Home to Northen Soul before Wigan Casino and The Torch, as the picture on the left shows, the Wheel is still a recognisable feature of Whitworth Street - certainly outstaying other Manchester clubs of the era.
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CENTRAL 1179 - The story of Manchesters Twisted Wheel Club by Keith Rylatt & Phil Scott
ISBN 0-9536626-3-2 BEE COOL Publishing (BCP) Ltd.
You may need to try ebay or Amazon. |
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Have a look at the scans of Roger Eagle's R'NB Scene magazine |
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| A new novel about going to The Wheel. More info |
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Novel that acuratly charts things at the Twisted Wheel The MANCHESTER WHEELERS - Get it from Beatin' Rythm, Tib St., Manchester |
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The Twisted Wheel & Real Fab 4 Appreciation Society |
Memories
I was brought up in Oldham and went to the Twisted Wheel and the Oasis Club in Manchester, it would be about 1967/68. I never attended the all-nighters.
I got two buses, the B bus which stopped outside my house and then the 98 down Manchester Road, then walked to Whitworth Street.
I remember seeing Junior Walker and the All Stars, Edwin Starr and of course the St Louis Union, who had a massive following as you know. I remember the Union playing the Astoria ballroom in Oldham and hearing Heatwave by Martha and the Vandellas for the first time played by them. They were unique as they had a sax and an organ and did great soul covers. It was ages before I heard the original version and I still remember quite vividly hearing the song for the first time.
A few years ago I was in Selectadisc in Nottingham with my daughter and got a copy of Central 1179, the story of Manchester's Twisted Wheel Club and was overwhelmed with all the memories it brought back. Great days!!!
Janet Chow
I visisted the Wheel regularly around 1969/70 and met many people with very flambouyant names. Like Batman from Leicester and Haggis from Sheffield, Little Dave from Levenshulme and Joey Eager from Liverpool, Kathy and her sister from Glasgow and a lass from Keighly who talked a lot. I spent the whole night in the loos chatting once. I think it was Linda ?
Judy from Stafford who went with Janet from Telford.
I was fortunate enough to work on the ground floor directly above the Wheel in Brazennose St. Talk about mixing business with pleasure! Friday afternoons I could hear that night's bands doing their sound checks, such as they were. The message being that the weekend had already started.
Spent each Saturday buying records and was totally broke come Monday morning. It has always remained a mystery to me how some people seemed to have money for not only records but clothes and pills as well! When The Wheel moved to Whitworth St. it lost it's feel for me. The sound was crap and the place just didn't have the same feeling about it. It became too much a "scene" place to be. I guess that's why Roger Eagle upped sticks though I may be wrong.
John Irving
You think Roger Eagle was the only DJ at The Twisted Wheel in Brazennose St.? The first night I ever attended,(Memphis Slim/Georgie Fame) the man on the decks was Roger Fairhurst (who's still alive and kicking) and he was playing John Mayall's "Crawlin' up a hill". He's still got a terrific collection and is a mine of information. The Wheel wasn't just a one man band.
John Irving
I visited the Twisted Wheel regularly in 1963/64. I don't think it had been open long. Us girls used to do the classic thing of dancing round our handbags!!
If nothing much was happening at the Wheel we used to go round to the Oasis. I remember one night Dave Berry was on at the Oasis. I thought he was strange!
Never went to any all nighters, there would have been hell to pay at home. I used to get the bus in from Cheadle and sometimes walk a lot of the way home (Couldn't do that now, for lots of reasons).
I really liked the Hollies, they were there a lot, if I remember rightly. Happy days.
J Simpson
Read with interest the comments re dj's at Brazenose Street Wheel. Whatever happened to Peter(Bongo) Van Dort. Does anybody remember him?
Ron Finn
Bongo Van Dort was the dj at the original Wheel. He introduced us to the Coasters, Chuck Berry and many more great artists. We were the new generation of hippie teenagers - long hair, bell bottom jeans, black roll neck jumpers.
Sadly Peter (Bongo) passed away in 1972 in a car accident in Yorkshire. His son has got a e mail address on one of the Wheel sites.
P Byrne
31/3/09
The first thing I used to do when entering the Old Wheel was request the DJ to play my favourite record of the time, 'Crossroads' by Homesick James.
Saw some great performances there too by John Lee Hooker, Carl Perkins, The Yardbirds, Spencer Davis, Sonny Boy Williamson, and Long John Baldry: who used to wander about the place ducking the archways that led from room to room with Rod Stewart at his side looking even smaller than he is.
The pea soup was another memory, very tasty: along with the pretty girls with their long hair and panstick lipstick.
Peter Bradford
There was a dark side to the "Wheel" that at the time was very cool, and that was what we all called "pep pills". To stay up dancing all night at the all-nighters in those days you needed some amphetamines. Most of which were knocked-off from local chemists. We did not have any chemical names, we just called them by their colours, red'n'blacks, brown'n'greens etc.
Spencer and the other bloke (forgot his name) from the cops used to search us as we were lining up to get into the all-nighters on a regular basis. We used to buy the pills on Picadilly station and slide them inside the turnups of my bleached blue jeans. Boy, the state of us in the El Mogambo round the corner on Sunday morning, getting it together to go home. my kids don't believe half the stories.
Chris W
I started to go down the Wheel with my older brother Tony (Rest his soul) and my mates back in 68-70. We lived in Nelson Lancs and would alternate between either The Wheel or an all nighter close to home in Brierfield called the Bird Trap,
We would go down our local dance hall called The Imp to see some of the great Soul Acts like Sam & Dave, Otis Reading etc and then off down the good old all nighter to dance the night away.
If only it was still like that now a days!!!!! Long Live Soul
David West
I was interested to read the comments by Dave West from Nelson, about the "Bird Trap" and thought he may be interested to know that I attended a "Bird trap " re-unoin night in the original club on the 6th Feb, 2010,. it was a FANTASTIC night all the old wheel sounds all night and about 200 in, they are planning more soon!
Jim
26/2/10
I was a regular at the wheel 69/71 great times me and friends from Doncaster. I remember batman, haggis, nobby (from Derby)
Chris Farrell
I remember the Twisted Wheel club in Brazennose Street and later at Whitworth St. I attended reularly from about 1963 to 1965. I saw many artists including Sony Boy Williamson. I went to the all night sessions and the next day the dedicated went to Blackpool, where we finished off the weekend with more clubbing.
The club was non alcoholic, but by the time the all night session opened, most of us had been drinking in the local pubs. However, there was a lot of uppers and downers used. When the police raided one night, the floor was covered in pills and the less fortunate were scrabbling around the floor trying to scoop them up.
That aside I had some fantastic nights dancing to the beat of r&b. I also remeber the Oasis club, where I saw several budding artists who late became pop legends, but I found it rather commercial and less of a buzz than the twisted wheel. I didn't think the reopening in Whitworth St was as successful as the original club. Later, I progressed on to other (alcoholic) clubs and got stuck into a professional career, but I can still remember many of the faces and pals I had, but not their names. I would love to hear from them.
My tastes these days extend more to Paolo Conte than modern pop, but I when I hear the r&b I have to dance, and memories of my carefree youth come back.
Alan Brooks
Had many great nights at the wheel with the Heywood "in Crowd" Ebb, Sid, Bone, Tud, and Dennis "Hutthur" Kingslow and the girls Mooresy, Flower,and Petal.
Used to meet early and spend a few hours in the "Jigsaw" before moving onto the Wheel. Saw some good artists including Ben E King, Spencer Davis and Edwin Starr.
Just for interest my brother Roy was lead singer with "The Powerhouse". A great Manchester soulband who should have acheived more.
If any members of the Heywood "In Crowd" read this and want a reunion night you can contact me. I'm in the phone book. That's Chris (Ebb) McLean, Anthony (Tud) Loxley, Jeff (Bone) Greatorex , Sid (TheNose) Pinde, Dave (Albums) Hayes, Dennis (Hutther) Kingslow plus the Girls - Val (Mooresy) Moores, Janet (Flower) Gannon and Petal not sure of her name. Also Lesley (Les) Waterhouse.
Let's relive our youth again before it's too late.
Alan ( Alby) Gibbs
People do not believe the times we used have. It will never be repeated - we would go out on Friday night and not go home till Monday morning
Roy Barry
I went to the Wheel 66 to 69. The great thing was the fact it was so frendly and in the moring you went to the Salvation Army for tea for a cup of tea then the Blue Note just to come down. Then we got the train back to Carlisle.
Bill Elliott
Great trip down Memory Lane reading about the Wheel.
Used to go there in the early Sixties. Coming from the "Country" (Wythenshawe:-) we would get the 102 to Albert Sq and then "tank up" in the Rising Sun before heading to the "All Nighters".
Agree, fantastic times, great groups (Spencer Davies with "baby" Steve Winwood on vocals and organ, ike and Tina Turner etc.
Sunday night we would then get our "best mod gear" on and go to Belle Vue. Saw Long John Baldry/Rod etc.
Often wonder what happened to Samantha who "helped" Jimmy Saville on the stage. Supposed to have gone to America with Mickey Dolenz of the Monkees.
Talk about full circle, now live in NYC and Peter Noone appearing at an oldies reunion a few miles from here next week. He couldn't sing when he lived in Sale and presume he still can't
Peter Appleton
Thank goodness someone has come up with the real deal about the Wheel instead of the suger coated version!!
I refer to Chris W who writes about the scene on the station, and being searched for pills. Sgt Pxxxxx's Purple Heart Club Band consisted of four officers, with one or two wooden tops brought in for special occasions, which brings me to my tale of woe.
Does anyone recall the night in September, 1967, when Paul Band was badly beaten outside the club, 4 men tried to drag him into a car. After he had been taken to hospital the police came up to the the station, blocked all the entrances, told everyone to stand still, as they were investigating a serious incident and we were all to be searched, and to give out names and addresses.
This never happened, as for some reason best known to himself, he took one look at me, and arrested me, dragged me out between him and a WPC. Everyone was watching, about 50-60 people were there, surely this can be remembered by someone.
They took me to Paul in the hospital, who told them that I did not do it. The police then took me back to the wheel himself, they turned the music off, and one gave some sort of little speech. He then let me go, and off he went. Over the years many people have said, "I know you, your that guy who got pulled by the police that night, but it was 40 years ago!!
Barrie Worthington aka 5 boys
Great site. I attended the Twisted Wheel 1963/65 when it was in Brazenose St.
Bongo van Dort was the dj - first time I heard real r&b. Big Pat was the doorman, very calm bloke, no alcoho.
Best nights Tuesday and Thursdays, Saturday allnighters - I think Wednesday nights were all r&b with Roger Eagles dj.
First heard Chuck Berry, Muddy Waters, Sonny Boy Williamson.
Peter Byrne
7/2/09
The Twisted Wheel, for me was one of the great places to be to listen, watch and be part of the bets blues scene in the UK. I was privelaged as a very young musician to play at the wheel in my first group the Madmen and later as a memeber of The Beat Boys.
The Beat Boys were managed by Jack, Ivor and Phil Abadi who owned the Wheel. I had a great education by being able to rub shoulders with and watch most of my heroes, Memphis Slim, Georgie Fame, Chris Farlow John Lee Hooker and many many more. It was the place to be and the memories for me are still very vivid. God Bless The Wheel, all who played and all who visited.
Mike Gannon
5/3/09
I can't believe this site exists! I was checking out a sixties band, 'The Mighty Avengers' and picked up the link.
Through early '64 and on to '65 and '66 I was in Manchester most nights. Monday at the wheel saw Alexis Korner in residence and Saturday night early and all night sessions punctuated by visits to the Rising Sun, in at the back door out at the front, and into the Nag's Head, with your 'pass out' stamp on your wrist. Georgie Fame was 'magic'.
The Cavern club in Cromford Court provided the setting for my only brush with the local law enforcement officers. A mate, Steve Church, had a bad reaction to something and five or six of us, courtesy of passouts, were outside the club getting some air and a passing 'bobby' commented on the general need for haircuts and kept on going.
Next minute, the black van with half a dozen of his mates pulls up, were loaded in and taken to Bootle St., booked for 'Loitering with intent' put in cells, minus shoe laces and ties, leather or nothing, whilst Parents were summoned! Laugh or what! Subsequently in Court, in school uniform, conditional discharge.
Great time, great mates, not all of whom still around, remembering Derek Stevens ( Weed) Barry Wynn and a few more.
Michael Dalton
30/3/09
Wow, I'd forgotten what the old place looked like!
I remember queuing outside there many a time.
I saw John Lee Hooker, Sonny Boy Williamson, The Animals and so many more great people.
I'm pretty sure I saw the Rolling Stones there too, before they were famous, but as no-one else mentions them perhaps that was another club. Wherever it was, they were so Not famous that they just walked through the audience before their set and Mick Jagger brushed right against me.
They were sensational and it's why I made a note of their name and realised later when they became famous.
Cary Butterworth
28/4/09
Hey fantastic, to find Manchester Beat.We used to get the 125 from Hyde to the All Nighters and in the week the Oasis and others.
I live in New Zealand now and my family said why not write someting about your younger days, cheeky sods! and researching came across this site. Memories memories, but we were in at the start, the kids here just don't what it's all about when they think they're having a good time.
NZ Pete
4/5/09
Being so old, I remember the 'Wheel' when it was the 'Left Wing Coffee Bar'. John Rowlands, who later played with John Mayall's Blues Syndicate, used to run the all night jazz sessions there. We used to drop in after a Saturday night gig if we were passing through town.
John would sometimes import a 'name' in from London but the only one that I can remember seeing there was tenor player Don Rendell, one of my favourites. Don later had a quintet with Graham Bond who at that time was playing alto. Graham of course went on to play Hammond Organ, finally meeting a sad end under the wheels of an underground train. I can't be sure who played with John Rowlands but it might well have included the likes of Roy Hilton and Hughie Flint (McGuiness Flint).
To give you some idea of how long ago this was, I can remember coming in to town in the early hours of a Sunday Morning after a gig just to look in Looker's window (the car dealers on Deansgate) to see this revolutionary new car that had been unveiled at midnight that night. It was the Mini.
Brazennose Street being almost opposite Lookers, we probably went on to the Left Wing for a cup of coffee and a dose of jazz.
Pete Crooks
30/5/09
The Abadi Brothers, ex Burnage Grammar School lads, opened the Wheel on January 27th, 1963. On opening night the headline act was "Dean West and The Hellions" who were from Burnage, later changing their name to The Wailers, eventually disbanding in April 1964 when Barry "Bean" Whitwam and Lek Leckenby left to join Hermans Hermits. The very first DJ at The Wheel was Geoff Mullin, another ex-BGS boy.
Dave Chalmers
15/2/10
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