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The Manchester Music Legend That Was Tony Wilson
Written by Paul Rance
Monday, 13 August 2007

Manchester music legend Tony Wilson died on August 10th, 2007, of a heart attack. He was 57, and had been fighting cancer for some time.

Wilson was famous for founding Manchester record label Factory Records, which launched the careers of Joy Division, New Order, and Happy Mondays. He also founded the famous Hacienda Club in Manchester, presented ITV's long-running current affairs programme 'World In Action', and, as the foppish host of music show 'So It Goes', presented The Sex Pistols to the nation - a few months before their legendary Bill Grundy interview. It looked like Wilson had unleashed World War Three into our living rooms, and it remains the most exciting musical event I've ever witnessed on TV.

Tony Wilson in 1976, presenting 'So It Goes'

An intelligent and no-nonsense man, Tony Wilson was portrayed by Steve Coogan in the 2002 movie, '24 Hour Party People', and was the sort of music mogul even underground press merchants like me respected - even if he did start getting pompous by wanting to be referred to as Anthony H. Wilson in later years!


 

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