A headline in one of our newspapers has travelled more than 10,000 miles, inspiring the name of a punk band in Sydney, Australia.

Virgin Mary Disco Brawl took its name from a memorable Manx Independent headline bill about an altercation between two women at a disco, which caught the attention of guitarist Adam Freeman and was added to his list of potential band names.

The three-piece, made up of Anthony on vocals and bass, Adam on guitar and Kaz on drums, formed after Adam responded to an advert for a drummer on a Sydney musicians' Facebook group.

It was Adam's discovery of the Isle of Man headline which was posted to the Facebook group Angry People in Local Newspapers that gave the band its name.

He recalled the story involving a punch-up between two women on a dancefloor, after they had been drinking Jacob's Creek.

The incident featured on a Manx Independent news bill - one of the posters displayed outside shops to promote the newspaper’s latest headlines.

Adam said he had ‘squirreled it away’ in a list of possible names, although it took some persuading to get the other members on board.

Anthony initially preferred something shorter, but eventually came around to the idea. Kaz said the name was ‘pure perfection’ and that she never doubted it.

The band has since attracted questions about the name, including whether it is intended as a religious statement. Adam said he usually directs people to the original article.

The connection has even brought the story full circle, with former Manx Independent editor Richard Butt getting in touch after Adam reposted the original photograph with the words ‘more news to come’.

Mr Butt said: ‘We often tried to write humorous or intriguing news bills to entice people into newsagents to buy the papers.

‘The “Angry People in Local Newspapers” Facebook page has included other classics from my days at the papers.’

He added: ‘I look forward to seeing bands in the future called “Man Eats a Lot of Hotdogs Quickly”, “Doubt Cast on Talking Mongoose Story” or “Drunk Fought Invisible Man’.”

Adam said he was particularly excited to hear from the former editor, describing it as a moment he had hoped would happen after the headline first caught his eye.

He joked that the incident could now be one of the Isle of Man's biggest cultural exports, alongside the TT and coins featuring the Three Legs of Mann.

The band describes its sound as punk and post-punk, with influences including Joy Division, Wire, Gang of Four and the Dead Kennedys.

Despite the tongue-in-cheek name and mid-life crisis origins, the members say the main aim is simply to enjoy making music together.

They have already played 10 gigs, with more planned before the end of the year.

Adam, who grew up in Liverpool before moving to Australia, also has a small personal connection to the island.

He visited as a child on a football team trip, although his memories are largely of being seasick on the ferry and spending time at the arcade.

He joked that his journey from the Isle of Man to Australia to form a band was ‘very much like the Bee Gees’.

You can find more about the band via their Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/virginmarydiscobrawl.