Thanks to Dave Cousins playing some of Brian's instrumentals to Mary and her husband, Strawbs producer Tony Visconti, on Brian's 22nd birthday, they offered him a job touring with them. The tour lasted for about a year, and took him to Israel, Australia and New Zealand. Subsequently Brian also spent three years with successful popsters New World, Opportunity Knocks winners who went on to have 9 hits, including "Tom Tom Turnaround". A further year with veteran folkie Roger Whittaker and Joe Brown's two parallel bands - the Bruvvers and Home Brew.