The image of a boy band as a group of puppets controlled by a Svengali-style manager is changing.

And The Vamps are part of that move to greater autonomous control – with Dorset-based guitarist James McVey forming the band through social media channel YouTube.

“I had done solo stuff but I like the camaraderie of having a band,” he says fresh from playing Newcastle’s City Hall the night before.

“I got the best three guys I could ever find.”

It was a YouTube cover of an Ed Sheeran track by Birmingham-based singer Brad Simpson which brought him to McVey’s notice – and started the ball rolling.

“We started writing together and found Tristan [Evans] drumming on another video,” says McVey. “We were three for a while and then we found Connor [Ball, bassist]. It was all through the internet.”

McVey had been writing songs for ten years and was insistent that the band should have control over their destinies.

“When we signed our record deal we went for a group of people that we felt understood us and appreciated us as songwriters and musicians,” he says of their deal with Mercury. “We didn’t want to work with people who were forceful and controlling. We’re lucky we have a good team.”

Making their debut album Meet The Vamps, the four-piece ended up working with the world’s biggest pop producers and songwriters. The roll of honour included Norwegian duo Espionage, whose CV includes tracks with Beyonce and Train; TMS, who have worked with Professor Green and Emeli Sande; Bruno Mars; and future tourmates McFly.

“It was great working with producers and songwriters – we had never done that before,” says McVey, adding that some of the album tracks have a long history.

“I wrote Move My Way when I was 15. Smile was a very early one too when it was just me and Brad. But then we recorded Somebody To You only two months before the album came out – you never know with songs when some will crop up in the last minute.”

Evans also co-produced the tracks She Was The One and Dangerous, adding to his work on the band’s B-sides and EPs over the past few months.

“He’s made all the interlude musical sections and the drum solo for the live show himself,” says McVey, adding the debut headline jaunt will have something for everyone.

“We wanted to play the songs that people know, and experiment with adding new songs that no-one has heard before.”

The show will have an acoustic section, and a nod to the band’s YouTube cover origins with a series of solo spots.

The Vamps previously visited Brighton as support to McFly, an experience McVey says influenced their approach to the live show.

“Hopefully we have learned to be charismatic and more energetic on stage,” he says. “I like the fact McFly run around and have the best fun – that’s what we try to do with our performance.”

As for the future there is still the elusive number one to achieve – with the Meet The Vamps album being kept off the top spot by Paolo Nutini, and four of their five singles reaching the top five but just missing the top.

And there are already plans for November recording sessions to create album number two in the US.

“We are writing all the time - you can’t control or constrict songwriting,” says McVey. “We’re always experiencing new people and places.

“It would be great to have a number one, but we’re just trying to make music and have fun along the way. It’s not about number ones, it’s about having a blast.”

The Vamps Brighton Centre, King’s Road, Wednesday, October 8 Support from EofE. Doors 6.30pm, tickets from £29.50. Call 08448 471515.