Manchester legend Tony Wilsondies

Sat 11th Aug, 2007 in International News

Today the music world mourns the death of Manchester legend Tony Wilson. Immortalised by Steve Coogan in 24 Hour Party People, Wilson was most renowned for founding Factory Records, home to New Order and Happy Mondays, but his career spanned decades and included an extraordinary range of roles from news anchor and political correspondent to quiz show host.

He shared his keen interest in the music scene by hosting the series So it Goes and several other cultural programs throughout the 1970s and 1980s and later founded the infamous Hacienda nightclub. Tributes are pouring in from the many people Wilson inspired.

Though Wilson struggled with cancer toward the end of his life, his death is reported to have been the result of a heart attack and was not related. He died peacefully, surrounded by family at the age of 57.

Wilson was instrumental in plans to bring Manchester’s In the City AAA convention to Australia. The showcase event was originally scheduled for Perth this year but was pushed back to 2008 when Wilson was rushed to surgery earlier in the year. No statement has been issued regarding the 2008 event.