In 1991, Craig Nicholls met Patrick Matthews while they were working together at Sydney-based McDonald's. Despite being Happy Meal specialists at the time, flipping beef patties and cleaning the deep fryer weren't the only things the rebellious twosome had in store for their lives.

Throwing aside their aprons, the two burger buddies joined forces with guitarist Ryan Griffiths and drummer Hamish Rosser to form the 60s-inspired phenomenon known as the Vines.

Since their fusion, the Nirvana-stimulated quartet has landed a hit record ("Highly Evolved"), immensely successful world tours and a reputation that is both alarming and fascinating at the same time.

In support of its latest release, "Winning Days" (which struck stores on March 23), the band has once again hit the road, staying true to their indie-rock roots. They've lately mixed in a maturity that has yet to be completely picked up by the global audience.

"This time around we're a polished-up band with a polished-up singer," said bassist Patrick Matthews during a phone interview from New York. "Some bands consistently work on their equipment and image, while we continue to work on our songs and sound."

Indeed, the band has refined their vibe by slightly altering their screaming trademark harmonies to more of a popish synchronization.

However, the unruly musical essence that brought the Vines to the top still leaks through the actics that vocalist Craig Nicholls executes.

"This one time, we were at an airport getting ready to go home to Australia and we were really bored," said Matthews. "So, Craig started riding around in a wheelchair, and he just wouldn't get out for anyone. The people at the counter barely let him get his ticket.

"Then we went up to the metal detectors. Craig would not get out. The metal detector kept going off, because the chair is metal. Following a period of time, he finally got out of the wheelchair and we just barely made our flight."

By now, Nicholls' off-the-wall measures have become more of a custom than a distraction to the three bandsmen who travel with him. At one point their future seemed murky, when conflicts between Matthews and Nicholls arose - but since then the disputes have gone counterclockwise down the Australian drain.

"Recently, we all moved into a house together," exclaimed Matthews. "I questioned myself a few times about it, but we're all getting along now. You wouldn't believe it from a few years ago!" 

With getting along comes a stream of success for the bands' latest video, "Ride," which has had tremendous play on MTV and MTV-2.

Still, "Ride" has yet to storm VH1 and Matthews has a bold explanation why.

"VH1 is terrible. I really wish they'd stop playing stuff from the past, and start focusing on the present. I wish we had MTV-2 in Australia, but we don't. They continually play good music."

Despite VH1's lack of coverage, the Vines have already established themselves in a way that wraps around many a serious music fan.

Once a band of uncertainty, immaturity and dispute, the Vines have unified their quartet. The group has potential to be the king of the indie-rock sound,

JESSE SCOTT is a senior at Stafford High School.