Factory Records founder and general music bizz legend Tony Wilson is to be honoured by Manchester City Council next week. Wilson, who died in August, is to have his name carved into the wall of the city’s Town Hall - an honour usually reserved for honorary freeman. The council are to declare next week that Wilson would `undoubtedly’ have been worthy of honorary freedom of the city had he still been alive reports Manchester Evening News.
A motion is expected to be unanimously passed saying Wilson will `always be known as Mr Manchester’ with a request made to chief executive Sir Howard Bernstein to arrange for his name to be inscribed on the wall alongside the freemen of the city. Only 75 individuals and six regiments have previously been given honorary freedom.

Wilson’s name will be inscribed next to Sir Alex Ferguson (granted honorary freedom in 1999) and near Sir Matt Busby (1967) - both heroes of his beloved Manchester United. The motion will say the council `wishes to record its deepest regrets on the sudden death of Tony Wilson’. The council wants `a special memorial of appreciation to the outstanding contribution Tony Wilson made to the life of the city, its music and culture over many years’. It will describe him as `the inspiration to a generation of young musicians who put Manchester centre stage in the world of music’.
“Many charitable and arts organisations across Greater Manchester called on Tony Wilson to support their efforts. He always responded.”

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2. Under The Covers - Spanky Wilson does Cream with Sunshine Of Your Love

3. Under The Covers (in reverse): Tony Tribe’s ‘Red Red Wine’

4. New Shortwave Set single - ‘No Social’ - video here

5. The Greatest Song in the World This Week: ‘Manchester Girl’ - Eels

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Posted by Stuart Waterman on Monday October 8th, 2007 at 2:26 pm