When settling on a name for their fledgling band, Thom Yorke and his Abingdon School chums famously settled on the title of an obscure album track by quirky US New Wave act Talking Heads.

Radiohead, it was reasonably thought, was a more inspiring name than previous effort - On a Friday.

Now David Byrne's seminal New York collective has inspired another blast of rock genius - Fear of Music.

Taking their name from the art-pop legends' best album, the youthful Manchester band have more in common with rock & roll royalty than their inspired name.

They are widely acknowledged to be the latest in a long lineage of powerful indie acts, combining the spirit of The Smashing Pumpkins, the screech of Placebo, the scale of Muse, the conscience of Manic Street Preachers, the grace of Jeff Buckley and the hysteria of Pixies.

But, as you'd expect, Fear Of Music create a sound all of their own.

Jo Rose (vocals/guitar), Ali Esmaail (bass), Mike Ward (guitar) and Rick Morgan (drums) met as schoolfriends. And, amazingly, while most of the band were not much older than 14, they signed a deal with Columbia Records.

Sensibly, they let things rest until they had finished school.

After all, not only would a demanding touring schedule have played havoc with homework, they wouldn't have been able to play anywhere.

Certainly not without their parents tagging along, any way.

But, now - out of short trousers - they're back, and are armed with a single First To Go - with more than a twitching nod to obvious idols, Talking Heads.

"The bands that I was massively into were a huge part of my life," says Ali.

"It's more than music.

"It influences you in all kinds of ways. Before Fear of Music I had this idea of how special it would be to be in the sort of band people have a relationship with.

"That's the beautiful thing about music, the effect on people.

"It was rock music that had such a massive effect on me.

"The cool thing about this band is that people getting into it now will be able to grow with us.

"And as we grow, they will constantly understand."

And they are already busy putting their hometown back on the map.

"Manchester is important to me because I grew up there," says Jo, "and I'm very proud of the musical heritage there, even though I don't really see any rational reason why I should, because I wasn't even born when most of it was going on.

"My surroundings must have an organic effect on the way I write, but it's not conscious.

"It's only the way that if you live in Ireland for long enough you'll pick up an Irish accent.

"You just take on the characteristics of your environment."

Ali is more direct about what he sees as the task in hand. He's on a mission to give the kids something to believe in again.

"I'm not even being cocky," he says.

"We don't even have a band like Fear Of Music at the moment, and that's what I grew up with, so I want to bring that back."

Fear of Music play Transformation club night at the Carling Academy on Saturday (May 24).

Transformation kicks off at 10.30pm and runs through to 3am.

Tickets are £6, which includes entry to Trashy night upstairs and ever-nutty freak-out rock and metal fest that is Room 101.