A YEAR ago The Vaccines didn’t exist – today they’re one of the most exciting and talked about bands in Britain.

After a whirlwind of hype, the band was named on the BBC’s Sound of 2011, brining even more media attention their way.

Drummer Pete Robertson says: “It wasn’t something we planned or was on our radar when we started playing music together. On the other hand, it does put the pressure on slightly – we now have something to live up to. It enables us to play to a wider audience and it’s introduced us to a lot more people who wouldn’t have heard us otherwise.”

Along with bands Crystal Castles, Magnetic Man and Everything Everything, The Vaccines complete an eclectic line-up for this year’s NME Awards Tour that reaches the O2 Academy Bournemouth on February 16.

Robertson says: “It’s an interesting one. It’s a double-edge thing in some respects. We were really glad to be the only out-and-out guitar band, because it’s something a little bit different. There aren’t that many straight-up guitar bands at the moment and it’s nice not to have the competition but it will be interesting to have the meeting of genres. Magnetic Man and Crystal Castle fans wouldn’t be into a band like ours. With modern tastes and technology being what it is, it does open up people’s tastes. To have a mix on the same bill is a great thing.

“We’ve got around a half an hour, which suits us. The album is just a shade over a half an hour anyway, so we will play most of it.

“We will mix it up a bit. We’ve been working on a cover recently which we really like, so we might throw that in.”

Not only are the London four-piece seen as bright hopes for the New Year but as figureheads for a new era of British guitar music.

Robertson added: “All of these things are a kind of poisoned chalice in a way. It makes us feel good about what we are doing, we feel like we are a good band and we are doing something interesting.

“At the same time it almost makes us out to be providing some kind of public service sent from the government department of guitar music – that’s not what we are here for.

“It’s about making music – we love what we do and we hope people like what we are doing. It’s been suggested guitar music needs saving and I don’t think it does – it never has needed saving.

“Sometimes it’s fashionable and sometimes it’s not, over the last few years the cycle suggests it might become popular.”

The release of their debut album, What Did You Expect From The Vaccines? was brought forward in the wake of the growing interest in the band. But Robertson insists the title wasn’t a reaction to the hype.

The band began 2011 touring America, including a sold-out show in New York’s Bowery Ballroom, watched by Blondie’s Debbie Harry.

• The Vaccines play with Everything Everything, Magnetic Man and Crystal Castles as part on the NME Awards Tour 2011 at 02 Academy, Bournemouth on February 16.