During the 1960 this nightclub was one of a number of venues in the north of England that played music that was to become known as 'Northern Soul'. Sadly, the building is now scheduled for demolition after attempts by campaigning groups to save it, failed. It is planned to build a hotel in its place.
The Twisted Wheel nightclub, which was located in this building in Whitworth Street during most of the 1960s, is widely credited with being the 'birthplace' of Northern Soul. Northern Soul is a Northern England musical genre principally influenced by rare soul music, imported from the United States.
The nightclub was perhaps the best known of a number of very popular venues in the North of England playing 'Northern Soul' music during the 1960s. Other Northern Soul venues included The Torch in Stoke-on-Trent and the Wigan Casino, in Wigan.
Twisted Wheel was also a live music venue that would, over the years, see performances from famous soul music artists such as Edwin Starr, Junior Walker and The All Stars, Ben E King and Arthur Conley amongst many others.
The Twisted Wheel has been described as being as significant to Manchester's rich musical heritage as the Cavern Club was to Liverpool's. However, while the the Cavern Club, where the Beatles played frequently in their early years, was first demolished and then opened again, it looks unlikely that this will happen to the Twisted Wheel.
If it does, I will let you know.
[Update 16th Aug 2013] Found this interesting video about The Twisted Wheel on You Tube.........
