Plans for a seven-foot bronze statue of Tony Wilson in Salford have taken significant steps towards becoming a reality, with Peter Hook and former councillor Steve Coen meeting Salford City Council officials this week.
The tribute to the co-founder of Factory Records and former Granada Reports presenter would stand in Greengate Square, on the Salford side of the River Irwell opposite Manchester Cathedral, where the old Victoria Bus Station once stood.
Location and design
Hook and Coen met with council officials including the Chief Finance Officer and Deputy Mayor and head of planning, Councillor Mike McCusker, to discuss the plan. The location is where Hook admits he "stole many a goodnight kiss".
The idea is that Wilson would be in Salford, gazing at Manchester. A highly regarded artist with strong Salford links has already been working on designs for the statue, which would be in bronze.
Funding through public shares
The tribute would cost an estimated £250,000, with money raised by the public buying shares in the statue. Numbered certificates embossed with the Factory logo would be issued to those buying a share.
Coen said: "A collective creative culture is at the heart of Salford and Manchester, this would belong to all the people, and the legacy created here deserves to be amplified."
"Tony Wilson understood talent was already here, the attitude was already here, as is music, art, humour, defiance and imagination. What he did was switch the power on, he created opportunities, opened doors and gave people permission to believe that someone born in Salford or Manchester could matter to the world."
"As time passes his legacy feels more important not less. Because it was never 'just' about the bands, Factory Records, the Haçienda or a particular moment in music."
"For Salfordians, and Mancunians the message is simple: you don't have to come from somewhere else in England or the world to do something extraordinary. Like Tony Wilson, you can start here in Salford, and this statue would mainifest that statement."
Border tribute
Hook said: "The reason we found and stumbled on Greengate (as a location), is that it is where I always used to get the bus home - Victoria bus station - where I had many happy moments. It seemed a natural choice. We also wanted to get it on the border between Manchester and Salford."
"One of Tony's big problems with Manchester was that he always thought they stole Salford's talent. Joy Division were a Salford band, New Order were half Salford. Tony and Alan Wise did feel wounded by Manchester taking Salford's crown."
"But I have realised that we (Manchester and Salford) are a marriage. So we wanted to put him on the border. We couldn't put him on the border because that would be the middle of the river, and would not work from a load bearing point of view. So the idea we have come up with is that he goes on solid ground in Salford. He would be in Salford looking towards Manchester."
"Steve and I had the concept a long time ago. The problem has been working with the powers that be. This time there seems to be a much more rosy attitude."
"For me without Tony and his interest in us as a group and his attitude I would not have achieved anything. He used his grandmother's bequest to start Factory records and his idea of a deal was 'darling as long as we get on we will stay together and we don't we'll part' it was as simple as that."
"He was quite the contrast to how anything in the music business was normally done. He was absolutely unique, which is the fantastic thing about him."
"The raising the money, I think, will be easy. There are so many people that love Factory Records, love the groups, and love what Tony and Rob Gretton did via the Hacienda for Manchester. My idea is to sell shares in the statue."
"It looks like the cost will be between £250,000 and £300,000. So you could do two thousand and fifty shares, The idea is that Tony was a man of the people, so the people are going to own him. That statue would then be bequeathed in perpetuity to Salford Council."
"You would get your share, certificate, and free book detailing the history of the statue. And you own the share forever unless you want to sell it to someone else."
He added that the vision for the oversized statue was Tony "dressed like his usual flamboyant self with a big smile on his face like he always had".
Hook added: "I always thought his greatest quote ever was when some of the members of a band were moaning at him saying 'you are never there when we want you'. Tony turned round and said 'listen I might not be there when you want me but I will be there when you need me'."
Council response
Councillor McCusker, Lead Member for Planning, Transport, Sustainable Development and Regeneration at Salford City Council, said: "The council has met with project representatives to discuss a permanent tribute to Tony Wilson. Discussions are at a very early stage, and any proposals will need to be fully developed and considered before any commitment is made."
"The council has a strong track record of recognising and celebrating individuals who have made a significant contribution to the city's cultural, social and economic life. Any decision would be subject to the council's formal decision-making process."
In 2017, as part of the Manchester International Festival, a 12ft statue of Friedrich Engels was unveiled in Tony Wilson Place next to Home cinema in Manchester. The statue had stood in a village in eastern Ukraine once named after Engels, but was toppled in 2015 following Russian aggression against Ukraine. It was recovered from Ukraine by the Turner prize-nominated artist Phil Collins.
