FOLLOWING a string of raucous UK live performances supporting The Rifles and The View alongside summer sets at both the Olympic and Paralympic Games, the all-male rock band The IC1s headed back to their studio to record their latest single.

Called Growing Up Going Down, it was released on Monday.

The band formed more than two years ago, having met through attending schools in Harrow and Pinner and going to various house parties in the borough.

Ex-Nower Hill High pupil Andy Faulkner, 29, is the drummer and currently lives in Pinner.

“It’s really exciting that the new single has been released, after we performed at the Olympics and Paralympics,” he said.

“We recorded loads of songs and we hope to release our first EP by the end of year.”

The new track explores the loss of innocence, dreams and opportunities while coming of age in working class London.

The other members of the group are lead singer Daniel Coburn, 30, guitarists Jesse James, 26, and Jacob Campbell, 29 ,and the bass guitarist, 29 year-old Jacob Osman.

Their first gig was in Harrow’s Trinity Bar in Station Road, and despite travelling all over the UK, the band enjoy returning to Harrow for some home comfort and local support.

Andy added: “It’s been amazing playing gigs in Brighton, Sheffield, Manchester and all over.

“We have some really good times and the crowds have been awesome.

“But, obviously, we are Harrow based band, so coming back here is great, nothing like a bit of home comfort and seeing local support.”

The band have built up a star-studded fan base, including the man who discovered Oasis and founded Creation Records, Alan Mcgee, The Libertines’ Gary Powell, The Stone Roses’ Mani and DJ Steve Lamacq.

Gary Powell from The Libertines said: “They are highly exciting to watch and thought-provoking to listen to, a must-see for anyone who wants a real rock and roll band with attitude and ability.”

Andy said: “It’s great having these guys follow us. We all grew up listening to their music and are big fans, so it’s awesome that they are so passionate about us and our music.

“We also have a lot of good-looking ladies as fans so, obviously, we really like that.”

The IC1s’ debut single, Levitate, was the second most downloaded new entry in the iTunes Alternative Charts in its week of entry, resulting in a chart position of 195 in the iTunes top 20.

Following this, the band released Not Perfect as part of a compilation entitled Emerging Icons curated by the Kaiser Chiefs.

“The music industry is a tough one, so we all have day jobs and work really hard,” said Andy. “Obviously it would be wicked to just play gigs and travel around all the time. That’s the dream.”

The band have shared venues and festival stages with indie giants such as The View, The Charlatans, The Cribs, The Rifles and mainstream acts such as Tinie Tempah.

In February last year, they headlined the final date of HMV’s Next Big Thing Festival and were invited to play at the Olympics and Paralympics on the Emerging Icons Festival Stage in the Olympic Park in Stratford, east London.

Andy said: “Playing at the Olympics was awesome. We had so much fun.

“We actually played an acoustic set there and we have started doing a few of those recently.

“It’s good, but we prefer rock and roll, but I suppose it gives people a variety.”

n IC1s new single, Growing Up Going Down, is available to download on iTunes and as a 7in vinyl record at www.twosistersrecords.co.uk.