'Made a Difference'

Image by iMatthew via Flickr

You're Entitled To An Opinion...The High Times and Many Lives of Tony Wilson, Factory Records and The Hacienda - David Nolan

The story of Factory isn't just the story of Tony Wilson and Tony Wilson's story is far more than Factory but this biography covers both aspects, seemingly from a distance.

An outsider looking in David Nolan has done a sterling job of gathering together a number of sources from across Tony Wilson's personal history without adding anything new himself.

He pencils a detailed outline of Wilson's life from his beginnings in Salford and Marple to the many ups and downs of his broadcasting career and enthusiasm for music, letting the character provide the colour.

Throughout the book he pulls in quotes and anecdotes from the people who surrounded Tony including his fellow Factory founders, the bands on the label and Granada stablemates.

This read provides comprehensive coverage for anyone who doesn't know the history of 'Mr Manchester's' massive contribution to shaping those around him who excited him with their music or shared passion and drove the city forward through this enthusiasm.

This biography reveals nothing new and covers the familiar ground in detail, but does it well, with a gentle and respectful tone. For newbies and steady scholars like myself this is a readable run down of a remarkable life. It can leave no doubt that while on the surface Tony Wilson could be taken as an arrogant egotist his put his heart and soul into Manchester's music scene and his TV work and earned his place to be remembered by the single epithet 'Made a Difference'.

Despite a distant tone the book benefits from the objective stance and the attempt to balance every view. It is a cold heart indeed which doesn't feel a tear well as FAC501 (emblazoned on Tony's coffin but standing for the man himself) comes to pass and doesn't look around at this city and see his fingerprints everywhere.

Setting this apart from other books about this man and the work he was involved in is the addition of a guide to key players, including a sort of 'where are they now' as well as a full listing of the Fac archive. Fascinating and thrilling.

Anyone with a musical inclination of a certain age (anywhere across the Generation X spectrum and the wastelands just outside it's borders usually) has a tale to tell or a view about this piece of Manchester's heritage. That includes me but that's a story for another sunny afternoon.

Of course the story is still running in some way, The Hacienda may be long gone but FAC251 is now open again and pulsing to the rhythm of the Manchester night. Across town Fac201 (the Dry Bar) sits in the newly Boho Northern Quarter. And the legacy stretches well beyond these physical spaces.

Note to author - I've gone to the trouble of looking up ballyhoo in the thesaurus for you. You might want to use some of the alternatives in your next work ;)

Thanks to Nick Hill for the loan of this rather marvellous read.

(Disclaimer: I am biased in a number of ways here - Tony Wilson is one of my heroes, his faults are as important to me as his achievements and there is much about the way he lived and the things he loved that I'd happily emulate in my own life. And just like Tony, Manchester has my heart too. I love reading about this city when I can't be there, being walked along it's streets by words on a page is a worthy activity and this book captures it's essence. Finally, I am fascinated by the story of Factory and not only the music the label bought us but the way it shaped so very many things. I'm not sure whether these vested interests make me a harder critic to win over on the subject or an easy lay...this book was an enjoyable read but I'm still waiting for the definitive documenting of all these things I love).