I suppose they are the ones who are able to provoke those feelings we tend to suppress most of the time. For the sake of being polite, civilized, sophisticated and all that shite. I personally like the devil's advocate and the stirrer. Cheers to those who rise above PC... May he rest in peace or chaos, whicheve he may prefer.
The early Factory 7"s and albums are as desirable and as important cultural artifacts as a Joyce first edition. All respect to Mr Wilson ... Gawd bless'im.
The fact that Tony Wilson died poor while Simon Cowell lives rich is empirical, irrefutable proof of the non-existence of God. I must give Dawkins a call.
Of course he was annoying, as is Cowell. But there's a distinction. Cowell wants to be 'hated' in a safe way as a pantomime villain, but at the same time he clearly craves admiration as a talent-spotter and entrepreneur. He wants to control how he's perceived. Wilson clearly couldn't give a toss what you thought of him. Which is why he got away with it.
I was impressed at the way Paul Morley spent most of his mini Tony Wilson obituary in the Guardian talking about himself. He may have made up for it in the Observer, though.
I only really know about Tony Wilson from watching '24 Hour Party People', and all the way through the film I kept forgetting that I wasn't watching Alan Partridge, so my opinions of the man are a bit confused.
Bilious and uncomprehending obituary in The Telegraph:
"Perhaps it was his total self-obsession that set Wilson apart, even in the overheated half-world he inhabited between the music business and the media, where hype is held in high esteem and overweening vanity worn like a badge."
Anthony H Wilson, 1950-2007.
14 comments:
*sniff*
The loveliest, most genial people are widely missed, but the irritating, challenging, visionary, irritating indivduals are most deeply missed.
I suppose they are the ones who are able to provoke those feelings we tend to suppress most of the time. For the sake of being polite, civilized, sophisticated and all that shite. I personally like the devil's advocate and the stirrer. Cheers to those who rise above PC... May he rest in peace or chaos, whicheve he may prefer.
The early Factory 7"s and albums are as desirable and as important cultural artifacts as a Joyce first edition.
All respect to Mr Wilson ... Gawd bless'im.
The fact that Tony Wilson died poor while Simon Cowell lives rich is empirical, irrefutable proof of the non-existence of God. I must give Dawkins a call.
Simon Cowell being so rich and influential calls to mind a Faustian bargain with them downstairs to me.
Living in Manchester as I do, you can't help but respect what Anthony Wilson achived regardless of how you feel about him.
Personally, I found him very annoying but I think bellulah hit the nail on the head
Of course he was annoying, as is Cowell. But there's a distinction. Cowell wants to be 'hated' in a safe way as a pantomime villain, but at the same time he clearly craves admiration as a talent-spotter and entrepreneur. He wants to control how he's perceived. Wilson clearly couldn't give a toss what you thought of him. Which is why he got away with it.
I was impressed at the way Paul Morley spent most of his mini Tony Wilson obituary in the Guardian talking about himself. He may have made up for it in the Observer, though.
I only really know about Tony Wilson from watching '24 Hour Party People', and all the way through the film I kept forgetting that I wasn't watching Alan Partridge, so my opinions of the man are a bit confused.
Tim. I agree.
I'd happily drop Cowell in molten lava, while I would have just avoided Anthony Wilson's company while nodding appreciatively at Joy Division....
I agree with Patroclus, although I know who Tony Wilson is, I imagine he looks and acts like Alan Patridge, which he clearly didn't.
: )
It's like Cary Grant's complaint that everyone who thinks he's doing a Cary Grant impersonation is actually doing Tony Curtis...
This could turn into another bloody Baudrillard post, but I'll let you off this time.
Bilious and uncomprehending obituary in The Telegraph:
"Perhaps it was his total self-obsession that set Wilson apart, even in the overheated half-world he inhabited between the music business and the media, where hype is held in high esteem and overweening vanity worn like a badge."
I only learnt about him through "24 Hour party People" and though he was clearly some sort of loon, he'll be missed.
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