When Does The Mindbending Start?

Fuzzyfelt on Gordon King's The Life and Times of World of Twist

by DJ Fuzzyfelt,
first published: September, 2022

World of Twist shone brightly but burned out very quickly...

When Does The Mind-Bending Start? The Life and Times of World of Twist
by Gordon King
Nine Eight/Bonnier Books

I've loved World of Twist since they emerged from the Sheffield/Manchester vortex around 1990. One great album, a few singles, a couple of radio sessions, a very psychedelic appearance on The Word and gone within 12 months. Some members ended up in Earl Brutus and, latterly, Quatermass 3, some just disappeared, and two are sadly no longer with us.

Nick Sanderson,the drummer, who also drummed for The Gun Club and Jesus and Mary Chain died of cancer in 2008 and his passing deservedly received much attention in 2008. However the sudden death of World of Twists singer and charismatic front man Tony Ogden at the age of 44 was barely noted at the time. This book,written by World of Twists guitarist and other songwriter Gordon King, goes a long way to redressing the lack of appreciation of Tony Ogden's undoubted talent. In fact King has described his book as a love letter to Tony.

As is the way with most bands that appear suddenly,burn brightly,and disappear again just as quickly, World of Twist were around for several years before they were 'discovered'. Though mostly from Manchester/Stockport they formed in Sheffield in the mid-1980s, originally with Jamie Fry, brother of ABC's Martin Fry on vocals and Tony Ogden on drums. Various lineup changes later and a move back to Manchester and Tony Ogden was now the singer and main songwriter. World of Twists unique sound which is accurately described here by King as a cross between Hawkwind, Northern Soul, and 60s bubblegum pop has coalesced. Coupled with a very colourful stage show they were both a pleasure to watch and listen to.

As I've already written, once the secret was out they shone brightly but burned out very quickly - just drifting apart rather than splitting up full of recriminations as is the usual pattern.

Tony Ogden retreated into the background, still writing, and helping out with other bands - check out Mum & Dad on Twisted Nerve Records - another band worthy of reconsideration - but Tony himself released nothing and sadly faded into obscurity.

The Life and Times of World of Twist is a lovely tribute to the band and to Tony Ogden and I wholeheartedly recommend it.

As for listening, World of Twists meagre catalogue is on all the usual streaming sites, though I do recommend that you avoid the remixes by djs du jour. Also check out Earl Brutus and Quatermass 3, and, especially Mum & Dad. There are also a few snippets on YouTube to, sadly mostly of them miming but at least you get an idea of what they looked like live.

Essential Info
The Life and Time of The World of Twist is available now - here's Bear Books Bookstore link to it

DJ Fuzzyfelt

DJ Fuzzyfelt is a part time intinerant farm worker, sharing their time between Portugal and Wales where there is a lot of farm work... Lover of music, megaliths, and magick.

about DJ Fuzzyfelt »»

FREE TICKETS for OUTSIDELEFT's QUIET NIGHT OUT
featuring RM FRANCIS, KERRY HADLEY-PRYCE, JAY LEWIS, WAYNE DEAN-RICHARDS and WOODENHAND»»

World of Twist shone brightly but burned out very quickly...

The Totally Random Read →

STANFORD the new LP from SENESTRA (Fourth Dimension Records)
March 17th, 2023

Senestra are Puppy38 (Hiroshimabend, Opiumdenpluto) and Alan Rider (Stress, Attrition, Dance Naked, Mummies & Madmen, Adventures in Reality). Utilising an arsenal of vintage analogue equipment, coupled with modern digital production techniques, they compose unique soundtracks for the coming apocalypse.
Order now on Bandcamp.

the weekly guide to new releases

see it here every week →

10 clickable things

☉ Denim ☉ Why a portrait artist from Ireland started making comics about U.S. police brutality ☉ Warner Bros Prop Archive ☉ Hollyweed Sign ☉ What can elephants, birds, and flamenco players teach a neuroscientist-composer about music? ☉ BOYCOTT University Challenge ☉ Bruce's Beach. Reparations really, or what? (NYT) ☉ Drag Shows are banned ☉ QPR: Promotion push to relegation fight, 474,000 a week losses and a rescue mission ☉ How to talk like a Chelsea coach ☉

RECENT STORIES

Week in Los Angeles City of Death Music

We're hearing from... Swans, Def Leppard, Apache Rose, Jaz Coleman and Anne Dudley, TEKE::TEKE , African Head Charge, Mike Oldfield, Brian Krumm, Alibhe McDonagh with the RTE Concert Orchestra, Belle Scar, Pale Jay, Tinariwen, Tommy Drinkard, RVG, Teardrop Explodes, High Pulp, The Fierce and The Dead, Magnetic Skies, Ebi Soda, Ash Walker

Lost In Room

Outsideleft talks to original punk pioneer Mark Perry about the upcoming book on the early years of Alternative TV, hardback homicide, the curse of nostalgia, and Crass cufflinks.

In A Landscape

The continuing journey of Craven Faults

This House

Another downpayment from Wayne Dean-Richards' It's a Mad World But Funny

The Sunday Poet: Philip Larkin

Jay gets ready for the Spring Bank Holiday with a poetry reading

Outsideleft Week in Music: The Inner Space Sounds from Way Out!

We're hearing from... Inner Space Quartet, Kid brunswick, Erland Cooper, Suicide, Josienne Clarke, 3l3d3p, Seerr, Creep Show, Hannah Peel, Foo Fighters, Tanlines, The Holy Family, Little Dragon, Eduard Artemiev, Oleg Buloshkin, Edison Denisov, Sofia Gubaidulina, Alfred Schnittke, Squid, ABC, NOIR, Joe Perry & Henge

Songs of Solitude and Singularity

Josienne Clarke's remarkable songbook, revisited

It's Rock'n'Roll Suicide

Suicide's Way of Life

Many Happy Returns

ABC revisit their audacious pop masterpiece.

Things I Overheard at Cruel World 2023

Oh, the things you'll hear people talking about in Pasadena

Adventures in the archives

MUSIC
CULTURE
LIT
SCREENS
PRODUCT
SSH

RANDOM READS

Elliott Smith Either/Or

March sees a greatly expanded reissue of Elliott Smith's most critically acclaimed album Either/Or

February 2017

The Insatiable Fun of Coal Black Mornings

Brett Anderson's autobiography avoids all of the autobiography pitfalls
March 2018

Expect a Fever

RCBF are Approaching Sideways to New Italy
April 2020

Hair & Make-Up: Das Boat! The House of Boateng

After one episode of the House of Boateng, we're hemmed in for the season.
July 2006

The Mass and The Fine Art of Dude Music

Oakland's The Mass manage to do the impossible: create brilliant powerful complicated music that will make you stroke your chin and bang your head, and might also prove Henry Rollins right
November 2005

I Heart NY

if you always hate the one you love you also always hate the one you hate
January 2008

All About and Contributors

HELP OUTSIDELEFT

Outsideleft exists on a precarious no budget budget. We are interested in hearing from deep and deeper pocket types willing to underwrite our cultural vulture activity. We're not so interested in plastering your product all over our stories, but something more subtle and dignified for all parties concerned. Contact us and let's talk. [HELP OUTSIDELEFT]

WRITE FOR OUTSIDELEFT

If Outsideleft had arms they would always be wide open and welcoming to new writers and new ideas. If you've got something to say, something a small dank corner of the world needs to know about, a poem to publish, a book review, a short story, if you love music or the arts or anything else, write something about it and send it along. Of course we don't have anything as conformist as a budget here. But we'd love to see what you can do. Write for Outsideleft, do. [SUBMISSIONS FORM HERE]

WRITERS thru' the Years

Agata Makiele, Alan Devey, Alan Rider, Alex V. Cook, Ancient Champion, Andy Allison, Annemiek, Belle Plankton, Bruce Bailey, Caiomhin Millar, Chantal, Cheiron Coelho, Chris Connolly, Christian Present, Damon Hayhurst, Dan Breen, David Hackney, Denni Boyd, Dirty Lillie, DJ Fuzzyfelt, Dr. Rich, Dr. Richard Bennett, Duncan Jones, Erin, Erin Pipes, Erin Scott, Gracey Babs, Graham Baker, Guilaine Arts, H.xx, Hamilton High, Henderson Downing, Holly Martins, J. Charreaux, Jay Lewis, Jaycentee, Jennifer Lynn, Jenny McCann, Jeremy Gluck, Jez Collins, Joe Ambrose, John Robinson, Julie O, Karl Morgan, Katherine Pargeter, Kelsey Osgood, Kevin McHugh, Lake, Lee Paul, Luke Skinner, Malcolm, Marek Pytel, Mark Piggott, Meave Haughey, Michelle Williams, Mike Fox, mindy strouse, Neil Campbell, Neil Scott, Ogglypoogly, OL House Writer, Pam, Paul Hawkins, Paul Quigley, Peter Williams, Pixie McMowat, Pixievic, Rene Williams, Rick Casson, Ronan Crinion, Ruby Lake, Ryan 'RJO' Stewart, Samantha Charles, Seth Sherwood, Shane O'Reilly, Sheridan Coyle, Sofia Ribeiro Willcox, Sophia Satchell-Baeza, Spanish Pantalones, Speedie John, Spencer Kansa, Steve McCarthy, The Conversation, Tim London, Tim Sparks, Toon Traveller, Wayne Dean-Richards, and founders, Alarcon & Lamontpaul