I have to toe the line.

"If I started doing mad stuff in King of New York, it'd put the fans off.

"But those new songs are mine. I'm the only drummer playing them in front of an audience.

"I get to put my own stamp on them."

Since they achieved trans-Atlantic success a decade ago, Huey and Fast have become familiar faces in the UK, but how has Midlands-man Frank settled in Stateside?

Surprisingly, he insists New York isn't too dissimilar from his home town Leicester!

"Leicester is one of the biggest multi-racial places in the UK," he explains. "There are big Indian and black and Chinese communities. Within yourself you are quite low key, because you have to mingle with everyone else. That's the same for New Yorkers.

"They don't beat about the bush, and you have to be very like that in Leicester. So when I went to New York, I just fell straight into it."

However, what really binds the trio together is their love of music.

Frank says: "Basically, the three of us are all about music and having fun.

"In November we begin our tour of the States and we'll be rolling round in a bus together and taking in some of my favourite places. That's something I've wanted to do since I was a kid. It's funny because, as a former fan, I can imagine being in the audience.

"With other bands I've been in, I've always thought, 'I'd love to be out there watching us and seeing how it is'. But this time, I've had all that.

"When Huey and Fast ask me what they think of this song they've done, I can answer as the drummer and as someone who used to be in the band. It's still quite surreal though."

Catch FLC before their US tour kicks off at Manchester Academy tonight. For tickets call 0871 2200 260.