Twang

Twang is an English independent rock band from Manchester/Preston, signed to Ron Johnson Records. Their first release was a flexi-disc, 'What's The Rub', issued in 1985 with the magazine Debris. Their first proper single, 'Sharp', came out on the Stet label before being picked up by Ron Johnson; it reached No. 19 on the UK Indie Chart in 1986. This was followed by 'Kick and Complain', which charted at No. 35. A final 12-inch, 'Snap Back', was released at the end of 1987. The band were grouped with other independent acts in the so-called 'shambling' genre. The band and their more abrasive label-mates Big Flame and The MacKenzies were not impressed by what they saw as lazy journalism.

Twang toured nationally with Age of Chance and That Petrol Emotion, and played to a packed Hacienda at an AIDS benefit concert alongside The Woodentops and Everything But The Girl. Later, Albert Walton replaced Penrose on drums. The band split up in 1988.

Despite their short existence, Twang recorded three critically acclaimed sessions for John Peel's show on BBC Radio One, two in 1986 and one in 1988. A track from the first session, 'Big Dry Out', appears on the BBC compilation Manchester So Much To Answer For, which includes The Smiths among others. The band has no connection with The Twang.