The Twisted Wheel
Read wheel mail Twisted Wheel Message board
picture by Neil Thompson , membership card from G Seymour
Paul Stanley outside the club 1967
The Twisted Wheel in Manchester
The Birth place of what was to become northern soul
It is almost 40 years since the doors of "the Twisted Wheel" opened for business for the first time in 1963, I myself a mere toddler, Originally on Brazenose Street off Albert Square the club soon became the leading venue for R&B Beat classics of the era dominating the now lesser known clubs of the day the likes of the "Oasis". A main reason for the clubs early success was the music played by DJ Rodger Eagle who later went on to the "Stax club" on Fountain St and Liverpool's "Eric's" in the seventies ,In 1966 "The Wheel" moved to Whitworth street and by now a mod club started playing soul music, it was not long before the soul boys made their depute on the scene, The Saturday all nighter was the place to be however the place was unlicensed so if you wanted a pint or five The White Hart pub on the corner was the place to slip out to and the fact that under age drinking was no problem made it ideal. The club played host to many legends such as Ben e King, Jr Walker, The Vibrations, Joe Tex, Bob and Earl, The list is a long and star studded one, It was not long before the demand for American imports and British issues on the likes of "Stateside" started a price rise, by now 1968 the price of ten shillings was unheard of and a record five pounds paid for the first time ,By the time 1969 came round the cost of some records made bootlegs worthwhile and cover ups (hiding the identity of a record by a DJ by covering the label with a blank and renaming it) became common, both now as much part of the scene as the music, It was not long before Dave Godin visited the club and coined the phrase "Northern Soul", Due to many raids and pressure from the local police the all nighters were banned and the "Wheel" closed it's doors for the last time in 1971.In it's time the "Wheel" had aprox 15,000 members and will be remembered as greatest venue and the birthplace of northern soul, soon others followed "the Torch" and "Casino"
Read wheel mail Twisted Wheel Message board
Photo taken at the Wheel by Norman Rogers from Cambridge Click here to view more
here's a collection of flyers from the "Wheel" sent in...1 to 7 Joe Satterley 9 and 10 Terry, 11 Mick Taylor
If you have any information , pictures, stories, please email me
many thanks to Terry for the above images and Mick Taylor for the one below
