They’ve played in front of 70,000 people at Heaton Park, supported Oasis and have performed with Paul Weller – now local punk rockers Twisted Wheel are returning to Manchester.
MM spoke to frontman Jonny Brown about the forthcoming set of gigs at Kraak on the 5th January, an upcoming album and the band’s plans for the future.
“It’s nice to get home,” said Oldham-born Jonny. “These smaller gigs are good especially with the moshing and bouncing and everyone being right up in front of you.
“It’s a good buzz. You’re sweating, your equipment gets fucked with fans jumping on stage and crushing stuff and that.”
The band, who were once described as a ‘breath of fresh air’ by Liam Gallagher, recently changed their line-up going from a three-piece to a four piece with three new members.
Along with Jonny, Adam Birchall from Salford is now on guitar with bassist Max Lees and Blair Murray on the drums.
“We’ve had to change a few things but as a group of mates its the best its even been.
“They’re the best musicians we’ve had, a bit younger, and it’s just a good all round atmosphere – musically and socially. It’s a good time for us.”
Jonny is looking at the band’s upcoming, and third, album to gain some radio play to match their ever-growing fan base which spans the UK.
“It’d be nice on this next album to get a bit more air play,” he said. “The songs are a bit more radio friendly.
“It is what it is. If we’ve got a great fan base now off the albums we’ve had then its a good sign.
“If we do get on the radio then things could go well. If we don’t, we don’t.”
The next album, which should be out by the end of summer, follows 2009’s Twisted Wheel, and Do It Again from 2012 and Jonny revealed that fans should expect something different.
“It will be different in some ways but it will still have a punk and rock ‘n’ roll influence,” he said. “There could be a little fifties in there and a few songs similar to Bouncing Bomb.“
As well as Oasis the band, who in 2009 were voted the second most gigged band in the country, have supported Kasabian, The View and The Enemy as well as playing the Leeds/Reading festivals, Glastonbury and have even toured Japan. With such an impressive CV, what’s next for the nomadic rockers?
“Just do a few festivals and get a good release plan together for the record,” said Jonny. “As well as making sure we get some good airtime.
“We want to get a tour together and get over to America, Japan and Europe at some point.”
MM couldn’t let Jonny go without asking whether the band’s most well-known song You Stole the Sun was about the great Manchester weather.
“I actually wrote that in Majorca, it pissed it down all week,” he revealed. “Although the weather is always sh*t here.”
Twisted Wheel will be playing five dates at the Kraak gallery from February 5 to 9.
Picture courtesy of Paul R Bednall, with thanks.
