![Born in 1950, Tony Wilson became a teacher at the age of 17 - but quickly set himself on a path to become one of the most influential figures in British music. He set up Factory Records with Alan Erasmus in 1978 before managing the Hacienda night club at the height of its success in which it was labelled]()
Born in 1950, Tony Wilson became a teacher at the age of 17 - but quickly set himself on a path to become one of the most influential figures in British music. He set up Factory Records with Alan Erasmus in 1978 before managing the Hacienda night club at the height of its success in which it was labelled "the most famous night club in the world" by Newsweek magazine. Throughout his illustrious career, he also fronted many radio and TV shows, attracting many plaudits due to his rich knowledge of music and culture.
![Joy Division and New Order: Perhaps two of the most iconic bands (the latter comprising members of Joy Division following the death of Ian Curtis) on Tony Wilson's Factory Records roster, several members have expressed immense gratitude at meeting him and maturing under his stewardship on countless occasions.]()
Joy Division and New Order: Perhaps two of the most iconic bands (the latter comprising members of Joy Division following the death of Ian Curtis) on Tony Wilson's Factory Records roster, several members have expressed immense gratitude at meeting him and maturing under his stewardship on countless occasions. "New Order wouldn't have came to be what they are without Tony and the Factory Record label because he was very passionate about music and he believed the band should have total freedom," Stephen Morris admitted. "He was, I think, the only person in the music industry that didn't believe in contracts. You'd see him do deals with record companies and the whole thing was done on the back of his hand. You could literally do what you want."
![The Happy Mondays: Another of Factory Records' notorious signees, The Happy Mondays cited Wilson as]()
The Happy Mondays: Another of Factory Records' notorious signees, The Happy Mondays cited Wilson as "a visionary, in that he helped bands who otherwise wouldn't have made it, who were a bit out of the ordinary." Paul Ryder, the band's bassist, recalled their first meeting. "This was before we signed to Factory, his words to me were, 'You might not make any money on Factory, but I can guarantee you, you will see the world.' And I thought, 'That will do for me.'" Who could possibly say no to that?
![Sex Pistols: While various future members of Joy Division and The Smiths looked on in awe as the Sex Pistols' legendary Lesser Free Trade Hall set unfolded before them in 1976, Tony Wilson was one step ahead as per usual. As a journalist at Granada TV, he arranged for the Pistols to make their television debut on So It Goes and arguably pulled the pin on the punk grenade that detonated around a mainstream audience for the first time. Not content with simply one iconic band, Wilson also allowed The Jam and Elvis Costello to make their first television appearances.]()
Sex Pistols: While various future members of Joy Division and The Smiths looked on in awe as the Sex Pistols' legendary Lesser Free Trade Hall set unfolded before them in 1976, Tony Wilson was one step ahead as per usual. As a journalist at Granada TV, he arranged for the Pistols to make their television debut on So It Goes and arguably pulled the pin on the punk grenade that detonated around a mainstream audience for the first time. Not content with simply one iconic band, Wilson also allowed The Jam and Elvis Costello to make their first television appearances.
![The Stone Roses: While not a member of the Factory Records clan, The Stone Roses owe plenty of their sound, style and general ethos to those that Wilson tirelessly championed. The band are more than happy to acknowledge it, too.]()
The Stone Roses: While not a member of the Factory Records clan, The Stone Roses owe plenty of their sound, style and general ethos to those that Wilson tirelessly championed. The band are more than happy to acknowledge it, too. "Everyone in the indie music world owes Tony a debt of gratitude," Mani said. "He put us on his TV show even though we were in direct competition with the Happy Mondays, who were on his label. He just loved the fact that we were Manchester musicians." It was this sense of inclusion that further endeared Wilson to all those that met him.
![Oasis: As well as a record label and night club, Tony Wilson also set up the In The City conference to showcase new bands with impressive results. Oasis made an early appearance, with Alan McGee, the man that was eventually persuaded to sign them, declaring that Wilson was one of the]()
Oasis: As well as a record label and night club, Tony Wilson also set up the In The City conference to showcase new bands with impressive results. Oasis made an early appearance, with Alan McGee, the man that was eventually persuaded to sign them, declaring that Wilson was one of the "great spotters of musical talent" and "a complete inspiration".
![Radiohead: Tony Wilson's In The City had an alarming knack for unearthing some of the biggest bands of all time in their earliest stages and that was no coincidence. Topping a bill ahead of Suede, Thom Yorke and co. surely began to turn heads at this very gig - all thanks to Tony Wilson.]()
Radiohead: Tony Wilson's In The City had an alarming knack for unearthing some of the biggest bands of all time in their earliest stages and that was no coincidence. Topping a bill ahead of Suede, Thom Yorke and co. surely began to turn heads at this very gig - all thanks to Tony Wilson.
![Madonna: One of the more surprising decisions of Tony Wilson was to invite Madonna to play her debut UK show at the Hacienda. If reports are to be believed, it didn't go down well, partly due to the crowd's growing affinity for acid house and rave culture, but it intrigued enough to insist she return and cemented Wilson's reputation as a brilliant talent scout.]()
Madonna: One of the more surprising decisions of Tony Wilson was to invite Madonna to play her debut UK show at the Hacienda. If reports are to be believed, it didn't go down well, partly due to the crowd's growing affinity for acid house and rave culture, but it intrigued enough to insist she return and cemented Wilson's reputation as a brilliant talent scout.
![Arctic Monkeys: Two years before Tony Wilson's death in 2007, Arctic Monkeys took to the stage at his In The City conference, following in the footsteps of Coldplay, Muse and Snow Patrol. It garnered them much acclaim and their debut album, released a year later in 2006, became the fastest selling debut album in British music history. We're guessing that Wilson probably saw that coming, too.]()
Arctic Monkeys: Two years before Tony Wilson's death in 2007, Arctic Monkeys took to the stage at his In The City conference, following in the footsteps of Coldplay, Muse and Snow Patrol. It garnered them much acclaim and their debut album, released a year later in 2006, became the fastest selling debut album in British music history. We're guessing that Wilson probably saw that coming, too.
![Bloc Party: Tony Wilson's legacy is burning brightly, thanks to the post-punk revival of the early 2000's and, more recently, bands experimenting with Madchester-riddled dance rhythms. Bloc Party fall into the former category, revealing that]()
Bloc Party: Tony Wilson's legacy is burning brightly, thanks to the post-punk revival of the early 2000's and, more recently, bands experimenting with Madchester-riddled dance rhythms. Bloc Party fall into the former category, revealing that "seeing New Order at Reading Festival in 1997 was the reason we started music". We suspect that they are one of many.
