RIP, Tony Wilson.
Tony Wilson is dead. Arguably the most influential figure in modern British music, the founder of Factory Records passed away from cancer.
Despite the man's controversial nature and any number of debacles involving bands whose material I love, I'd like to thank him for helping push fantastic music forward from one of the least likely places on the planet. My youth (and present) would be much diminished without bands like Joy Division, New Order, A Certain Ratio, and Durutti Column. I'm sure he and Ian Curtis are having an interesting conversation as I write this.
I've stuck "Atmosphere" by Joy Division in the box.net application on the right side of my blog in some sort of clumsy tribute. Cue it up and spend a moment or two savoring it, would you?
