RIP Tony.

Ben Chill

Too sad.
RIP Tone.

good night funny lady...

God,I'm really shocked and saddened.
Thanks for everything ,Tony

Rest in Peace..or find a new band in heaven with Rob Gretton and Martin Hannet producing

this is really sad news.

Thank you for bringing Vini's music to me.

RIP Tony. You will be missed.

Wasn't he a bitter fuck that hated not signing the smiths and regretted it ever since?
He'll be haunting Moz from the grave, no doubt.

Really sad to hear this news.....without Tony my life would have turned out very different.

RIP Tony & love to those you've left behind...

Cheers

Steve

Newsnight are doing a tribute to Tony in tonight's programme

Hope the BBC have a Tony Wilson night sometime

I just heard about this and this was the first site I came to.

I shed a few tears, literally, here at work.

Damnit Tony.
I'll miss you.

"Wilson died of a heart attack on 10 August 2007 aged 57, whilst undergoing treatment for kidney cancer. The heart attack was unrelated to his cancer."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Wilson

It could be wrong. Either way its a sad day.

R.I.P.

death of anybody at the age of 57, especially to cancer, is horrible. My thoughts are with his family. I have never been a fan of his, and havealways thought he was a bitter, sometimes cruel guy in the interviews he gave (especially in relation to Morrissey), but always understood that this was part of his persona. His legacy to British music and the city of Manchester will never be forgotten. Rest In Peace sir.

A true lover of real music. I am absolutely gutted - Manchester has lost one of it's all-time greats today. Hope you're having a pint of Bods with Ian Curtis right now Tony. God bless you xxx.

Another great man gone.

Whether you like him or not, he was a man that changed music as we know it, not afraid to turn his back on mainstream and follow his gut instinct.

Ok, so everyone claims to have hated him, but stop for a while, he was pushing the "real" music onto impressionable ears long before anybody else dared to, but only in the Granada TV region. For those of you outside the UK, this is mainly northern England, Manchester!!!

We know that Moz was a viewer of And So It Goes, so love him or hate him, he helped pave the way for The Smiths to happen, not to mention many many more.

In this crazy world we live in, it was good to hear that the Mondays, and New Order had stepped in and paid for the drugs and treatment he needed when the good old NHS said they wouldn't. It just goes to show what those who were around him thought of him.

Since hearing the news tonight, I have felt a little odd..

I have always said that after The Smiths, Joy Division are my 2nd favorite band. This morning I put my Closer t-shirt on for work.

Nothing strange I hear you say.

But when I got into the car, I changed the cd as I fancied listening to some Joy Division as I drove to work.

I know this is more than likely a coincidence, but I feel it was an unbeknown fitting tribute to Tony Wilson's last day.

Below I have copied the lyrics to The Eternal by Joy Division. The last song written and recorded before Ian Curtis's suicide. For those of you who are not familiar, it is a very slow, dark song, and some say it was Ian predicting his death. For me it is a good way of showing a lot of peoples feelings today.

RIP Tony Wilson

Procession moves on, the shouting is over,
Praise to the glory of loved ones now gone.
Talking aloud as they sit round their tables,
Scattering flowers washed down by the rain.
Stood by the gate at the foot of the garden,
Watching them pass like clouds in the sky,
Try to cry out in the heat of the moment,
Possessed by a fury that burns from inside.

Cry like a child, though these years make me older,
With children my time is so wastefully spent,
A burden to keep, though their inner communion,
Accept like a curse an unlucky deal.
Played by the gate at the foot of the garden,
My view stretches out from the fence to the wall,
No words could explain, no actions determine,
Just watching the trees and the leaves as they fall.

Here we have another glaring example that contradicts his naive, Socialist dream. There was no mention of waiting lists, or issues like this one where his beautiful, utopia ideal did not allow someone to receive the necessary treatment to extend their life.

Talk about intellectual dishonesty.

Isn't National health care wonderful? Hey, at least it's not Canada where you can't even open a private practice, and allow people to seek out treatment with their own money.

The irony.

Rest in peace Tony.

A really sad night for Manchester and for music.

manchester has lost a true icon i just feel proud to be in the same city as the man whatever your veiw of him he was never dull, rest well tony in time people will realise the hole your passing leaves god bless.

Why was this deemed important to Morrissey solo?

The only connections are:
He failed to take Morrissey seriously as a singer and refused to sign his band.
He slagged Morrissey off at every opportunity thereafter.
He came from Manchester.

So does everyone who dies who's slagged Moz off get a news article on this site in future?

I look forward to the Bill Oddie one.

...you can't deny he was one of the more colourful characters on the music scene.

It's hard to explain why this makes me feel so sad - I was never a real fan of the whole madchester thing. Maybe it's because he just didn't deserve to go just yet, and certainly not in the way he did. Nobody does.

A fighter til the end.

RIP Tony.

Still drinking on the corner
Just don't say I didn't warn you
Always nagging big brother
He's only looking out for you

Tony The Pony
Tony The Pony

You're still standing on the corner
Just don't say I didn't warn you
Old and jealous big brother
You had your time and you spent it
Crying

Now, Tony The Pony
Tony The Pony
So, that's what they call you now ?
When you're free outside
So cold and hard and in control
And ...
There's a free ride on
Tony The Pony

Oh, why do you always wanna stop me
From doing the things in life that make me happy ?
And when I'm outside with friends, laughing loudly
Why do you always wanna stop me ?

Oh, I would never
I would never

But you will carry the can for anyone
The free ride on
Gullible Tony

You're drunker quicker
And you're sicker even quicker
For something heavy is gonna fall on you
Oh ...

And what do they call you now ?
When you're free outside
So cold and hard and in control
And, oh ... been a lark
There's a free ride on
Fucked-up Tony

I will never say I told you so
Or how I knew that something bad
Would happen to you
I don't wanna say I told you so
Oh, but Tony, I told you so !!!
I told you so

Another piece of Madchester is lost. Not much to do with Morrissey but anyway...
Rest in peace.

my condoleances for everyone who stood near Tony

I wonder what Morrissey's [re]action is...it's
not a secret the both of them didnt like eachother [that's writen in honour of Tony, its not the time to qoute all the mud that being throwed beteween them]...and that HE will do
something for Tony's funds /me puts on Pills Thrills and Bellyaches

...who called him a twat to his face whenever I bumped into him in a bar in town. Tony was famous for being Manchester's most despised celeb - he spent a career thriving on it.

How stupid do I feel now?

He may have said a lot of stupid things and done a lot of futile things and promoted a lot of dross. But he did more in his 57 years than most of us ever will, championed the unchampionable and signed the unsignable.

I'll forgive him for not signing the Smiths because he brough us Joy Division, Hacienda and Shaun Ryder.

Bless you, Tony.

I am shocked and saddened.
Thank you Tony for everything you've given us.
You will be fondly remembered.
/ Martin S

I hope manchester considers doing something in recognition of Tony.

This is very sad news. I only read last week in the MEN about his cancer treatment and how the NHS didn't fund it because he just didnt live in the right place. Well, he had friends who wanted to help - thousands of others dont get that support will probably die because they don't live in Cheshire.

He did great things for the Manchester music scene. Will watch "24 Hour Party People" today in his honour.

http://www.g4tv.com/pile_player.aspx?video_key=130 46
(remove spaces in link above)

Interesting that this interview is the last thing i remember about Tony Wilson in regards to the world of Morrissey. At the time, I was pretty shocked to hear those brutal words about Moz! But who really knows what happened behind the scenes with these paople? Maybe his words were justified, maybe they weren't... maybe they were true, maybe not.

All i know is that i always thought that Tony Wilson was a really interesting man, and his thoughtfulness was always a treat. He was a genuine Smiths fan in the early days, and although i couldn't find the links anymore to some of those old interviews, i always enjoyed Tony's enthusiasm about The Smiths in those formative years.

I would like to express my deep respect for what you did in making music almost more important than life itself.

--Urban

Thought the BBC 2 Newnight item was perfect for him:Paul Morely,Peter Saville,Steven Morris and Richard Madeley all united in their respect and love for him.What a strange and great life he led!

Then,a quick flick to ITV news:a tiny item saying he'd passed away BUT the best part was the clip that they showed was Tony talking in front of a poster showing Steve Coogan as Tony Wilson with the word TWAT over it:must be the first time TWAT has featured on "News At Ten"
A GREAT TONY MOMENT

Sad.

I was never much of a fan of his, and he could be a right arse at times - I recall him once 'hilariously' saying Ian Curtis's suicide was the best thing that ever happened to him, or words to that effect - but 57 is no age. He was a one-off, love him or hate him. The world will be a slightly duller place without him.

And Robert Mugabe lives on. God is a funny old cove..

Thank you for everything, Tony Wilson.

-the Swine

This country is going to the dogs! I feel ashamed living it the UK as we know it. These days England is a frightening place.

Well, he was the man behind Factory. He also signed Joy Division to the label.
RIP Tony.

Blimey,didn't think even Tony would get this tribute:

http://news.uk.msn.com/Article.aspx?cp-documentid= 5857324

When I was at Uni in Wales they had episodes of and So It Goes on VHS. I always liked Tony's approach to presenting it.

I spose the reason why he has so many criticisms on here was because he was quite eccentric and totally single minded. in a world where everyone is always looking for approval, its great that Tony had the balls to go it alone.

My Dad is about 57, I can't imagine him going for a good few years yet, and my thoughts are with Tony's family and friends at this time.

There are articles about this in most of today's newspapers (one of them written by his friend, the odious Richard Madley, who coincindentally also dislikes Morrissey). I can't really comment on the man's death having never been a major fan of either Joy Division or the Happy Monday's (bar one or two excellent singles) and never particularly liking his bitter sniping. However, the articles say that recently Tony was taking great delight in telling people who'd never liked him to 'F**k off' when they offered their sympathy over his illness. This made me smile, because it struck me as something Morrissey would do. Morrissey and Wilson were probably too similar to ever get along, in that they both never stood for sychophancy and wouldn't suffer fools (I'm sure there the similarity ends though). Unfortunately both of them labelled the other a fool on first meeting, thus ensuring that they would forever hate one another. For this reason I hope Morrissey doesn't comment on Wilson's death.

Morrissey may not of sad anything in tribute to Tony Wilson. But Andy Rourke (another Smith) did!! This is what Andy Rourke says: "I am a bit lost for words, it's obviously a very sad day for Manchester. He was one of the good guys and they are getting fewer and fewer in this world. Tony will be remembered as a big character who never compromised himself".
Andy Rourke sums it up really well! Andy Rourke fights for the cure to cancer in his "Versus Cancer" concerts and Andy Rourke was a friend of Tony Wilson. from, Andy

                                    "And Yet I Die"

                                                    by Marilyn

I see the stars sparkling so bright,
Within the moon kissed sky.
I hear the lark so sweetly sing,
Amidst the morning dawn.
I smell the flower full in bloom,
And see their royal pomp.

And yet some place so deep within,
I'm shrouded and I'm closed.
The brilliance there I can't see,
In mists of misery.
Enshrined inside, unable thus,
To touch the warmth without.
I gaze upon this passion spent,
And yet . . . Inside I die.

I loved this.. It just makes me think and try a little harder in life...

It takes guts to make it out alright.
and the help of many shows how this man tried his best.. That take a smile from me...and I guess it is best to go with a smile..If Possible of course..

wow we all shall die.....
Not nice.. Especially when you have come to be much more wiser and smarter...

Then We die............

RIP?

hmmm
I wonder. :)
thank you.

Andy Rourke did a similar tribute when John Peel died.
Tony Wilson RIP

Tony Wilson was a very intelligent man. Tony went to Cambridge Uni and could speak Latin!! In a pure intellectual sence Tony was way above Shaun Ryder, Bernard Sumner and the rest of Madchester!!
Only Morrissey was on the same intellectual wave lenth although Morrissey didn't go to Cambridge Uni!!

Pays tribute too
He never failed to insult Liverpool at any opportunity but I put it down to him discovering joy division and not the beatles
we still loved ya tony as you know
a stalwart for the north west
liverpool included

I was not a fan of all of his work but I LOVED the way he could take a joke at his own expence (eg 24hr Party People)

RIP

Sheridan

I only just saw the news today. I had attended a screening of Control on Saturday night at the Melbourne Film Festival and that seemed to have triggered a dream where I saw Damon Albarn in the street and went up to him and said "Tony Wilson" as dreams are wont to do. Because of this recent Tony Wilson mental activity I was saddened to read about his passing, he may not have been to everyone's liking but he was a character.

RIP

Although mostly I couldn't give a lesser toss about people dying I didn't know personally, this is one of the few occasions, where I really felt concerned, not the least being a massive worshipper of JOY DIVISION, the only Manchester band on par with THE SMITHS! I've always loved the fact that he actually always admired the genius of Morrissey, despite not getting along with him at all. Also, he had a real "no-bullshit" persona as well. Tony, you'll be missed for sure! Rest In Peace!! (I actually have "goose bumps" while writin this...)

weird man, weird
i just showed some friends of mine
'24 hour party people' on friday night
then one of them told me he died
weird man
weird
poor tony
he deserved better
what a horrible world
huh?
oh well...

It is hard to know how to respond to events like this publicly, especially when the BBC interviewed Tony Wilson just a few weeks ago about the injustices of the NHS and UK's NICE with regard to cancer drug availability in the UK following his diagnosis and treatment.
The inverview itself was designed to push the medical establishment into thinking about the availability of cancer drugs for all. Tony gave his views about how such drugs should be available to all. Despite the fact that he'd found a group of friends who could pay for his treatment, he made the point that others were not in the same position and that something needed to be done about it.

It is hard to comprehend and believe that, after such a profilic period of studio recording, record production and releases from Manchester, there is no musical activity/output from FACTORY. The Hacienda, once the envy of muscial nightlife the world over, is now a apartment block; it's most famous band, New Order, are now in 2007 heavily engaged in public slanging matches discussing if/when/whether 'New Order'can actually still exist in 2007 with/without Peter Hook in the band. And it has been said before that Tony Wilson became much more famous for his extravagences, contractual disasters and passions for expensive furniture and oestentatious design than for FACTORY records.

Obviously, many people have there own views of Tony and his contributions to music, to life, to culture and not just to life and culture in Manchester and the North of England. I found some comments on the BBC website and i feel those nearby are more suited to putting forward a public response in this situation, providing some stiring, or stirling, memories of Tony Wilson the man:

He never had the most likeable public persona, and the inadequacies of the management of Factory are well documented but lets be fair, we have so much to thank Tony for. He was unashamedly single-mided in his promotion of both Manchester and the region, someone who made you feel "Yeah, there's someone in the public eye who feels the same way as me". From Joy Division/New Order, Mondays, Hac, ACR, to Granada Reports, And So it Goes and Remote Control, like him, or not, or both, he will be missed.

Chris Latham, Manchester
Saturday, 11 August, 2007

I had the privilege of working with Tony on the live Granada Which Way Careers programmes 1987-62. Above all I remember his genuine passion that young people should make the most of their talents & be supported in doing that. Tony agreed to host a debate on Girls Into Science & Engineering for my wife at Salford Uni.

He was the only presenter to refuse a fee. His PA said -if it's for young people he'll always do it for free. Send him a booktoken...it'll make his day! A lovely man;now a Legend.

Bill Rogers, Bolton
Saturday, 11 August, 2007

I was lucky enough to have had lunch with Tony several years ago at the Rain Bar in Manchester, I am involved with music and the internet and Tony was excited about the internet and how it would effect the music industry. He informed me at 28 I had little chance of becoming a signed music artist, as I also was the singer in a band, his actual words were "revolutions don't begin when your 28, more like when you are 18", he did have a point, and shortly after this stopped singing. God bless Tone!

Bruce Thomas, Lancashire
Saturday, 11 August, 2007

I am devastated that Tony has died. I wanted him to live for ever and become the Elder of Manchester. My Tony Wilson memory is this: in the 1970s, during the days of the Russell Club, I ran Rock Against Racism with my friend Debbiee Golt. Only we know the support that Tony gave to young British black bands in those days. His passion was punk, ours was reggae. But he helped generously and and never wanted thanks or credit.
WE WANT A STATUE TO THIS GREAT MAN IN THIS GREAT CITY.

Maggie Turner, Manchester
Saturday, 11 August, 2007

I was his warm-up man on the Granada TV programme "Up Front" along with my c

Read the rest of this comment...

The late, great Tony Wilson was many things but to the best of my knowledge, he was not the manager of Joy Division or New Order. The late, great Rob Gretton was. Or did I miss something?

Truth is, this man made Manchester cool. Someone flawed and magficent has passed on and on this earth, we shall not see his like again. They broke the mould, long since. There can be no higher praise. Heaven help heaven now.

MIKE HINC

Anthony Wilson RIP. Anthony Wilson has a lot of catching up to do in Heaven with Rob Gretton, Martin Hannet and Ian Curtis!! Maybe they can all start another Hacienda in Heaven??

Martin Hannett died in 1991. Anthony Wilson RIP.