Boyce Avenue think One Direction are "down to earth" guys and they are grateful for their support.

Boyce Avenue

Boyce Avenue

The US rock band comprising of brothers Daniel, Alejandro and Fabian Manzano opened for 1D in the UK in January 2012 and have stayed in touch with the boys - Louis Tomlinson, Harry Styles, Niall Horan and Liam Payne - as they have conquered the globe's pop charts.

And Daniel insists their worldwide fame and wealth have not changed the British band - which included Zayn Malik when Boyce Avenue toured with them.

Daniel exclusively told BANG Showbiz: "We've stayed in touch with the guys and they were just starting back then and in our interactions with them now they still remain, in my opinion, really down to earth."

The 35-year-old bassist is very impressed that the 'Drag Me Down' hitmakers - who have now gone on an extended break - were able to buck an American trend and become a major success as a boy band in the US.

He added: "Boy bands are quite unpopular in the United States but we saw something in the guys that we thought was really cool and so we jumped in and we did the tour and it was a really great experience.

"The guys are great and we support all of them and they've been very supportive of us."

Boyce Avenue's new single 'Be Somebody' is out now, their new album 'Road Less Traveled' will be released in early 2016 and Boyce Avenue will be touring the UK in March.