Once upon a time there was a city called Manchester. It was great for various reasons – the cotton industry, the Manchester Ship Canal – just two reasons pulled from history.
Then came the Twentieth Century – everyone gets a go at being an entrepreneur as industry and manufacturing decline. There were some spectacular successes in the music business from all over the UK – in London there was Malcolm McLaren (The Sex Pistols
in Scotland: Alan McGee (Creation), and in the selling of records as well as making them there was Geoff Travis (Rough Trade) – they all made their mark and have left a legacy. But to my mind, none have left as much of a mark as Tony Wilson
and Factory and the Hacienda from the Manchester scene. Tony died this year. In a couple of day’s time we will see the release of a film documenting the rise and demise (literally) of the band Tony was most closely involved with;Joy Division
Ian’s music, but Tony’s business genius brought this set of musicians to the world’s attention.After Ian’s tragic suicide, Peter Hook and the others regrouped and formed New Order. With Blue Monday they topped the charts and should have made fortunes for themselves and their cohorts. Of course with Tony in charge that didn’t happen. Attention to design and detail ensured that this, one of the world’s best-selling singles never made a bean. That was Tony, and in a way that was Ian too. His motivation for music was never to top the charts. He wrote and sang because he had too. I wait now to see the film of his life. He was depicted in 24 Hour Party People – a damn good film, actually – but this is different. This one is not about Manchester or Madchester. This one is supposed to be about him “Control”
Then came the Twentieth Century – everyone gets a go at being an entrepreneur as industry and manufacturing decline. There were some spectacular successes in the music business from all over the UK – in London there was Malcolm McLaren (The Sex Pistols
in Scotland: Alan McGee (Creation), and in the selling of records as well as making them there was Geoff Travis (Rough Trade) – they all made their mark and have left a legacy. But to my mind, none have left as much of a mark as Tony Wilson
and Factory and the Hacienda from the Manchester scene. Tony died this year. In a couple of day’s time we will see the release of a film documenting the rise and demise (literally) of the band Tony was most closely involved with;Joy Division
Ian’s music, but Tony’s business genius brought this set of musicians to the world’s attention.After Ian’s tragic suicide, Peter Hook and the others regrouped and formed New Order. With Blue Monday they topped the charts and should have made fortunes for themselves and their cohorts. Of course with Tony in charge that didn’t happen. Attention to design and detail ensured that this, one of the world’s best-selling singles never made a bean. That was Tony, and in a way that was Ian too. His motivation for music was never to top the charts. He wrote and sang because he had too. I wait now to see the film of his life. He was depicted in 24 Hour Party People – a damn good film, actually – but this is different. This one is not about Manchester or Madchester. This one is supposed to be about him “Control”
5 comments:
yes, JD but the 'weird metaphysical mayor of Manchester' who made them known ...
thanks so much for tuning me into the tv obit of TW mimi, a great man
Amazing how much Steve Jones resembles Phil Lynott from the waist down, and how important Steve Morris's drumming was to Joy Division, and what a cunt Paul Morley is....
Enjoyable stuff. Inspirational actually. Come on everyone WE CAN DO IT!
Yes, we can
Hi Duncan, well met, thought Shaun Ryder came out of all this smelling of roses too
Paul Morley may well be (actually is) a pompous up-himself arse who has totally forgotten how he got into music in the first place, but I'd rather him any day than Tony Effing Parsons or Julie Bitch-hell.
Control has just won just about every award going in the newcomers of British Film Awards.
Great.
Post a Comment