YOU could call them stupid. Most people do. But Dirty Sanchez will tell you they are just living the dream - a dream that consists of rolling around in stinging nettles, standing on a ladder while your best mate drives a car at it, and playing naked paintball.

Lee Dainton quit his job as a carpenter with Torfaen council and spent his £3,000 pay-off on the best video camera he could afford.

The former Abersychan and West Mon pupil is one quarter of the Dirty Sanchez team - the unhinged, mostly Welsh, foursome whose ability to snigger in the face of self-inflicted pain has quickly turned them into MTV mega-stars on the back of the popularity of Jackass four years ago.

Dainton, 30, said: "I knew I didn't want to be a carpenter and that what we were doing was funny and if other people could see it, something might happen.

"I bought the best video camera I could afford and filmed everything we did for 18 months."

The result of that first video, Pritchard vs Dainton, is a mixture of skateboarding clips and stomach churning practical jokes (don't try them at home) that gave them a springboard to notoriety and fame.

The video was picked up by MTV and the show was broadcast to millions across Europe, Asia and America.

They are now getting mobbed by fans at music festivals and rubbing shoulders with the likes of Iggy Pop at awards ceremonies. Dainton said: "I just want to take advantage of all the doors that are opening. We never set out for this to happen so it is about taking every opportunity."

Catch Dirty Sanchez live on stage at The Arena, Abertillery on December 28 with The Blackout, Our Empire, The Guns and DJs until 1am. Tickets cost £12, details on 02920 230130.