Twisted Wheel 63-71 - DJs still with us... AND working ?:

[Tigger]

This is not about the music they played, or the heritage they created. Those with respect for the Manchester club will already know about that - even those too young to go there at the time.
It seems more and more event hosts have forgotten entirely, that there ever was a Twisted Wheel if their adverts are anything to go by.

So this request is for either the DJs playing there at the time or people in the know - to simply SHOW THEMSELVES. 
How many are still out there and even better still out there AND playing the sounds.

A literal case of Stand Up And Be Counted.

Edited July 29 by Tigger
typos

[Ian Parker]

Joe Lakin,  was  regular , from around 67 onwards.   he still DJ's 

[Tigger]

Do you know his 'spots', early or late?

 

[Fred Benson]

Not sure if this is what you want, but:

I never DJ'd at The Wheel, but was a regular from 67/68 until it closed in 71. I did a fair amount of DJ'ing in Lincolnshire / South Yorks at the time. I am still DJ'ing and regularly play Wheel tunes in my set where appropriate. 

Please delete if you only want to hear from actual Wheel Dj's.

ATB

Fred

[Tigger]

Many thanks for commenting, Fred. 
I'm trying to find if there any DJs who worked the Wheel between 1963 and 1971 and what spots they did, early or late and if they are still still DJing.
I knew Brian Rea who was at The Wheel in 1966 to 1968 (?) doing the 'nighters and was still DJing up until the pandemic. Anyone know of Brian?.
There is also Joe Lakin, (mentioned above) though that's all I know at the moment. I don't know what spots he did, but he is still working in and around the Doncaster area.

I did go to two NS festivals on the West coast last year, with DJs from The Torch, Casino, Mecca and a couple of other well known clubs but once again nothing from the Twisted Wheel (this year same venue same selection of clubs and DJs And when they did pay 'homage' to the Club with some classics, they also played a couple of tracks said to be floor fillers at the time - but were not discovered until the mid-late 1970s. Personally I was disgusted about both of those DJs lack of knowledge in general.

Edited July 29 by Tigger
wrong dates

[Markw]

Brian 'Mr 45s' Phillips. How can anyone mention the Wheel and not mention the legendary Brian Phillips? Brian still DJs and generally DJs upfront sets rather than oldies stuff, though he's perfectly capable of digging back to his early days. Lovely man and very modest about his impact on the UK soul scene. 

[Tigger]

Yes indeed Brian Philips who came in to the Wheel in 1969, an era that started at the end of Summer 1968 and the diversion into more up-tempo music from virtually unknown American singers (due mainly from more access to imports). This was all due to the clubs complete record collection being (mysteriously) stolen overnight.in that Summer of '68.
DJs such as Brian and along with others, were allowed, encouraged in fact, to bring in and play their own record collections. Previously, other than one DJ, they all had to play from the clubs record collection. And so by the start of 1969 diversity in sound was to be the key to the Wheels future success. 

[Tigger]

Brian Walker who DJ'd The Wheel around the 1967 period. What spots, early or lates is not known.
Brian too can still be seen behind the decks around the Manchester area and still enjoys playing his guitar. 

[Dylan]

The people being discussed here must be quite old now so probably out less often ?

 

mid 70s or older at a guess ?

 

who is the oldest person still active on the scene ?

 

 

[Kenb]

roger fairhurst (DJ), brazenose st.

i didn't know him, i'm just an interested participant in the thread

Edited July 30 by Kenb

[Woodbutcher]

11 minutes ago, Dylan said:

The people being discussed here must be quite old now so probably out less often ?

 

mid 70s or older at a guess ?

 

who is the oldest person still active on the scene ?

 

 

Sam's nearly 83 ... !

[Dylan]

7 minutes ago, Woodbutcher said:

Sam's nearly 83 ... !

Exactly and that’s not a name mentioned in connection to the wheel but he may have attended ?

[Tim Richmond]

Slightly off topic, Franny O'Brien, still around and promoting events true to the music of The Wheel era.

Not aware he DJd  at The Wheel, but he is a true original who has remained faithful to the music and fashion of that era.

 

[Modularman]

Phil Saxe from Manchester dj'd there 69 - 71 and still does the occasional spot

Soulful Detroit

[Fred Benson]

On 29/07/2024 at 23:05, Tigger said:

Many thanks for commenting, Fred. 
I'm trying to find if there any DJs who worked the Wheel between 1963 and 1971 and what spots they did, early or late and if they are still still DJing.
I knew Brian Rea who was at The Wheel in 1966 to 1968 (?) doing the 'nighters and was still DJing up until the pandemic. Anyone know of Brian?.
There is also Joe Lakin, (mentioned above) though that's all I know at the moment. I don't know what spots he did, but he is still working in and around the Doncaster area.

I did go to two NS festivals on the West coast last year, with DJs from The Torch, Casino, Mecca and a couple of other well known clubs but once again nothing from the Twisted Wheel (this year same venue same selection of clubs and DJs And when they did pay 'homage' to the Club with some classics, they also played a couple of tracks said to be floor fillers at the time - but were not discovered until the mid-late 1970s. Personally I was disgusted about both of those DJs lack of knowledge in general.

Not sure that Joe DJ'd at The Wheel. He DJ's alongside myself and others at The Attic Doncaster in late 60's, but can't ever recall him DJ'ing at The Wheel. Still see him on a regular basis and yes, he still plays the old stuff in his sets. 

[Thinksmart]

Apologies for the slight off-topic, but a decade or so ago (probably more now), one of the DJs who focused on Northern Soul at Blackpool Mecca prior to Ian Levine and Colin Curtis got in touch from Canada, then another who was put in contact after the first. They wanted to some extent put the record straight that Blackpool Mecca was well established and had its own scene they had been cultivating for ages long before the DJ change. They were talking about 68-69 era alongside Twisted Wheel and the TW also in Blackpool which I never knew about and has been mentioned here at the site a few times.

[Julianb]

Off topic as well. I went to the Wheel with the Leeds and Huddersfield crowd + Les Cokell, John Bollen, Frannie O'Brien, Jimmy Lightbrown etc. First met Ian Levine on the night he first visited.

Dj'd at Lord Jims 1969 - 72 ( carrying on the Wheel tunes, Dave Godin attended and mentioned in B&S + Graham White AKA Docker came with a copy of the Sharpees Do the 45 when it was seriously rare and indemand)) + Hernies Allnighters and other Yorkshire nights ( can't honestly remember but Normie Baths, a do in Selby, Leeds Central all ring a bell in my  dim and distant memory inc a birthday do Barnsley way when the squad raided and closed it down!

The rest is history. Happy days.

[Tigger]

On 30/07/2024 at 10:02, Dylan said:

The people being discussed here must be quite old now so probably out less often ?

 

mid 70s or older at a guess ?

 

who is the oldest person still active on the scene ?

 

 

I'm possibly the 'youngest' (lol) at 73. I started at the Con-Chord in Alderley in '66 at 15 and then the Wheel when I had just turned 17 in November '67

 

Edited August 3 by Tigger
added month

[Tigger]

On 30/07/2024 at 10:07, Kenb said:

roger fairhurst (DJ), brazenose st.

i didn't know him, i'm just an interested participant in the thread

Blimey, yes indeed. Forgot about Roger. Forever bobbing around the Manchester pubs. He used to frequent one place a lot 'The Ancoats Lad' on Oldham Street. Always good for a chat, Has to be close to 80 - but doesn't look it.

[Tigger]

On 01/08/2024 at 10:03, Modularman said:

Phil Saxe from Manchester dj'd there 69 - 71 and still does the occasional spot

Soulful Detroit

Though no longer working The Wheel I still popped in if DJing nearby. Saw Phil a couple of times behind the decks in 1970

[Tigger]

Just to remind people that this post is solely for trying to find DJs who worked The Wheel between 1963 and 1971. And, as a bonus if they are STILL DJing. 
We seem to have been all but forgotten when you see adverts promoting Northern, R&B, Soul events and not a Wheel DJ to be seen nor heard.
 

[Peter99]

Good thread Tigger

Some interesting posts and response's - much more to come I suspect.

Come on guys get posting. Any people from the Lincolnshire coast (where I originally come from) involved at the Twisted Wheel, whose still spinning records.

I'm not hijacking your post tigger , just prompting a bit more information. 

Peter

 

[Soulmark]

I’m sure Phil saxe djed in that period

[Steviehay]

On 30/07/2024 at 00:45, Tigger said:

Brian Walker who DJ'd The Wheel around the 1967 period. What spots, early or lates is not known.
Brian too can still be seen behind the decks around the Manchester area and still enjoys playing his guitar. 

YEAH AND STILL DIGGING RECORDS OUT FROM UNDER HIS BED ..UNPLAYED TOO 

[Tigger]

Just to refresh, so far:
DJs
Brian Walker, Mike Taylor, Brian Philips - still deejaying
Roger Fairhurst - retired (with some saying it was HE who first spun the discs and not Roger Eagle.)
Joe Lakin - did he work at The Twisted Wheel?
Brian Rae and Phil Saxe - more info required on their whereabouts.

There must be other Wheel DJs from the period... WHERE ARE THEY ?

[Julianb]

1 hour ago, Tigger said:

Just to refresh, so far:
DJs
Brian Walker, Mike Taylor, Brian Philips - still deejaying
Roger Fairhurst - retired (with some saying it was HE who first spun the discs and not Roger Eagle.)
Joe Lakin - did he work at The Twisted Wheel?
Brian Rae and Phil Saxe - more info required on their whereabouts.

There must be other Wheel DJs from the period... WHERE ARE THEY ?

Les Cokell did some spots. Unfortunately he is no longer with us.

[Tigger]

3 hours ago, Julianb said:

Les Cokell did some spots. Unfortunately he is no longer with us.

Les was a well respected DJ and person for a long time after The Wheel. Like me and others, Les had already worked as a DJ prior to the Wheel which he played at in 1970 to the finish in January 1971.