Metal spike falls off B of the Bang

Martin Dillon

January 06, 2005

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SEALED OFF: B of the Bang

A HUGE metal spike of the controversial B of the Bang structure has crashed to the ground - just days before it is due to be officially opened.

One lane of Alan Turing Way which runs next to the 184 ft tall work of art next the City Of Manchester Stadium was closed while engineers examined the scene today.

It had been reported that residents close to the sculpture heard a loud noise during the night and the seven foot section of spike was found on the ground.

Former Olympic champion Linford Christie is due to unveil the B of the Bang on Wednesday.

Bosses at New East Manchester, which commissioned the '1.42m monument to commemorate the 2002 Commonwealth Games, have started an inquiry to establish just how the section of spike was dislodged.

Concerned

No decision has been made yet about whether the official opening ceremony will go ahead.

A spokesman for New East Manchester said: "We are extremely concerned and an investigation is being carried as a matter of urgency.

"It must be stressed that there was no danger to the public as the B of the Bang site was already closed when the incident occurred so that site works can be completed."

The controversial sculpture was created by artist and former Manchester Metropolitan University graduate Thomas Heatherwick.

One hundred and eighty spikes make up the work which is three times the size of the Angel of the North at Gateshead.

Its 30-degree tilt is 10 times greater than that of the Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy.

Former Olympic gold medallist Christie provided the inspiration for the sculpture.

The 100m runner said that during his career he aimed to sprint out of the blocks on the "B of the bang" of the starter's gun.

What do you think of B of the Bang? Have your say.

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Ace Riley, manchester (06/01/2005 at 13:27)

Nearly a year ago i raised the question of harmonic frequencys weakiening the welds on the structure and i was told that wind tunnel tests had been and their was no chance of anything like this happennig ??well it did and it has.In my mind this sculpture is now too dangerous to be left errect it should now be demolished and the company and designer should be held accountable "People should listen and sometimes take notice "of what others say ,As far as im concerened its time for the sculpture to be removed for safety reasons before someone gets hurt .

Ace.......

SRW, manchester (06/01/2005 at 13:58)

many local people have had concerns for safety from the onset, amongst many other things regarding this statue. Thats very clear from topics on eastserve forums.

it doesn't suit the area even though the concept of it is great, it shouldn't overshadow and undermine the people its supposed to reflect in being a legacy of the huge success local residents and volunteers made of the 2002 commonwealth games.

A wind farm would of been a much more practical and artistic venture for the nwda to of funded, as well as it complimenting and physically re-energising eastlands instead of it reverting back to being locally known as wastelands!

Chris Craven, Hulme (06/01/2005 at 15:37)

B for Bobbins !

William, Ashton (06/01/2005 at 15:44)

What a stupid statement this was, "It must be stressed that there was no danger to the public as the B of the Bang site was already closed when the incident occurred so that site works can be completed." They were just very lucky it happened before it was open to the public & no poor soul was working on it. It looks like a piece of scrap anyway and should now be demolished and sold as such. What faith can the public have in the safety of this piece of scrap anyway. It must be demolished now before someone loses their life.

shell, manchester (06/01/2005 at 16:37)

at least a few of the locals managed to make a few quid by making a video!

Mike, Clayton, manchester (06/01/2005 at 16:41)

Too many people were ignored in wanting to have a say. The council should definately get there money back from the designer!

It shouldn't off been there in the first place, east manchester is the wrong place for that statue.

Dave Bradley, City Centre (06/01/2005 at 16:55)

I think Big Bang is an amazing piece of art, it is unique and rewrites the rules of sculpture completely. Of course it's got to be safe and around the base will probably always need to be fenced off, but let's stop the moaning because we're afraid of daring and unique things in our lives. This is Manchester after all not Surrey and it's great for the city.

Dave Dutton, Atherton, Lancs (06/01/2005 at 18:20)

If you've ever seen a closeup in a medical book of the uric acid crystals that cause gout, that's what this looks like. Gout is bad enough but being flattened by a gigantic uric acid crystal lookalike would be even worse. And all those sharp pointy bits. Bad karma man...

John, Stockport (06/01/2005 at 20:11)

It is quite possible that the weld failed due to a poor quality joint. Further inspection will reveal the actual cause without us jumping to premature conclusions. Lets await the experts conclusions.

julie, manchester (06/01/2005 at 21:42)

I think the bang is fantastic just what manchester needs to get it back on the map something interesting well done manchester !!!!!!! just make sure its made safe thats all

Muriel SAVROT, LYON (06/01/2005 at 23:54)

Bonjour!
Well, as the Manchester French Blue B tourist guide I must say, the French I took to the Stadium and who saw the B, were really impressed, so was I. I also told them it was a real Mancunian symbol = an explosion of energy (which I always loved about MC). So!... Solve the problem! But please... Keep it! It's too good to be destroyed! Mu

Alan, South Manchester (07/01/2005 at 08:41)

I believe the sculpture was placed to close to the main road as if your ever at the lights and look at the sculpture its constantly vibrating due to traffic, no wonder a piece fell off.

Dan, Manchester (07/01/2005 at 10:51)

I travel past the statue every day. At first I was against it but have now got used to it. The problem is seeing it at night. When the lights are turned off. as happens most nights, it dissapears, especially on dark rainy nights. What is the point of spending all that money when it can't be seen for over 12 hours per day in winter. Also the lighting should be better, from some angles as you come up Ashton New Road it can't be seen at night, even when the lights are on. The lighting shown in your picture was only used on the first day and gives a completely false impression of waht you can see on most nights.

Claire Glazer, Lincoln (11/01/2005 at 14:16)

While we were visiting Manchester yesterday, my brother-in-law (who lives in the city) took us on a detour to see B of the Bang, and we were extremely impressed. Naturally the piece falling off is a worry, but I am sure the problem will be rectified, and cannot understand why this original piece of art has been slated by people. It's certainly better than a pile of bricks or an unmade bed and has relevance to its site and its commemoration. Well done to all the people involved.

Nick Shiels, Manchester (11/01/2005 at 17:25)

I see B of the Bang when I go to home City matches. I think it should be higher off of the floor(, and maybe painted sky blue). Also, the pylons supporting the roof of COMS have blue lights for aircraft... three of the four on the East Stand have been out now for a while. I wouldn't fancy the job of changing one of those bulbs! Ramble ramble....

Nuttie, Man (11/01/2005 at 18:49)

If it had been up to me, I would have just put a sheep in the location and called it the Ba of the Bang, and kept the rest of the money for meself.

Rich, Wiltshire (12/01/2005 at 14:29)

Well done Manchester, I can't wait to see "B for Bang" on my next visit.

There isn't enough public art in this country; ignore the bleating philistines - they won't see it anyway as they'll all be in some soulless dump binge-drinking.

Beverley Moss, London (13/01/2005 at 14:10)

I am an Australian living in London and I am absolutely fascinated with this sculpture. I think it is one of the most original things I have seen. I am so interested that I am plannint to come and see it before I leave in March. I will couple it with a visit to the L S Lowry Gallery - another must. You have many interesting things in your city it seems.

Emily Harrison, Nottingham (13/01/2005 at 20:22)

I learnt about this sculpture at school today in art club. I really love the sculpture.

From Emily age 7

Class 2, Fernwood Infant School,, Wollaton, Nottingham (14/01/2005 at 14:13)

We are interested in B of the Bang and we are making some sculptures and calling our display 'A of the Art'.
love from Class 2 (age 6/7)

Professhor Shimon Teapot PhG OBE, Shusshex Univershity (14/01/2005 at 15:09)

You have inadvertently raised a very interesting point their Nuttie. Although Linford Christie was listening for the B of the Bang, and no doubt believes in his own mind that on hearing the B of the Bang he was out of the blocks and sprinting away, it is of course quite possible that it was in fact the Ba of the Bang by the time he flew into action. I think this needs further investigation and research done to indeed verify whether or not that is the case, and should it transpire that it was in reality the Ba of the Bang, and NOT the B of the Bang, then the sculpture should be renamed accordingly, and perhaps a sheep (or two even, to keep each-other company) should be put in the location to graze, as you suggested Nuttie. And having more than one sheep would remind the public that there are those among us who have to live with speech impediments such as stuttering. Yours shincherely.

Professhor Shimon Teapot PhG OBE, Shusshex Univershity (14/01/2005 at 15:12)

Ben, Manchester (14/01/2005 at 23:00)

It's unsightly & it's potentially unsafe. It's City's ground, M2002 wouldn't have taken place if it wasn't for us, so why not at least paint it sky blue? Or pack it off down the M62 to the "City of Culture" where it would fit in nicely with all the other junk?

Steve Brooke, Leeds, W. Yorks (15/01/2005 at 11:22)

What a COLLOSAL WASTE of money.

Walter hic Cooke, Twick-hic-enham (15/01/2005 at 15:56)

I object most strongly to your comments Rich. I am a bleating philistine who spends most of his time binge-drinking in souless dumps, and I think the B of the Bang is splendiferous, and especially when I'm pick-hic-led.

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