PULLIN MY HAIR OUT! stumped on $db->query_first

[Antivirus]

I have a query which works fine returning all my data using following method:

PHP Code:

 $sql = "
  SELECT erc_artist.*, erc_artisttype.artisttype, MIN(erc_artistimage.artistimageid) AS artistimageid 
  FROM erc_artist
  LEFT JOIN erc_artisttype ON erc_artist.artisttypeid = erc_artisttype.artisttypeid
  LEFT JOIN erc_artistimage ON erc_artist.artistid = erc_artistimage.artistid
  WHERE artistisactive = '1'
  GROUP BY erc_artisttype.displayorder, artisttitle
  "; 


But when i try to use the following $db->query_first method i get nada!

PHP Code:

$sql = $db->query_first("
  SELECT erc_artist.*, erc_artisttype.artisttype, MIN(erc_artistimage.artistimageid) AS artistimageid 
  FROM erc_artist
  LEFT JOIN erc_artisttype ON erc_artist.artisttypeid = erc.artisttype.artisttypeid
  LEFT JOIN erc_artistimage ON erc_artist.artistid = erc_artistimage.artistid
  WHERE artistisactive = '1' AND erc_artistimage.image_type = 'artistpicture'
  GROUP BY erc_artisttype.displayorder, artisttitle
  "); 


Does anyone know what i am doing wrong here?