Help with function parse error

[DataSpy]

Hello this is the first time I've ever used a function and was wondering if someone could please help me with a parse error.

[code]
<?php
//<!-- mysql connection function -->
function &dbconnection($host, $dbuser, $dbpass, $dbname)
{ 
  if (!dbconn = @mysql_connect($host, $dbuser, $dbpass)) {    <=== line 5
    return false;
  }
  if (!@mysql_select_db($dbname)) {
    return false;
  }
  return $dbconn;
}
//<!-- mysql config -->
$host    = 'localhost';
$dbuser  = 'root';
$dbpass  = '';
$dbname  = 'cms';

$dbconn = &dbconnection($host, $dbuser, $dbpass, $dbname);
?>
[/code]

The error says:
[quote]
Parse error: parse error, unexpected '=' in C:\Program Files\xampp\htdocs\www\band\config.php on line 5
[/quote]

Any help would be greatly appretiated, thanx in advance!

[wildteen88]

This:
if (!dbconn
Should be:
if (![b][color=red]$[/color][/b]dbconn

[DataSpy]

Thanx, sorry for such a stupid mistake, I don't use php that often :( .

Thanx again :) !