Anthony H Wilson - RIP

Anthony Wilson, the man behind some of Manchester's most successful bands, has died of cancer. The Salford-born entrepreneur, who founded Factory records, the label behind New Order and the Happy Mondays, was diagnosed last year. The 57-year-old, also famous for setting up the Hacienda nightclub, underwent emergency surgery in January to remove a kidney. He died on Friday evening at the Christie Hospital surrounded by family.

Phil Saxe, who used to work at Factory Records with Wilson, said: "Part of me, part of Manchester, part of modern British music has died tonight. Tony was a genius, basically. He was a visionary in that he helped bands, who otherwise wouldn't have made it, who were a bit out of the ordinary. He helped them realise their dreams and through that probably realised himself to be Mr Manchester".

With this sad news, perhaps the most fitting tribute would be to go to your stack of records and stick on some Joy Division or some Acid House and dance around your living room like a loon.