Like a bunch of prissy models, McFly's favourite topic of conversation is each other.

Tom Fletcher (guitar/vocals) talks about Dougie Poynter (bass, vocals), Danny Jones (guitar/vocals) talks about Harry Judd (drums) and they all talk about Danny.

For example, the band are constantly amused by Danny's insistence that anyone with any sort of accent is automatically from Bolton.

He recently claimed this was true of an Italian tourist!

Tom describes Dougie as "one of the most quirky people I've ever met. He comes across as being quiet and shy when you first meet him - but you soon find out what he's really like!"

One of Dougie's particular habits, the rest of the band will tell you, is to pepper everyday occurrences with his own sound effects.

And, adds Danny, "he never complains and he never gets angry. Mind you, he does have the smelliest feet in the world".

Cricket-mad Harry Judd is 17. He has lived in Essex (which is, he claims, "pure quality") all his life, and was educated at posh school Uppingham.

"He's so determined," says Danny. "But he's a really good friend. He's the one we can all turn to for advice, and he's got lots of common sense."

Adds Tom: "Harry can be brutally honest at times - but you know he'll always give it to you straight. We wouldn't want him any other way."

McFly are the second boy band with guitars.

Their mates in Busted were the first, and it's certain more will follow.

It's the latest repacking of an old tried-and-tested formula - pretty boys adored by teenage girls.

The band has been named after Michael J Fox's Back to the Future character, Marty McFly, especially his line: "If you don't play there's no music. If there's no music they don't dance. If they don't dance they don't kiss. And if they don't kiss, they don't fall in love."

They're obviously pushing the right buttons, as all but a few venues on their autumn tour have sold out, Newport being one of them.

"We enjoy being on stage so much," Tom gushes. "One thing that separates us from a lot of bands is that we can just walk into a room, pick up some instruments and bang out one of our songs."

They've also made it into the Guinness Book of Records as the youngest band to have a number entry with their debut album.

They took that record away from The Beatles with Room On The Third Floor.

Two singles, 5 Colours In Her Hair, and Obviously, have also fared well in the charts.

The band's new single, That Girl, is out on Monday, September 6.

It, too, sounds a bit like The Monkeys, and will no doubt reach the higher echelons of the Top 40.

Elsewhere on planet Earth outbreaks of McFly are spreading epidemically.

There's just been another in Japan with 5 Colours In Her Hair reaching number three in their charts.

The band jetted out there last month to capitalise on the phenomenon.

It's certainly going McFly's way, but the question remains whether they will stand the test of time.

Will they end up like discarded Hear'Say (remember - they still have the record for the longest run of gigs in Cardiff International Arena) or will they drone on and on like Westlife?

Only you, the pop-picker can decide.

Either way, if you want tickets to see them at all this year, on their first tour all of their own, you'd better hurry.

The hysteria has already seen almost all of the North sell out, and extra dates have been added in London.

It seems only in Newport has the fever been less severe, and there's standing room behind a pillar left for those who want it.

* McFly play Newport Centre on Thursday, October 7.