Farewell Tony Wilson

Manchester said farewell this week to one of Manchester’s greatest sons – cultural icon, Tony Wilson, whose funeral took place this week.

Known as Mr Manchester, Tony was born Anthony H Wilson in Salford, UK in 1950 and died on August 10th following a battle against cancer

As founder of Factory Records, Wilson brought the world Joy Division and New Order, and as owner of the famous Hacienda nightclub in Manchester, he was at the centre of the Madchester scene of the late 1980s and early 1990s which created artists such as Happy Mondays and The Stone Roses.

Wilson had a unique style, insisting that the artists he signed had full rights to their work enshrined in legends such as signing contracts in his own blood – portrayed in the semi-fictional 2002 feature film '24 Hour Party People', in which he was played by comic actor Steve Coogan.

He began his career as a journalist with Granada Television, and it was there that he began covering the music scene in his regular music slot, So It Goes.

In his early journalistic days he was also an active trades unionist and a representative for the Granada Chapel of the National Union of Journalists.

He was a vigorous campaigner and champion of Manchester and his deep love of the city earned him much admiration and respect. He will be deeply missed.