Chapter 167 ~ ...oh my God, it HAS been a year...

In the North of England, it rains & it rains & it rains. Yet we still produced the Industrial Revolution, the Trade Union Movement, the Communist Manifesto, and even the Goddamned computer. And down South, where the sun never sets, you took all our money, & what did you produce?

Chas & fucking Dave!!!

~ Tony Wilson, June 2007

Friday 10 August 2007 - Chapter 35: Farewell, Tony--you never walked alone.


Anthony H. Wilson, 20 February 1950 - 10 August 2007

A year ago today, tonight, Tony Wilson lost his battle with kidney cancer at the age f 57. I still remember... all the stories, all the tributes. The threads on the NOOL and Barney's Angels forums. The playlist I had assembled with many things Factory-related.

Saturday 11 August 2007 - Chapter 35b: More Thoughts on the King of Madchester.

So today as I'm looking back on the pictures... like this one in particular...

it's really hard for this to sink in. It really is. I still can't believe a year's past since Mr. Wilson passed away.

*sigh* Ah well. Not much else to say now, except to close in a modified form of the commendation I closed with a year ago here in the Underground [and until the next round]...

A year has come and gone, and things haven't been the same. You have been, and still, sorely missed by family, friends and fans.

Rest in peace, Tony Wilson, Sir. You never walked alone.

With love and gratitude, and all our regards,

~ the Small-Town Order of the Vikings
and the Citizens of the Trans-Underground Express.

Chapter 35b: So it goes. [More thoughts on the immortal King of Madchester.]

[Currently playing: 'Shadowplay' - Joy Division.]



God bless Madchester, and the man who started it all.

I guess I have more to say in tribute, honor and memory to the King of Madchester.

Thanks to Tony we have a poet, genius, and twat all in one...

In the North of England, it rains & it rains & it rains. Yet we still produced the Industrial Revolution, the Trade Union Movement, the Communist Manifesto, and even the Goddamned computer. And down South, where the sun never sets, you took all our money, & what did you produce?

Chas & fucking Dave!!!

~ Tony Wilson, June 2007

No Tony = No Madchester = No Factory = No Joy Division/New Order, Happy Mondays, OMD, Durutti Column, A Certain Ratio, OMD, Stone Roses, James, The Farm, 808 State, and Charlatans.

Without Tony, we'd have no great music era, which started with a record label, which showcased many great artists.

He was so enthusiastic, he was always we'll just go ahead an do it and figure out why we did it afterwards. It was his sense of enthusiasm that was so important. ...You could have an argument with Tony and walk out hating him and the next time you saw him it was all forgotten. You just love him.'

~ Stephen Morris [Joy Division/New Order], BBC2 programme Newsnight, Friday 10 August 2007.


If you have never seen the movie that is 24 Hour Party People, this weekend would be the proper weekend to do just that. Check the movie out. Laugh at his legendary misadventures. Witness the legacy.



In closing, we have the legendary first television appearance by Joy Division, on Tony's own show. The song: 'Shadowplay.'



Until the next round...

~ 'Sunshine'

[Currently playing @ 5:58 P.M.: 'Electricity' by OMD.]

Chapter 35: Farewell, Tony--you never walked alone. [Tony Wilson: 20 February 1950 - 10 August 2007.]

Bad news folks, Tony Wilson is dead.

Today we lost a legend and pioneer of the Madchester music scene, the same man who not only put Joy Division but also New Order, Factory Records, and the Hacienda on the map. He lost his fight with kidney cancer, at the age of 57.

According to fellow NOOLer His Holiness, The Pope,

Professor Robert Hawkins, his doctor at Christie Hospital, said: “It’s very sad. He died as a result of something unrelated to his cancer. His cancer was responding well to treatment but obviously did contribute to his poor health. He was determined to fight for funding for Sutent and it is especially sad that he has passed away as we seemed to be making some progress in the campaign. He wasn’t fighting for funding for himself, that had been solved by his friends. His efforts were for the people coming after him so it was very generous and not easy for him because he was so unwell. I hope that we will be able to continue what he has started.”

Tony Wilson's Battle is Over - The Manchester Evening News

Anthony Wilson Dies from Cancer - BBC News

And now, a few songs in honor and loving memory of Mr. Wilson...

'Mesh' - New Order

'Transmission' - Joy Division

'24 Hour Party People' - The Happy Mondays



Rest in peace, Tony Wilson, Sir. You never walked alone.

With love and gratitude,

~ the Small-Town Order and the Underground of Excelsios.