STEVE Elson has one of the best jobs in the world - and he likes it, likes it, yes, he does.

Through his alter-ego Nick Dagger, lead singer of The Counterfeit Stones, Elson is living the dreams of all Rolling Stones fans.

He knows it too.

Next to being in the real band - which, let's face it, is never going to happen - surely there's no better way of making a living than performing the greatest Stones songs written from 1963 to 1981, week in, week out.

Who wouldn't want to dress in garish psychedelic '60s garb or an American footballer's strip, prance about, strut, star-jump and be pelted with knickers?

Laughing in agreement, Elson, with tongue firmly in cheek as he mimics Mr Jagger perfectly, said: "We are probably the second greatest rock and roll band in the world."

A visual, comical and musical treat, the brilliant Counterfeit Stones were formed more than a decade ago in answer to a request for a British rock 'n' roll band to play at the Del Mar Grand Prix in San Diego.

Their debut proved so successful that the rest, as the saying goes, is history.

Even so, there can be few tribute acts who - for a fraction of the price of seeing Mick, Keith, Charlie and Ronnie et al - perform to sell-out venues and tours all year round.

But such is their mass appeal, both home and abroad.

The Counterfeits are now well into their substantial annual UK tour - this year called Get Yer Dooh Dahs Out.

Elson said: "Our fans are very loyal and travel from miles away to attend gigs. We've had some of our best-ever shows on this tour, as the audience is getting a lot younger and livelier.

"But the gigs we all enjoy the most are the open-air summer shows, so we're all looking forward to Wellington Country Park on June 25."

Elson makes sure the band never take what they do for granted - however long they've been on the road - and that they always strive to improve.

He added: "You do get tired after a long time travelling and living away from home and the wife, but it's a great job. The band are great guys and musicians.

"We like to freshen things up in the set-list and in our playing. For example, listening to the Forty Licks album, we found various little things to start including in songs.

"We also saw the Stones at Wembley last summer, which was superb. Not as good as us though."

Critics say the Rolling Stones are a parody of their former selves - anyone who saw the Licks world tour knows that is rubbish - but the way the Counterfeits send up the band comically is certainly part of their appeal.

A lot of that is down to Dagger's brilliant showmanship and acerbic wit.

It also comes through in the various videos shown while the band change costumes for the next Stones era and songs to follow.

Think a mixture of Spinal Tap, Stella Street and Spitting Image and you're there!

The fun side to the Counterfeit's portrayal of the Stones certainly impressed the lovely Jerry Hall, then still married to Mick, when she saw them at a private function the band were hired for.

Elson said: "I couldn't believe it when she came backstage into the dressing room after the gig to see us. She thought we were just hilarious and posed for a picture.

"It's one of my proudest possessions and sits nicely framed on the wall at home."

But there is another tale that goes down as THE Counterfeit Stones legend - that Mick, himself, popped in to see one of their shows briefly at the Shepherds Bush Empire a few years ago.

Elson said: "He was checking out the venue for the Stones when he saw one of our posters, as we were playing there.

"He must have thought 'what's all this about', so he came in and had a look. That's according to the fans who saw him there anyway!"

The Counterfeits have played for many famous folk including Prince Andrew, Bill Clinton, Phil Collins and Joan Collins. Oasis are another, and the band had to fight for use of their dressing room with the - ahem - nose-blowing antics of Liam Gallagher as he popped in and out as the need took him!

Elson said: "I had to risk a punch-up by asking him to stop, as we were due to go on and needed to get ready. I said 'I can't have any more of this', and he left!"

But one of the most memorable nights for Elson was when Prince Ernst of Hanover booked the band to play in St Morritz. In the audience were Princess Stephanie of Monaco, Ivana Trump and many self-publicising Hello! magazine types.

Dagger said: "They were the rowdiest and worst-behaved crowd we've played for, and that includes the Hells Angels!

"Furniture got broken and magnums of Champagne were smashed to the beat of Not Fade Away.

"At least I shouldn't have to worry about anything like that in Basingstoke!"

The Counterfeit Stones play Basingstoke's Anvil this Friday. Tickets, priced £15, are available from the box office on 01256 844244.