Fred Perry X The Twisted Wheel
15th August 2013 | Posted in Mens
The history of our little island nation has been littered with youth cultures, brief movements, and style claims that have left an ever lasting mark on the landscape of British fashion.
From the teddy boys and their sharp suiting, to the mods with their parka's and gingham checks, the groups of the past have claimed brands and styles as their uniforms, giving everyone a sense of belonging-taking them beyond what they got up to over the weekends.
Every culture is driven by something, and it is often that same thing that binds the group together. From 1963-1971, that bind came in the form of music- but not just any old rock n roll. This era saw one of Britain's most infamous culture's rise to pure, eternal prominence- Northern Soul.
Born out of the heart of Manchester at the Twisted Wheel night club, Northern Soul was one of the ultimate north and south divides. The movement wasn't seen or even recognised in London; it was a northern phenomenon, which drew crowds from all over the upper part of the country.
Northern Soul was a celebration of everything that soul music stood for. The Twisted Wheel club was a converted warehouse, with multiple rooms, a tiny stage and a DJ booth. The club had a license to sell alcohol, but only supplied it's club revelers with snacks and soft drinks.
The Northern Soul following started out small, but soon the reputation of the Twisted Wheel club's now infamous all nighter's grew, and people were travelling by the bus load to Manchester for the weekend.
Saturday nights heralded the all night sessions, starting at 11 pm and finishing at 7.30 am on Sunday morning. Each week at 2 AM, the tiny stage saw live performances from some of Soul's up and coming names, like Junior Walker and Edwin Starr.
The Twisted Wheel DJ's were revolutionary for their time. Taking tracks from America that were hardly getting any air time, they played funky soul all night to the early morning revelers, gaining huge acclaim- even from people south of the border.
Sadly due to new bylaws that were bought in in 1971, the Twisted Wheel shut down. However, Northern Soul lived on, with it's all night, let loose culture, thanks to specially arranged centenary nights.
Largely famed for being the uniform for sub cultures across the country, British born brand Fred Perry have released the Northern Soul collection- a celebration of the days gone by, where the music was the only thing keeping people dancing into the early hours at the Twisted Wheel.
The collection, made up of limited edition pieces, brings around the nostalgia from the sixties, featuring badges from the Twisted Wheel nights, which became almost like collectors items to the historic movement.
Born out of the heart of Manchester at the Twisted Wheel night club, Northern Soul was one of the ultimate north and south divides. The movement wasn't seen or even recognised in London; it was a northern phenomenon, which drew crowds from all over the upper part of the country.
Northern Soul was a celebration of everything that soul music stood for. The Twisted Wheel club was a converted warehouse, with multiple rooms, a tiny stage and a DJ booth. The club had a license to sell alcohol, but only supplied it's club revelers with snacks and soft drinks.
The Northern Soul following started out small, but soon the reputation of the Twisted Wheel club's now infamous all nighter's grew, and people were travelling by the bus load to Manchester for the weekend.
Saturday nights heralded the all night sessions, starting at 11 pm and finishing at 7.30 am on Sunday morning. Each week at 2 AM, the tiny stage saw live performances from some of Soul's up and coming names, like Junior Walker and Edwin Starr.
The Twisted Wheel DJ's were revolutionary for their time. Taking tracks from America that were hardly getting any air time, they played funky soul all night to the early morning revelers, gaining huge acclaim- even from people south of the border.
Sadly due to new bylaws that were bought in in 1971, the Twisted Wheel shut down. However, Northern Soul lived on, with it's all night, let loose culture, thanks to specially arranged centenary nights.
Largely famed for being the uniform for sub cultures across the country, British born brand Fred Perry have released the Northern Soul collection- a celebration of the days gone by, where the music was the only thing keeping people dancing into the early hours at the Twisted Wheel.
The collection, made up of limited edition pieces, brings around the nostalgia from the sixties, featuring badges from the Twisted Wheel nights, which became almost like collectors items to the historic movement.
Ryan J Gray
