NOEL Gallagher adores them, so does the Modfather, Paul Weller, and when they supported Oasis at Heaton Park the New Musical Express hailed them as the coolest act to emerge from Manchester since the Stone Roses.

For a couple of years, Twisted Wheel lived on the cusp of stardom, but since those heady days of rock and roll mayhem, larger-than-life singer Jonny Brown has presided over an entirely different band three times.

Other players have come and gone here and there too.

And this year bassist Max Lees is the latest recruit to the Twisted Wheel gang that has seen more bust-ups and new beginnings than a marriage guidance counsellor.

“My big brother Rick was one of the founding members, but I only joined them four months ago and I’m loving it,” said bassist Max Lees.

“I was around the band when they were doing all the Oasis gigs and stuff and they were amazing times for Twisted Wheel.

“When you’re in a band from Manchester I suppose there’s that extra pressure, but when Noel Gallagher says he enjoys your music and that our songs are cool, that’s a real buzz.

“There’s a swagger and a different mentality about Manchester bands, but that’s a positive.

“There’s some great stuff out there, like Bipolar Sunshine, from Manchester, who I really like. Watch out for him, he could be big.”

Named after Manchester’s Northern soul nightclub, the influence of northern guitar-rockers from The Buzzcocks to the Arctic Monkeys courses though Twisted Wheel’s kaleidoscope of sound.

Throw in a pinch of The Small Faces, The Kinks and The Who and you get the picture.

Their much-loved first single, She’s A Weapon, has the ragged energy of The Jam’s In The City or the Specials supercharged Ska.

After a lukewarm reception for their last offering which, partly because of the ever-fluctuating line-up, was released without any of the fanfare of their first album, Max says the boys can’t wait for tomorrow’s main stage action at the Ramsbottom Festival.

“People say our music has changed, and I suppose some of it has become less raucous,” he added.

“Apart from Jonny, who is a brilliant songwriter, this line-up is a new beginning for Twisted Wheel.

“We’ve decided that we want to do a few more chilled-out songs but otherwise we’ll do fast, energetic, rock and roll.”

Twisted Wheel come to Ramsbottom in top gear, revved up from two barn-storming sets at Leeds and Reading Festivals.

“I love the festivals, they’re a mint atmosphere,” added Max.

“We played Kendal Calling and there was all these kids crowd surfing to our sound on mattresses and doing Leeds and Reading was very special.

“The best thing about festivals is once you’ve done your gig you can have a party with all the mad heads and I’ve heard that Ramsbottom is a really lovely vibe.”

  • Twisted Wheel, Ramsbottom Music Festival, tomorrow.