TRIBUTES are pouring in for Tony Wilson from Manchester celebrities, broadcasters and politicians.
New Order drummer Stephen Morris said: “I'm still in shock.
“He really was Mr Manchester, he believed in the city. There are all those bands that wouldn't have existed without him and, of course, the Hacienda.
“I'm just recalling the last time I saw him which was a few weeks ago. He was very, very ill but there was still Tony in there, he hadn't lost that look in his eye.
“There are so many things that he achieved but the greatest thing we have is the music and all the memories. It's a great loss.”
Broadcaster James H Reeve said: “Where do you start? He was a counterweight to Coronation Street ie that there is much more to this great city than a soap opera.”
Andy Rourke, former bassist with The Smiths who has also led the versus Cancer campaign, said: “I'm a bit lost for words, it's obviously a very sad day for Manchester.
“He was one of the good guys and they are getting fewer and fewer in this world.
“Tony will be remembered as a big character who never compromised himself.”
Coronation Street star Michael LeVell, who plays mechanic Kevin, said: “He was one of the biggest and liveliest characters. He was never a man to mince his words. He just said what he thought and if you did not like it 'stuff you'.
“He was a godsend to Manchester.”
BBC Radio Manchester presenter Terry Christian said he was “absolutely devastated” by the news.
He said: “I loved Tony.
“To me he is irreplaceable. It is a massive loss to Manchester. He was the icon figure we could all kick against. He was the whole representation of Manchester.
“My wife worked with him on all his projects like the Happy Mondays and she is in tears here.
“Tony was so full of life. He was fantastic and I never got tired of his company. You would fall out with him but he was always bigger than anything and you could always talk to him.”
Broadcaster Eamonn O'Neal, who knew the presenter from their days working at Granada during the 1990s, said that his friend's often flamboyant image belied a man of “profound humility”.
He said: “A lot of people would be surprised to hear how generous he was and how willing he was to help new presenters. He didn't laud it up but really made an effort to make new people feel at home.
“He was one of the biggest broadcasters of our time and, despite the front he put up, he was actually had a kind of profound humility although he would have hated people to know it.”
City councillor Pat Karney said: “He was one of my great heroes. Although he had countless offers to go to London, he never left us.
“Thousands of Mancunians will have great memories of him because he is one of those people who touched all corners of the city.
“Although I am in Berlin, I will light a candle for him tonight.”
Deputy council leader Jim Battle, who joined forces with Wilson to fight plans for city centre lap dancing club, paid tribute to the broadcaster.
He said: “Tony was one of the great Mancunians. He stamped his personality on the city and the city stamped its personality on him.
Read a full obituary and pay your tribute to Anthony Wilson here
“He was recognised worldwide as being one of the most recognisable people from this city and our sympathy is with his friends and family.”
TV bosses at Granada – where Wilson first came to prominence as a news and music presenter – also offered their praise.
A Granada spokeswoman said: “We are saddened to hear of Tony's death. He was an institution at ITV Granada and an inspiration to the music industry. We offer our sincere condolences to his family and loved ones. He will be greatly missed.”
Wilson also received tribute from the BBC, where he worked as a DJ on Radio Manchester.
A spokeswoman for the corporation last night praised him as “one of a kind”.
She said: “We are deeply saddened to hear of the death of Tony Wilson. There will never be anyone quite like Tony. He was a true free spirit and a passionate advocate for Manchester – the city, its people and, of course, its music.
“Tony had a fantastic broadcasting career, latterly with the BBC, and everyone in the industry will share our deep sense of loss today. He was one of a kind and will be sadly missed.”
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Showing comments 1 to 25 and replies | View All
CJOK, Moston (10/08/2007 at 22:41)
Howard Dawber (11/08/2007 at 01:41)
He was truly one of a kind and nothing will ever be the same again.
Earthquake in Manchester on the same day - a coincidence? I think not.
RIP AHW.
Howard
Brian Shelmerdine, Oldham (11/08/2007 at 02:51)
Pauly, Manchester (11/08/2007 at 03:52)
The first time I meet him though was back 1999 when I was 18 and worked in music shop in Salford. At that time I thought of him as "Tony Wilson: the guy off the telly and started the Hacienda." not knowing what else he did for Manchester and it's music scene.
He was looking to buy an electric guitar. Not sure if it was him or a present for someone. Asked if he could try one off the wall. I took it down, made sure it was in tune, set up an amp and offered him the guitar. He then asked if I would play it!!! I've never been asked that before or since. Sat there and played through some chords and messed about a bit and I went through the features on the guitar with him. He asked me to play again and joked "No Led Zepplin please!!!" He bought it in the end, but when I think back....... I played for Tony Wilson!!!!! It brings a wee cheeky smile to my face when I think about that. Legend. RIP Anthony H. Wilson. God bless ya mate
jane powell (11/08/2007 at 09:02)
CALM has received literally thousands of calls from young men over the past decade, getting help when they were down. Tony's support was critical in keeping CALM going. May he rest in peace.
Jane Powell
NC76, Manchester (11/08/2007 at 09:30)
Jay McCreary, Manchester (11/08/2007 at 10:06)
After meeting a wide variety of scumballs and up their own **** media *******, it was a refreshing change for me to meet and work with Tony. I worked with him on his recent Talk of The Town shows on Saturday mornings on BBC Radio Manchester for over a year until he became too ill to do them. I was his tech-op, driving his outside broadcast desk from the Cornerhouse every week. At the end of every show without fail, he would come over and shake my hand and thank me, before leaving. He was a true gent, one of the finest and most sincere people who remained in broadcasting. I will always remember him for that.
He fought the fight of Manchester and made us stand out. I suppose we have to now continue where he left it, because no one person will ever take his place. As he said at the end of almost every show, we should "keep the faith."
My thoughts go out to Yvette, and his two children who I only know as "Olly" and "Izzy." You are lucky to have had such a great and generous man in your lives.
Finally, Tony always stuck by one rule, and I loved the way it was reinforced. He always said "All our bands have the freedom to..." which was not only unique, but is one of the things he will always be remembered for, especially by the wide variety of music acts he helped support and give birth to. Well Tony has that freedom now. And I'm just sorry it happened so early in his life.
If you're not sure what I'm talking about, or how Tony's sentence should end, then in the words of the great man himself "you should probably read more."
We will all miss you, Tony. Rest peacefully, farewell.
Brahma Mohanty (11/08/2007 at 10:38)
Tony was my hero and growing up, he was my inspiration. Tony himself came from rather humble beginning but through self-determination and hard work, he left behind a mark on Manchester which will echo through the ages. My only regret is that I never got round to writing that letter to Tony I so desperately wanted to do. I wanted to tell him directly how much of an inspiration he was and always will be to me and how I am proud to call myself a Mancunian because of him.
We will miss you Tony. May you be at peace now. You will always be Mr Manchester.
new order fan (11/08/2007 at 10:45)
Josephine Kavanagh (11/08/2007 at 10:54)
Wish all his children, friends and family well at this difficult time.
RIP
Kav
doves909@yahoo.co.uk, manchester (11/08/2007 at 10:56)
Cllr Mike Amesbury (11/08/2007 at 10:58)
Urbis (11/08/2007 at 11:09)
gossip, teased, laughed and debated Manchester's past and future.
I'll remember his intelligence, his wit, his ability (contrary to rumour) to laugh at himself. More than anything I admired him, his professionalism (he was a journalist first and foremost and one of the
best of his generation), and his enthusiasm, maintained up until his death.
We missed him at the opening of the Hac exhibition--he was too ill to attend. Even if he'd been healthy, I'm not sure he would have come--he was always more interested in the future than the past. His refusal to live on old glories was one of the reasons he was so likeable.
I saw him last doing his final (I think) Talk of the Town in May. Even though clearly ill, no listener could ever have guessed. On
leaving, we agreed to have lunch together, and only last week I was reminding myself to ring him. Would have been too late for lunch, but how I regret that English reticence in picking up the bloody phone.
Thanks for everything.
Vaughan Allen
Chief Exec, Urbis
Macca (11/08/2007 at 11:13)
like someone posted earlier, i had the ultimate soundtrack to my life too,
1st band i went to see were New Order at the Hacienda when i was 17, i was in love with their music from then on, Manchester had such an atmosphere back then, and much of it was because of Tony,
Condolences to his family, loved ones and friends,
Brian Jones (11/08/2007 at 11:14)
In 1992, I eventually moved to Manchester drawn by the rich music heritage that Tony had helped support. The city was a fertile hotbed of locals and outsiders who had been drawn to the city because of Tony and all of the musicians and artists he had led out of the wilderness.
I will always be grateful to him for providing a great musical soundtrack to my life.
Peace and respect
MARKY65, WARRINGTON,CHESHIRE (11/08/2007 at 11:21)
chris doyle (11/08/2007 at 12:18)
fran eyre (11/08/2007 at 12:34)
Rest in peace, Tony
busman_dave, manchester (11/08/2007 at 12:54)
Rest In Peace Tony x x
sarateal, ireland (11/08/2007 at 13:21)
THIS WAS MY ERA IT FEELS THAT MY ERA HAS ENDED
RIP TONY
Turton, Manchester Central (11/08/2007 at 13:46)
Anthony, was known, for he truly, did believe that “What Manchester did Today, The World Did Tomorrow”
Last, time I spoke with Tony he was offering to help with the Manchester Mental Health Teams who our campaigning against the cutbacks and hardships that Patients and staff were being forced to accept. Such was Tony’s belief that anything in Manchester had to be world leading, unique; he was a real Mr Manchester Man, a ragged trouser Philanthropist. R.I.P
Lisa (11/08/2007 at 13:58)
Tim Kelly (11/08/2007 at 14:12)
Really sadley missed.
marc (11/08/2007 at 14:30)
Greg L-W. www.KidneyCancerResource.com (11/08/2007 at 14:44)
It was my honour to speak of Tony Wilson on BBC 5Live with Stephen Nolan on the evening of Tony's death. It was my privilege to remind people of not just the man but of Yvette Livesey his long term partner and his 2 Children and remind people that he was not JUST a 'muso' he was a man who faced his demise with dignity and courage thinking of others as he tried to RAISE AWARENESS of Kidney Cancer and the disgrace of the now devolved irresponsibility of QUANGOs deciding clinical issues on a Post Code lottery.
Tony's contribution to Manchester and music in life was indisputable but his contribution to fairness, equality and fellow patients in his death was imeasurable.
As a Kidney Cancer patient myself I was proud to show his important contributions to mankind, relative to working life contributions to entertainment.
We have something of an obituary to Tony and his real achievements at: http://www.kidneycancerresource.com/wiki/index.php/WILSON%2C_Anthony#Obituary
Please help us to carry on his work by supporting our web resource.
Thank you. Regards, Greg L-W.