Recently, Charles announced to his stunned staff that they were going to shut up shop - for a weeks holiday to the world's biggest music trade fair, the 105th NAMM Show in Anaheim, California (with a mad night in Las Vegas thrown in!)

This was of course a golden opportunity for some of the greatest drummers in the world to check out the boys from Laird Drums of Warwick, England and stand back in awe and amazement...

Upon their triumphant return, we hope you all noticed the subsequent adoption of dark glasses (even in the drum dungeon!) This of course purely reflects our heroes' increased cool quota (rather than severe jetlag!)

OK, maybe that is overstating it a bit, but when the famous Meatloaf entourage hit town one memorable Saturday in July 2005 to rock Warwick Castle, they were a few vital bits missing!!!

Meatloaf's drummer for the past 15 years, John Miceli, urgently needed some replacement kit to perform that night and luckily a crew member quickly discovered the answer to every drummer's prayers, Charles Laird's drum shop in Smith Street.

A very grateful Meatloaf not only rewarded Charles with a pair of backstage passes for that night's concert, but John Miceli also spent a good 20 minutes chatting with him after the show and gave him some drumsticks as an extra "thank-you".

"I walked home banging the famous sticks together, trying to impress everyone", recalled Charles, "and when I did finally get to bed, I got a phone call at 3am saying thanks again and keep in touch!"