IF you were to define the word hero it would probably mean someone to look up to, someone who does what is right by society's standards.

So what makes up-and-coming band Antihero the antithesis of such a concept?

Although they are being looked up to by a firm fan base after making it into John Peel's Festive 50 last year, they say they are anti-heroes who do not want to be sucked into the university, job-for-life, production line.

"Antihero describes who we are," says drummer Jack Hamson, a former pupil at The King's School, Worcester.

"We are not about being rebellious but avoiding having to do the normal things in life, and our music reflects this."

Antihero are clearly on the way up in life after being promised a John Peel recording session at the end of February.

They are also due to play their first-ever gig in Worcester when they bring their indie/alternative rock sounds to the Marrs Bar next week.

"We did a gig with Miss Black America in Suffolk last July and John Peel was there," says Jack.

"We wanted to give him our CD demo of our song MTV but he insisted on buying it, then he played it a week later on the radio."

Antihero are four teenagers based in Stratford who formed three years ago.

The current line-up consists of 18 year-old drummer and sampler Jack Hamson, Marcus Ratliff, lead guitar and vocals, also 18, Pete Hurley , 19, vocals and bass player, and vocalist Davo McConville, 19.

They cite The Dandy Warhols, Nirvana and the Smashing Pumpkins as their inspiration.

They have been played on Radio 1 by DJ Steve Lamacq and won Stratford Battle of the Bands 2000.

But it was thanks to the release of a record called Who's Looking out for Number 1 on one side of 7in vinyl, (with a Miss Black America track on the other side) that got them the session.

"After John Peel started playing our single we got into the Festive 50," Jack says.

"We got to number 38 above The Strokes and Radiohead.

"We found out about it on Christmas Day, then later had a phone call from John's producer saying John wanted us to do a session.

"It is going to be amazing because the very band we love has recorded a Peel session in the Maida Vale studios.

"It's the most exciting thing we've done."

Antihero will be playing The Marr's Bar, Pierpoint Street, Worcester on Thursday, January 31.