A Belfast band has become the first from Europe to perform in Libya. And the Lee Hedley Band are already planning their next tour of Colonel Gadaffi’s Arab state.

Gadaffi’s closet aides, including one of his sons, watched the Belfast band perform during their soujorn earlier this month.

The band spent four days in the African country and played gigs in Tripoli and in the ancient city of Sabratha.

The band were invited over by a blues-loving Libyan businessman who heard about their music on the internet.

The musicians told Sunday Life they planned to return next year to celebrate Gadaffi’s 40 years in power.

Frontman Lee described the tour as a “great success”.

He said: “We had very vigorous security checks but the whole experience was fantastic. Tripoli was lovely but the drivers are absolutely crazy. Traffic lights and traffic police don’t seem to matter to anyone — we had a few hairy moments Tripoli’s roads.

“The guests at the gigs were from all over

the place and they really seemed to enjoy themselves. I hope they liked our music.

“The hospitality of the Libyan people was breathtaking and at times embarrassing. The place really is amazing.

“We made a lot of friendships with some very influential people there and made a lot of Libyans very happy that week. We are already in discussions about the return trip to Tripoli.”

The band are set to release a new album and have just been signed to American agent Greg Jordan, who is hoping to secure gigs for them in the US.

Lee said the band would be keen to play to other Islamic countries in the region.

He added: “We were just so grateful for being given the opportunity to become the first band from the west to play in Libya.

“I’m sure there are other Muslim countries out there who have never had bands from Europe playing for them, and we would be only too happy to put on a show.

“Our experience in Libya really has opened

our eyes and is one which we will never forget.

“Maybe our show in Libya will be heard about by influential people with links to the country, so you just never know where we could be playing next.”

Although the band loved their experience in Libya, there’s still no place like home for the Belfast boys.

Said Lee: “Our home city will always be a special place to us and we love playing to local crowds.

“They are so enthusiastic and so supportive of us and we can’t thank them enough for backing us over the years.

“We have a busy schedule ahead of us and we are all looking forward to getting back to playing in Northern Ireland again.”

Irish crooner Chris De Burgh was due to play in Libya in the 1990s but pulled out at the last minute.

And Beatles star Sir Paul McCartney played a solo concert in the country earlier this year.