MILD-mannered electricity company office manager by day, fully charged-up rock superstar by night. That’s the Clark Kent existence of Baddies’ drummer Jim Webster.

Baddies, made up of four Southend lads, is being touted as one of the hottest unsigned bands in the country. Their first rapid-firing single, Battleships, has blasted its way into the top 15 of the national indie charts.

Released as a one-off limited edition vinyl and download only, Battleships has held top spot on the MTV/Myspace video chart for the last few weeks, sailing past the Killers and Keane. This has paved the way for music bible NME to tip them as 2009’s bright young things.

With a hectic tour schedule, making regular stops in big European cities like Barcelona, Paris, Oslo and Amsterdam, the boys are in demand, both at home and abroad. But they haven’t given up the day jobs, just yet!

“We haven’t got to that stage, but it might not be far away,” admits Jim, 26, whose twin brother Mike is the Baddies’ singer.

“Three of us work for electricity company E.on, in Rayleigh, while the other member of the band is employed by a Basildon call centre. I’m a manager at my place and the company has been very supportive, giving us flexibility.

“But it’s always weird flying back buzzing from a midweek gig in Berlin and returning to a world where my main focus is concentrating on getting team call times reduced and increasing phone sales.”

Jim adds: “The stage is fast approaching where we need a record company to offer us financial support. We’ve got a great management team, a booking agent finding us amazing gigs and the national press we are receiving is unbelievable.

“We just need someone with cash now to take us forward.

“But working and playing is cool too. It’s really sort of punk, struggling through to make it. It helps you appreciate it all the more when things do go well.”

Baddies’ debut single Battleships is a fast-paced, energetic tidal wave of new-wave punk noise. Not bad, when you consider this quartet only set off on their musical voyage 18 months ago.

Jim and his brother were in two different bands, plodding around the local circuit at venues like Chinnery’s, in Southend, and the Castlemayne, Basildon.

When their former groups disbanded they decided to join forces, recruiting guitarist Simon Bellamy and bass player Danny Rowton.

With a Radio One live session, recorded at the legendary Maida Vale studios, due to be broadcast in the new year, plus a high-profile slot performing at the Myspace Christmas party, in London, this month, Baddies are closing in on the big time.

“I think it all changed for us after we played the Great Escape festival in Brighton last year,” adds Jim. “There were loads of talent scouts there and we definitely made more than a few pairs of ears prick up with our performance.

“It’s really gone from strength to strength since, with the band getting loads of really good attention, air play and gigs, including playing in front of 1,500 people at Coco in Camden.”

Baddies are currently recording material for a new single at Metropolis Studios, London, and these industrious boys have even come up with a credit crunch-beating plan to get it released, if all else fails on the record deal front.

“Record companies are worried about taking risks,” explains Jim. “Our management are looking into an alternative for us. We’ve been told there is a big money pot in the City of London for grants.

“It’s where all the big cheese bankers put money when they want to avoid a tax loss apparently. If all else fails, we’re hoping we may be able to tap into this fund, go to a record company and say ‘we’ve got the money, put out our single’. ”

Baddies certainly seem to have most other things going their way.

They’ve even got MTV on board, with the broadcaster promoting their homecoming gig at the Grand Hotel, Leigh, on Friday, December 19.

“MTV are looking into branching out into other areas, promoting gigs and events,” adds Jim. “They asked if they could put on our Christmas gig as an experiment and we were more than happy to say yes.

“When the biggest music station on the planet wants you to be their guinea pigs, you just can’t believe it. I’m sure it will be another big help to Baddies getting where they want to be.”

Support at the Grand comes from Tom Allalone and the 78s, plus the Hoodlums. For more information visit www.myspace.com/baddies