One Direction

The boy band One Direction was so concerned the other big boy band, The Wanted, was gonna beat on them, they tried to flee a Burbank studio ... but then The Wanted boys showed up.

Here's what we know ... On April 4, One Direction was rehearsing for SNL at CenterStaging, a Burbank rehearsal studio. Sources connected with CenterStaging tell us ... security for the band became aware that The Wanted was about to show up to rehearse for their "American Idol" performance the next day.

We're told the boys from One Direction -- all of them except Liam -- were scared because the British tabloids have been writing about tension and smack talk between the 2 bands. The One Direction lads talked about the guys from The Wanted being tough guys (which apparently is true) and they were worried about getting taunted and manhandled.

Our sources say One Direction decided to abruptly end the session and leave, but before that happened The Wanted showed up. The security team for The Wanted spoke with security for One Direction and discussed One Direction's fears. Security for The Wanted then told band members about One Direction's fears, and Max (from The Wanted) bolted into the studio where One Direction was wrapping up, laughed and gave Liam (he's from One Direction) a hug.

We're told everyone got a laugh out of it -- except Louis from One Direction, who wouldn't go near the boys from The Wanted.

Warning: Do not look directly at One Direction when the heartthrobs are shirtless and pounding beers Down Under -- that is unless you're prepared to lose your mind!!

British boy band One Direction is being sued by a much lesser known American band -- also called One Direction -- and now, the Americans are out for blood ... demanding the Brits change their name.

The U.S. One Direction just filed the lawsuit, claiming they formed in 2009 -- an entire year before the UK band members even knew each other -- and have since developed a considerable following this side of the Atlantic.

In addition to building a reputation around the name, the Americans claim they also beat the Brits in a race to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office -- filing a trademark application for "One Direction" long before their UK counterparts.

Now, the Americans are asking for a court order -- requiring the Brits to change their name.

The Americans are also suing Simon Cowell's record label and Sony Music -- demanding more than $1 million in damages.

The British band -- which was formed by Simon Cowell in 2010 while members competed on the UK "X Factor" -- has yet to respond to the lawsuit.

In this new boy band era, The Wanted (top) -- Tom Parker, 23, Nathan Sykes, 18, Max George, 23, Siva Kaneswaran, 23, and Jay McGuiness, 21 -- and One Direction (bottom) -- Louis Tomlinson, 20, Niall Horan, 18, Liam Payne, 18, Zayn Malik, 19, and Harry Styles, 19 -- are vying for your crazed screaming tween's dollars.

Question is ...

There are five members in the hit British boy band One Direction -- and today in Dallas, there will be 20 security personnel for each of them ... to ensure their rabid fan base stays safe and in check.

According to our sources, a security team of 100 has been assigned to protect the group for their performance ... which is only supposed to last 45 minutes.

The band, which became the first UK group in history to debut at number one with their first album, is scheduled to play just four songs for a crowd of about 7,000 at the Dr Pepper Ballpark.

The security breaks down like this: 40 for close protection security, 50 more for the venue, and then 10 more just on stand by.