Peter Mann catches up with County Durham rockers Twister as they prepare to headline Newcastle’s O2 Academy

They’ve bore witness to 64 White Lies and they certainly know that This Isn’t Wonderland, but for County Durham rockers, Twister, and their deep Combined State of Mind they’re constantly caught up in their own Feeding Frenzy.

The past 18 months has seen the band, who’ve shared stages in the past with the likes of Bumblefoot and Status Quo, endure heartache amidst their continued success, leading singer and band founder, Stevie Stoker, losing his grandparents and loyal supporters within a short space of time.

Now though, with their very own Twister Angels, they have that special someone to Watch Over You as they continue their everlasting walk through the Trees, forever Trading Hearts with their increasingly loyal fan base.

“There’s a lot of things happened and a lot of work gone on behind the scenes during the past year or so,” began Stevie.

“We’ve continued to up our game and release as much as possible whilst doing so.

“We’re trying to do the impossible though and doing something that is different to everyone else which isn’t easy.

“Headlining the O2 Academy last year was a huge step, especially coming just six months after we’d sold out upstairs.

“What we did, the music we produced over that period, was nothing short of miraculous, even to the point of making ourselves ill as we were at it literally every day – but it was amazing and we had a lot of fun doing it all.”

Constantly on their own Uni-Directional path Twister continue to attempt to Monopolise the rock scene, dodging the constant Crossfire and finding themselves not once, but twice, having their music aired on the infamous Jonny Doom’s Kerrang Radio, both Monroe and 64 White Lies achieving deserved airplay.

In showing that Fortune Favours The Bold they added in, just for good measure, a date at Stockton’s Georgian Theatre late last year, a continuation of the unspecified mini-tour for their State of Mind Collection, the joining of their EP’s Refined State of Mind (Academy Two release) and Designed State of Mind (Academy One release with the album).

Unwilling to sit around they are now rebranding themselves into a new era of Twister.

“We wanted to try a different area (Stockton) and it was everything we could have asked for,” admitted Stevie.

“It was probably my favourite show last year and the fact we did everything ourselves, with the fantastic team we have around us, made it all the more sweeter.

“Now though it’s a new era and the aim is to keep things fresh, new, whilst growing ourselves, becoming more refined, polished, as we look to strengthen the Twister brand.

“We can’t sit around and wait for things to happen, we have to make them happen, and we have to keep things relevant.

“Going back to the Academy though we want to make a spectacle as the last time was the first time we’d done anything of that magnitude so it was something of a learning curve but we know what to expect this time around.

“These things do take a lot of planning but we’re wanting to build a reputation for putting on special shows, a spectacle, something just that little bit different.”

Intent on Burn(ing it to the Ground there’s sure to be plenty of action to Follow with Twister and their trio of support acts when they head back to Academy One on March 25.

Joined on stage by Nephilim (Stockton), Into the Deep and Saints of Arcadia (both Newcastle), Twister Live will be just what the fans expect it to be, a showstopper, for there’ll be no Famous Last Words when they go in to enjoy their own Fist Fight by the Waterside, Stevie having come a very long way since that 2009 debut, Someone’s Gotta Lie.

With a VIP acoustic from Twister at 6pm (£15) and general doors from 7pm (£10), tickets for Twister at the O2 Academy on March 25 are available now from the band website www.officialtwister.co.uk; follow them on Facebook ‘Official Twister’ or Twitter @wearetwister.