WHEATUS is performing at Bucks New Uni's student union on October 2. Here lead singer Brendan B. Brown talks to Abbie Blunt about One Direction, Teenage Dirtbag and a fruit allergy.

Teenage Dirtbag is probably one of your most popular songs. Where did the inspiration for that come from?

When I was ten, in 1984, there was a Satanic ritual, drug-induced, murder in my town very close to my house. The kid who did it was arrested wearing an AC/DC shirt and had long been considered a "dirtbag" for his music choices, among other things. Problem was I too listened to AC/DC. I'd avoided drugs and killing my friends until then but alas, I was similarly labeled by teachers, parents, clergy, etc a dirtbag. At the time there was also a serious campaign afoot to blame music for criminal behavior; Judas Priest even stood trial for it at one point. It was in this ignorant, puritanical environment that the song found its "setting". Anyway, I kept my AC/DC tapes and wore my shirts all the same. It was both an ostracising and enlightening experience. A few years later, because of the local violence, my parents thought it best that I commute via train to a boys high school quite far from home. That was very isolating.

What’s the truth behind you being a One Direction fan?

It is the truth. I saw them at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey last week and they were fantastic. I think they are exceptional that way. Lots of acts on that level rely on technology to get them through the night. I happen to know for certain that 1D are the real deal.

Who’s your favourite One Direction member?

Well, Josh and Sandy (part of One Direction’s band) are my friends and we've a special chemistry so my opinions are biased but I do look forward to hearing Zayn destroy those high notes. I don't think any of them can ever be replaced though, so it's tough to pick favourites.

Would you ever leave Wheatus to be in One Direction?

I will never leave Wheatus. Funny you should ask though. In contemplating a name for a new non-Wheatus side project with Josh and Sandy we all agreed there is no universe where I stop doing Wheatus records, ever.

Where do you see the band going in the near future?

Quite a bit of the arrangements from album seven are turning out to be metal. I have this one period in my guitar playing, when I was 14 to 16 where Metallica's ‘...And Justice for All’ was all I worked on. I've found myself returning to that in my sonic choices lately. We also have collaborations with Drull, K Flay, Josh & Sandy, Math The Band, MC Lars and a few others on the horizon, so, the answer is, all over the place.

Any secrets you can share about the band members?

One of us has a severe reaction to a certain type of fruit. Not saying who or what fruit.

How have you had to adapt to the changes of the music industry?

It's been interesting to see things get more positive in social media. I'm not sure about this but I think the trolls are dying out. In our case it has been all upside, no label, no management, no one telling us to wear tight leather pants. Perfect.

Where did the name Wheatus come from?

My dad used to call us that when we were kids. It's a devolution of the word "little".

- Abbie Blunt is the student editor of The Bucks Student, the newspaper produced by Bucks Students’ Union.