'I grew up on council estate, then toured the world'

Frank Benbini, the drummer and one third of the Fun Lovin' Criminals, opens up about his early years on a council estate

"I remember that day like it was yesterday - when I hung my dad's speakers out for the whole street to vibe to."

Before touring the world with the Fun Lovin' Criminals, UB40 and Sinead O'Connor, Frank Benbini recalls growing up on a council estate in Leicester, surrounded by records.

From his "humble beginnings", the drummer fell in love with music and the arts, and admitted he was far from being an "academic person".

Ahead of the premiere of his rockumentary, Benbini opened up about his childhood and journey to becoming a musician.

After his parents had split up, Benbini - also affectionately known locally as Uncle Frank - would move between their homes on two separate council estates.

But besides his travels between New Parks and Enderby, what remained a constant in his life was the fascination he had with music and drumming.

"From a very early age, watching John Bonham from Led Zeppelin, I was just like 'I want to be that guy'," Benbini recalls.

It was not long before he received his first "sparkly" drum kit one Christmas, which he was going to practice on for the next 10 years.

Young Benbini was an avid fan of Prince, The Doors, and Led Zeppelin

Whether he was listening to his favourite artists on his dad's old records, street dancing with other children on the council estate or walking to his fabric printing job, Benbini says he was marching to the beat of his own drum.

"I always used to daydream on the way [to work] and then on the walk back. I wanted to be on stage and entertain people," he recalls.

"I was just thinking 'this is not what I want to do. I want to be a musician. How do I go about this?'

"And it was all I could think about at seven in the morning for this job I hated doing."

'Worked my socks off'

Benbini set up his own band before joining several others, and it was not long until he started headlining at festivals in Leicester, building a name for himself locally.

"Before you know it, I got signed for my first record deal in the early 90s with an independent band," he said.

"And then joined Fun Lovin' Criminals and the rest is history.

"It sometimes can feel a bit of a fairytale, but it's like my mum told me: 'You'd never stopped'. I worked my socks off.

"The reason why I'm grounded is solely because where I was brought up - on a council estate.

"You were not allowed to have a big head because someone on that council estate would come and stamp on your big head. You really can't be like that."

Frank Benbini (pictured in the middle) lived in New York while part of Fun Lovin' Criminals, but has since moved back to Leicester

But Benbini says there is also a less glamorous side of being on stage and creating music.

In his new documentary, titled To Be Frank, the drummer says fans can expect to see a more vulnerable side of him.

Filmmaker Steve Baker, and a long-term friend of Benbini's, says the idea of a documentary came when he realised how much footage they had from tours and music videos.

The film features interviews with friends and family, as well as key moments from Benbini's life spanning over 10 years.

"You see a different side of Frank who is confident on stage but not so confident in other moments," Mr Baker said.

"It's nice to capture that, and also to capture his work ethic."

To Be Frank has its premiere on Wednesday at 20:00 BST at the Phoenix Cinema and Arts Centre in Leicester.

Additional reporting by Ady Dayman.