Anthony Wilson

MANCHESTER music legend Anthony Wilson has died. Mr Wilson, who was diagnosed with cancer last year, died aged 57 following a heart attack in Christie Hospital at about 7pm last night. The former Factory Records boss had been in Christie Hospital for the last two weeks. He suffered a heart attack on Thursday and was with half a dozen family and friends, including his partner Yvette Livesey and his children when he passed away. Mr Wilson revealed he was battling kidney cancer in the M.E.N in February. He had undergone an operation to remove a kidney, underwent experimental chemotherapy which did not work and was being treated with the life-prolonging drug Sutent. After being diagnosed he was denied Sutent – which is a new drug - on the NHS and his friends set up a fund to start paying for the £3,500-a-month treatment. His family were too upset to talk last night but wanted to thank staff at the MRI and Christie who have provided “fantastic” care for him over the last few months. They also wanted to thank his friends who have supported him through his treatment. Professor Robert Hawkins, his doctor at Christie Hospital, said: “It’s very sad. He died as a result of something unrelated to his cancer. His cancer was responding well to treatment but obviously did contribute to his poor health. “He was determined to fight for funding for Sutent and it is especially sad that he has passed away as we seemed to be making some progress in the campaign. “He wasn’t fighting for funding for himself, that had been solved by his friends. His efforts were for the people coming after him so it was very generous and not easy for him because he was so unwell. “I hope that we will be able to continue what he has started.” The music mogul founded the famous Hacienda and was one of five co-founders of Factory Records, which produced bands such as New Order and the Happy Mondays during a period in the eighties dubbed `Madchester'. Born at Hope Hospital, Salford, he went to De La Salle Grammar School, Salford, and studied English at Cambridge before beginning his TV career as a trainee with ITN in 1971. He was a reporter and presenter on Granada Reports and went on to present So It Goes - the music show that first aired punk bands. He also worked on World In Action - Granada's flagship current affairs programme - and Flying Start which showcased new businesses, as well as After Dark, a late night discussion programme on Channel 4. Besides presenting, he helped to organise the annual In The City festival in Manchester which attracts musicians and critics from all over the world. And Steve Coogan played Tony in the film 24 Hour Party People, a semi-fictional account of Tony and Factory Records. More recently he has presented XFM Manchester's The Sunday Roast show and two BBC GMR shows, Ground Rules, a one-hour sports show, and Oxford Road Station, a Saturday lunch-time show.