Fans 'thank' Tony Wilson for unique contribution to music
Your tributes for the Factory Records legend flow into NME.COM
Music fans have been paying tribute to Factory Records legend Tony Wilson after he died yesterday (August 10).
“Mr Manchester” passed away after suffering cancer of the kidneys, but hundreds of fans have contacted NME.COM to express their sadness and thank Wilson for his huge contribution to Manchester and Britain’s music, both through his record label and the influential nightclub The Hacienda which he ran in the 1980s and 1990s.
Here are a selection of your comments and tributes:
“I met him in Liverpool long before Hacienda/Factory. An ordinary person who happened to be a Granada TV presenter/ journalist. I watched him do great things for Manchester during that period when we all went looking for jobs and we found them and heaven knew how miserable we were. Skeleton times in the industrial conurbations reflected in irony and dry wit by your man himself and his protégés.”
Robert Carr
“A guiding light has gone out. ‘I used to say some people make money and some make history...’ never a truer word was said, Tony.”
Willie Morrison, Glasgow
“There's been a lot of shite spoken about Tony Wilson over the years and people have lost sight of the fact that he was a true visionary. He brought some of the greatest bands that this country has ever known to a wider audience and Factory Records and The Hacienda - for all its problems - embodied the entrepreneurial spirit that so much of the industry lacks.
Wilson was a clever, articulate & insightful figure. Curtis, Factory, the Hac, Rob Gretton and now Wilson....all gone and the music culture of this country is infinitely poorer for their passing.
Thanks for some great times Tony - god bless kid.”
Martin Barratt
“The Hacienda changed my life in 1988 - thank you... RIP”
Sarah Jane Brooks, Manchester
“As someone from Manchester and being part of the music scene here, I owe everything to Tony for creating the music culture this city still thrives on. Manchester's first son has gone. We'll miss you Tony.”
Ryan O'Neill
“Being a Yank from the States, I have always been fascinated by Tony Wilson's vision and chutzpah on taking so many risks during his professional career. If it wasn't for his discovery for such bands as Joy Division and Happy Mondays, I don't where I'd be today. His label, Factory Records, has been the soundtrack for most of my life. I give my deepest condolences to Mr Wilson's family, friends and associates.”
Eric Eskenazi, Brooklyn
“Thanks for all that you did and the madness you created Tony!”
Lenny Barnes (Stiff Kitten), Washington DC
“To be honest, I didn’t think this would affect me as much as it does Tony Wilson was a true innovator, and whatever the current state of the label-artist relationship is, he was true pioneer in placing the creator in the driving seat, and allowing the artist the freedom to create whatever they did. I truly believe his heart was always in the right place.”
Dominic Otero
“Tony Wilson - love him or hate him - had an unshakable, insistent,
un-negotiable belief in Manchester. There's not one band, DJ, promoter or record label to have come from that city that can't credit him for flying the flag and fighting the independent's corner. Every single person on this planet who has hopes of running a record label, launching a band, a nightclub, music conference or playing their part in a world-wide youth culture movement should stand up and raise their glasses to Tony Wilson RIGHT NOW!”
Sarah Hay, music video director
“A truly great man who played a massive part in the creation of indie music as we know it today. His star will shine.”
Natalie Craig
“It's with sadness that I learn about Mr Wilson's passing. As a fan of Joy Division, New Order and The Durutti Column, Tony Wilson brought not only a new facade to music, but also a heightened level of class. The Factory label will always live on, and we had Tony Wilson to thank for that. He is missed.”
Neil Black, Anchorage, Alaska
“Thank you for your sound advice all those years back, you are and always will be a true legend and inspiration to many, many people. you will be solely missed
Rest in peace sir.”
Steve Alliance, Manchester
“Tony Wilson was a brilliant man who gave music so much... He will be missed.”
Nuala Ginty
“Today is a sad day in Manchester as we wake up and hear the tragic news that Tony Wilson has passed away. He is and always will be "Mr Manchester" and Manchester has lost a real hero to a nasty, nasty disease.
He has done so much for the music industry and some of the best nights I've ever had were in the Hacienda. His amazing work will never be forgotten and we have been robbed of a legend well before his time. We love you Tony, goodbye.”
Danielle Ramsbottom
You can read Tony Wilson’s obituary along with a host of tributes led by New Order and Alan McGee on NME.COM now.
From signing the likes of Joy Division, New Order and Happy Mondays, to being a general support of exciting an innovative music, Wilson established himself as a true indie hero.
Now NME.COM want your thoughts. Send your tributes, stories and photos to tonywilsonnme@hotmail.co.uk and we’ll publish them.
And see the NME Office Blog for our Tony Wilson comment and tribute, then leave a comment with your own.
Plus see next week’s NME – on UK newsstands from August 15 – for our special tribute issue to Tony Wilson.
“Mr Manchester” passed away after suffering cancer of the kidneys, but hundreds of fans have contacted NME.COM to express their sadness and thank Wilson for his huge contribution to Manchester and Britain’s music, both through his record label and the influential nightclub The Hacienda which he ran in the 1980s and 1990s.
Here are a selection of your comments and tributes:
“I met him in Liverpool long before Hacienda/Factory. An ordinary person who happened to be a Granada TV presenter/ journalist. I watched him do great things for Manchester during that period when we all went looking for jobs and we found them and heaven knew how miserable we were. Skeleton times in the industrial conurbations reflected in irony and dry wit by your man himself and his protégés.”
Robert Carr
“A guiding light has gone out. ‘I used to say some people make money and some make history...’ never a truer word was said, Tony.”
Willie Morrison, Glasgow
“There's been a lot of shite spoken about Tony Wilson over the years and people have lost sight of the fact that he was a true visionary. He brought some of the greatest bands that this country has ever known to a wider audience and Factory Records and The Hacienda - for all its problems - embodied the entrepreneurial spirit that so much of the industry lacks.
Wilson was a clever, articulate & insightful figure. Curtis, Factory, the Hac, Rob Gretton and now Wilson....all gone and the music culture of this country is infinitely poorer for their passing.
Thanks for some great times Tony - god bless kid.”
Martin Barratt
“The Hacienda changed my life in 1988 - thank you... RIP”
Sarah Jane Brooks, Manchester
“As someone from Manchester and being part of the music scene here, I owe everything to Tony for creating the music culture this city still thrives on. Manchester's first son has gone. We'll miss you Tony.”
Ryan O'Neill
“Being a Yank from the States, I have always been fascinated by Tony Wilson's vision and chutzpah on taking so many risks during his professional career. If it wasn't for his discovery for such bands as Joy Division and Happy Mondays, I don't where I'd be today. His label, Factory Records, has been the soundtrack for most of my life. I give my deepest condolences to Mr Wilson's family, friends and associates.”
Eric Eskenazi, Brooklyn
“Thanks for all that you did and the madness you created Tony!”
Lenny Barnes (Stiff Kitten), Washington DC
“To be honest, I didn’t think this would affect me as much as it does Tony Wilson was a true innovator, and whatever the current state of the label-artist relationship is, he was true pioneer in placing the creator in the driving seat, and allowing the artist the freedom to create whatever they did. I truly believe his heart was always in the right place.”
Dominic Otero
“Tony Wilson - love him or hate him - had an unshakable, insistent,
un-negotiable belief in Manchester. There's not one band, DJ, promoter or record label to have come from that city that can't credit him for flying the flag and fighting the independent's corner. Every single person on this planet who has hopes of running a record label, launching a band, a nightclub, music conference or playing their part in a world-wide youth culture movement should stand up and raise their glasses to Tony Wilson RIGHT NOW!”
Sarah Hay, music video director
“A truly great man who played a massive part in the creation of indie music as we know it today. His star will shine.”
Natalie Craig
“It's with sadness that I learn about Mr Wilson's passing. As a fan of Joy Division, New Order and The Durutti Column, Tony Wilson brought not only a new facade to music, but also a heightened level of class. The Factory label will always live on, and we had Tony Wilson to thank for that. He is missed.”
Neil Black, Anchorage, Alaska
“Thank you for your sound advice all those years back, you are and always will be a true legend and inspiration to many, many people. you will be solely missed
Rest in peace sir.”
Steve Alliance, Manchester
“Tony Wilson was a brilliant man who gave music so much... He will be missed.”
Nuala Ginty
“Today is a sad day in Manchester as we wake up and hear the tragic news that Tony Wilson has passed away. He is and always will be "Mr Manchester" and Manchester has lost a real hero to a nasty, nasty disease.
He has done so much for the music industry and some of the best nights I've ever had were in the Hacienda. His amazing work will never be forgotten and we have been robbed of a legend well before his time. We love you Tony, goodbye.”
Danielle Ramsbottom
You can read Tony Wilson’s obituary along with a host of tributes led by New Order and Alan McGee on NME.COM now.
From signing the likes of Joy Division, New Order and Happy Mondays, to being a general support of exciting an innovative music, Wilson established himself as a true indie hero.
Now NME.COM want your thoughts. Send your tributes, stories and photos to tonywilsonnme@hotmail.co.uk and we’ll publish them.
And see the NME Office Blog for our Tony Wilson comment and tribute, then leave a comment with your own.
Plus see next week’s NME – on UK newsstands from August 15 – for our special tribute issue to Tony Wilson.
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