B of the Bang

The UK's tallest sculpture, standing at 180ft it is three times taller than the Angel of the North. Made of specially weathered steel to give it the famous rusty glow, the sculpture has 180 tapered spikes and leans at a 30º angle - more than the tower of Pisa.

The sculpture was commissioned by New East Manchester to commemorate the Commonwealth Games which took place in 2002. Chief Executive of New East Manchester Tom Russell, at the launch of B of the Bang in January 2005, said:

"The choice of B of the Bang as the centrepiece for Sportcity was a very clear and bold statement of intent. The regeneration of east Manchester needed a monumental piece of public art to provide a sense of identity and place and to represent the physical, economic and social changes underway in the area."

The Sculpture was designed by Thomas Heatherwick Studios and represents the explosion of energy created by an athlete on the starter's gun. It was inspired by a quote from British Athlete Linford Christie, who once claimed he always won a race when he started on B of the Bang.