IT LOOKS like recuperating music guru Tony Wilson is all set to travel to America for the stateside launch of Manchester music convention In The City - despite the fact that he's still recovering from a major operation.

In The City of New York launches in the Big Apple in June - which will be less than six months since Tony, 56, underwent surgery.

But the man who gave us Joy Division, New Order and Happy Mondays has vowed the show must go on. Tony tells me: "I am so annoyed that I am ill, but nothing must be allowed to get in the way of this overseas expansion of a Manchester idea."

He's already had to put back In The City AAA (Australia Australasia Asia) - to be staged in Perth, Australia - by a year, a decision which infuriates him.

"We were due to go out there for talks about the convention in Perth on February 19 but my illness has meant we will now have to wait.

"I have told them that In The City AAA should be scheduled for November, 2008.

"New York, however, should be fine. That was already organised before my illness.

June

"I will be sufficiently well to go out there with Yvette (Livesey, his partner) in June."

Tony is taking six new British bands across the Atlantic as part of In The City of New York.

The acts will be performing in front of heavyweight music executives inside Times Square's Nokia Theatre.

There will also be some carefully chosen New York pop hopefuls on hand to add a bit of local spice to the musical stew.

The entire event will be curated by Yvette and Factory maverick Tony, who founded In The City - the internationally respected music convention based in Manchester.

The event is, alongside the Brit Awards, one of the highlights of the British music business calendar. And let's not forget the convention that started it all - Manchester. "In The City will be in Manchester again this October," Tony assures me.

For more information go to inthecityofnewyork.com