HE might have been named GQ magazine’s 39th best dressed man, but Frankie and the Heartstrings frontman Frankie Francis has no illusions about his position as a style icon.

“It’s very exciting — but I did get beaten by Romeo Beckham. And David Cameron,” he says.

“It’s very flattering, though, and if it draws attention to the band then it’s all good.”

He probably does himself something of a disservice — the quiff and leather jacket might suggest Rydell High, but the band are pure modern pop, and would undoubtedly attract attention without Dylan Moran’s blessing.

Despite having one early single released by iconic label Rough Trade, the five-piece, who hail from Sunderland, home of pop gems Kenickie and Field Music, made the decision to release the album on their own label, charmingly named PopSex.

“It gives us freedom of creativity,” says Frankie. “We don’t have to answer to anyone.

"A band should speak to the people who buy the records and come to the gigs — that’s why we spend so much time writing to our fans and sending them letters and posters and things.

"We do this full-time, and it doesn’t take two minutes to write a letter.

"There’s no excuse for thinking that you’re too important to do that for your fans.”

The boys met at a local club where Frankie was running a calypso-themed night.

“There was probably only the guys from the band that went,” he says.

“We were so bored, so we decided to form the band to entertain ourselves.”

Impressive support slots followed —- first with Florence and the Machine and then fellow hot tips of 2010 The Drums, and before he knew it, Frankie was no longer the guy telling his bosses that he was going to do something better with his life.

“Things have happened quite fast,” he says. “We had some ridiculous support tours and before we knew it we were quitting our jobs.”

This year sees them not only releasing their first album — due out at the end of the month — but also heading out on tour worldwide, including a first appearance in Los Angeles.

For now, however, they are focusing on their UK dates, some of which will feature a live brass band, and on building on the reputation that has seen them hailed as one of the best live bands to emerge in the past year.

* Frankie and the Heartstrings play Manchester Club Academy on Thursday, February 17. Tickets cost £8.17, 0161 8321111; then Liverpool Academy on Saturday, February 19.