Biography

He was portrayed by Steve Coogan in 24 Hour Party People (2002).

One of the most influential figures in the British music industry, Wilson was one of the five co-founders of Factory Records and also founded the famous Hacienda night club.

He was the longtime partner of Yvette Livesey, who directs the annual 'In The City' international pop music convention in Manchester.

He was also active in local politics. He was the main presenter of the BBC politics show "North West".

He attended De La Salle Christian Brothers' School, and studied English at Cambridge.

Punk was one of those great musical revolutions that comes along every other generation that involves not only great music but involves a culture, a look, a politics with a small 'p'.

It's impossible to remember how dull the mid-seventies were. Anyone who claims that the mid-seventies were somehow interesting, in particular people who put together Old Grey Whistle Test (The Old Grey Whistle Test (1971)) compilations, should be shot, basically, because it was a dreary, dreary period of culture.

I've never paid for private health-care because I'm a socialist. Now I find you can get tummy tucks and cosmetic surgery on the NHS but not the drugs I need to stay alive. It is a scandal.

I used to say some people make money and some make history - which is very funny until you find you can't afford to keep yourself alive.

I'm the one person in this industry who famously has never made any money.