The unGoogle-ables: They didn't see the Internet coming

Instant, striking, unforgettable: A is a great name for a band, and also gave rise to possibly the best band logo ever.

Can you Google them?

Eh?

Who are they?

A is a British pop-punk outfit comprising identical twin brothers Jason and Adam Perry on vocals and drums, younger brother Giles on keyboards, Mark Chapman on guitar and Daniel P Carter on bass (replacing original plank-spanker Stevie Swindon after one album). The band formed in 1995 and swiftly built a massive live following with their pedal-to-the-metal, sample-laced punk and enormo-chorus stadium rock.

What were they thinking?

Never a band to hide their stadium-sized ambitions, the band changed their name from Grand Designs -- referencing Rush, not that programme about pretentious houses -- so they would always be first in record-store racks. Epic thinking in the hard-copy age, not so easy for anyone wanting to search the Internet. Also a headache for music sub-editors, who often resorted to the somewhat dubious-sounding 'A'. Not to be confused with boy band A1 or, as Spotify thinks, A+.

Did it do them any harm?

Despite singles Nothing and Starbucks hitting the top 10 and top 20 in 2001, A's devoted live following and well-received albums never translated into massive sales, and the boys are currently on hiatus apart from the occasional live show. Among other things, Jason Perry produces McFly and Daniel P Carter presents the Radio One Rock Show.

Top hit for A?

A Dictionary of Slang
A dictionary of English slang and British colloquialisms. No sign of our chaps anywhere.

How do we find them?

Your only chance with a search engine is to go with a song or album title. Although there isn't an official site, there is a vibrant fan board at a-communication.co.uk, an out-of-date MySpace page called howacearea, or, if you really want to write off the morning, check out the often hilarious, always rockin' videos at YouTube. Oh it's on; it's on like Monkey Kong.