Died On This Date (August 10, 2007) Tony Wilson / Co-founded Factory Records

Tony Wilson
February 20, 1950 – August 10, 2007

tony_wilsonA man of many hats, Tony Wilson is best remembered as co-owner of Factory Records, home the one-time home of Joy Division, New Order and OMD.  He also owned The Hacienda, which became  the epicenter of the Manchester music scene of the late ’80s and early ’90s.   Before his foray into music, Wilson was a journalist and BBC television peronaility, most notably hosting So It Goes and After Dark.  Suffering from advance stages of renal cancer, Wilson, age 57,  died of a heart attack in a Manchester hospital.


Died On This Date (April 18, 1991) Martin Hannett / Producer; Factory Records

Martin Hannett (aka Martin Zero)
May 13, 1948 – April 18, 1991

Martin Hannett at right
Martin Hannett at right

Martin Hannett was an English musician, producer and label head.  He has been recognized for producing (as Martin Zero) the first ever independent punk record, the Buzzcocks’ Spiral Scratch, released in January of 1977.  But it was his groundbreaking production work with Joy Division that earned him (and the band) his most acclaim.  In 1978 he co-founded the highly influential Factory Records with Tony Wilson.  Factory was home to such acts as Joy Division, New Order and The Durutti Column.    By the early ’80s, Hannett’s career was being hindered by his exsessive abuse of alcohol and heroin.  He died of heart failure on April 18, 1991 at the age of 42.

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Factory Records: Communications 1978-92 - Various Artists