commissioned to mark the 2002 commonwealth games, it was one of the tallest structures in the city of manchester. it was the tallest sculpture in the uk until the completion of "aspire" in 2008. it was taller and leaned at a greater angle than the leaning tower of pisa. the sculpture took its name from a quotation of british sprinter linford christie. in the quotation he said that he started his races not at the "bang" of the starting pistol, but at 'the b of the bang'.