The most pretentious, infuriatingly smug bloke on the box at the time.

And a wonderful, highly talented entertainer. Mr. Manchester.
Great tribute just been on Granada Reports.

Agree with all of that. A great man and genuine cool TV maverick. Used to love watching his late night music show So it Goes at the birth of punk/new wave music.

Attended the same school as me in the 1960's, De La Salle College in Salford. He was two years above me and yes,very pretentious then too but also likeable and good fun.

Can't argue with any of the above but boy did he know his music.

He was an early invesigative journalist on Granada .Very entertaining and with the hide of a rhino didn't mind who he p xxxed off.

First saw him on granada. Liked him. Great personality. 10 years thats scary.

He's got a real cool headstone.

Theres an ode to him on YouTube it was released a couple of years ago but its pretty good.

Something like an ode to Anthony h wilson its called, worth a listen

Bought it great tune and tribute to a true Manchester I on and Legend top man

Mr AssinEnda, my mate labelled him when getting booted out of the Hacienda one night!
Happy days, those.

He was definitely a maverick.
Did it his way.
Manchester music scene was certainly the thing, back then.
Never worked out whether it would have been without him or, because of him.

But he left his mark on the city.

Biggest failing was his poor business decisions, especially the Hacienda,never made a penny profit but he didn't appear to bother on that score.

I met Tony Wilson in his recording studio in Rochdale (Cargo?)

I thought he was a really nice guy, a gentleman.

I met him too. Very charismatic, but full of ego!

True story... I was living in Earby at the time, and it was something that he picked up on.

He said "Earby? In Yorkshire?" I said "no, in Lancashire".
"Why did I think it was in Yorkshire then?" He asked.
"Because it used to be" I replied.
"Well... I think you're from Yorkshire" He insisted.
"Well... I thought the Happy Mondays were sh*t, Tony, but I don't go on about it!" I retorted...

His face was a picture!

Pimlico_Claret wrote:Biggest failing was his poor business decisions, especially the Hacienda,never made a penny profit but he didn't appear to bother on that score.

Councillor Pat Karney, speaking on the Granada Reports tribute last night, said he would definitely
have been Mayor of Manchester and would have been a great one, with the tiny reservation
that "the city would have been broke in a few months!"

Ten years so quick..He certainly was Mr Manchester for a while...much missed, a very smart bloke with loads to offer...he barely made any money from The Hacienda, or Factory records...and a degree in English from Cambridge University as well.

Tony backed New Order, they were on Factory..This is 'Temptation' - as one of the comments says..'Excellent song'.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxDv_RTdLQo" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

He lived in Downham at one time, and was buried at the church there.

Wiki says he is buried at Southern Cemetery, Chorlton, M/C...?

8 years ago I was in Downham and got talking to his widow, she told me she was there visiting his grave as it was 2 years since his death, I had met her once before so know she was genuine.

Okey Dokey..

The top man.

Definitely buried in southern cemetery.

You looked in the coffin then?

Hardly unheard of for a celeb to have a show funeral for press and fans etc. then a genuine small private funeral for family and close friends. Although not married Lyndsay was effectively his wife for 17 years, for much of that I was friendly with her Dad, Stewart and Mum Bebe until the moved to St Annes, I had met her through them. Anyway believe whatever you want.

yorkyclaret wrote:Hardly unheard of for a celeb to have a show funeral for press and fans etc. then a genuine small private funeral for family and close friends. Although not married Lyndsay was effectively his wife for 17 years, for much of that I was friendly with her Dad, Stewart and Mum Bebe until the moved to St Annes, I had met her through them. Anyway believe whatever you want.

He was married to Lyndsay, she was his first wife. Yvette was his girlfriend of 17 years.
No, I haven't seen in his coffin, that would be silly. I do know a few people who knew Tony Wilson well though so I'm happy to believe them.

Correct, I got the names mixed up, strange as the reason I was sure it was her was the YDL... private plate on her Bentley.

A genius,A visionary and one of my absolute hero's.
I was attending a wedding at a country house near Durham the night it was announced Anthony H Wilson had passed away. I thought the night couldn't get any worse,then in walked the entire Blackburn Rovers team for an overnight stay en-route for a Saturday fixture!

The Happy Mondays were on Factory Records as well - they had Bez in their band..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bcn4UG6Jd0s" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

'Kinky Afro' [1990].

I saw Magazine at the original Factory Club in Hulme in the late 70s. Tony was there holding court, I thought he was brilliant despite the obvious ego. The one interview he did that I remember was of Blondie before they were big. Debbie Harry in thigh length boots and the shortest skirt!

At first I thought he was a bit of a prick but then met him when he came to collect some discs from pdo. What a nice polite bloke - not one bit cocky and very approachable.