Tigger

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.

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 ?

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

Martin (from being a toddler) lived 2 minutes away from me. In his early teens (being about 2-3 years younger than me), he was the bane of his Mothers and Sisters lives (I know the reason, but not for this group). He was constantly at my house wanting to know what records I had just bought and wanted to listen to them. I had started DJing at a back of the pub/club (extra drinking time lol) that was frequented socially by members of the local constabulary near near Alderley Edge. Martin was forever asking me if he could go. Eventually at the start of 1967 I relented. Now I was 16 at the time and working in a pub/club twice a week until 00.30-1.00am and here was Martin... entering the same pub/club at around 14 years of age.. I did about 30 minutes of my rather manic show (I was and still am, a visual and vocal DJ), then let Martin loose for about 40 minutes, using my records and the double decks of the club. He got into it very quickly, after a little earlier instruction and by the end of his slot of 40 minutes the cheeky bugger was even using some of my phrases.. He was totally in his element. Over the next couple of months, he joined me about 3 or 4 more times. He then started to work with someone doing a local youth club night near where we lived. Sometime in late 1967 or start of 1968 after I started doing spots at The Twisted Wheel I was in his Mothers house playing Sandy Nelsons 'Sock it to em JB'. (The instrumental version of the Rex Garvin classic) with both Martins sister and I doing the singing (James bond movies) Martin had a dicky fit listening to us playing and singing to 'a load of 's***t'. I understand later that this load of s***t was played by Martin at The Torch in later years. Also in 1970, he begged me to let him borrow Rufus Lumley's 'I'm standing' (Stateside). After many promises, I lent it to him. I never saw the record, or him, again until 3 years later. By 1970 Martin was working a pub/club in Stockport and I was DJing 4-5 nights a week plus Ballroom and Latin dancing over most of the UK. We took different routes and just eventually lost contact - though i did hear news of him occasionally from different sources. At present, I'm still DJing.