1) Start a band. Arse around for a few months playing gigs badly to about 10 people with a drummer whose sole intention was to show off.

2) Sack drummer and get another, do a couple of rehearsals, play a couple of gigs.

3) Record demo, reasonably badly.

4) Put the two that came out ok on myspace.

5) Get gig offers and praise flooding in.

6) Have XL and Mercury both asking if they can come along to rehearsals.

This all seems entirely bizarre to me. Does it happen to a lot of bands or is my band better than I thought?

This is a serious question, not a JAG, hence why I havent mentioned my band! I'm literally bemused!