New Order and Joy Division drummer Stephen Morris has being paying tribute the late Tony Wilson, the Factory Records / In The City chief who, as previously reported, died last week. Speaking to the NME about the moment he heard of Wilson's untimely death, Morris said: "We were told that Tony had been given the last rites and I didn't think he was that bad. Then at tea time on Friday (Aug 10) I got a call from [Factory co-founder] Alan Erasmus, which was a shock anyway because I'd not heard from him in about 15 years. And he told me that Tony had just died. And I was shocked, double shocked".
Wilson had, of course, been suffering from pancreatic cancer, though he had been responding to his treatment well and the cancer was not directly the cause of his death. Commenting on Wilson's recent ill health, Morris continued: "I saw him three weeks ago at a wedding, and I saw pictures of him at Coachella [where he introduced Happy Mondays onstage]. He was obviously ill and he had a very ill-advised beard, but Tony was still there. We were chatting about Neil Young at the Palace Theatre, and he seemed alright. Which is why I'm quite surprised that it's happened as quick as it has done really. I heard he was getting taken back to hospital, but that's one of the things about cancer, it's up and down a bit. The whole thing's been really quick because he was only diagnosed just before Christmas".
On Wilson's importance in Joy Division's success, Morris concluded: "We definitely wouldn't have become what we did, definitely not. I can tell you that without a shadow of a doubt. So many other things wouldn't have become what they are. Manchester wouldn't have become what it is without him. Things would have been so different".
Wilson's funeral has been confirmed as taking place this coming Monday, 20 Aug, at the Hidden Gem Church in Manchester. It will be small affair for family and close friends only - a larger memorial service is under discussion. Anyone wishing to make a tribute to Wilson has been asked to make a donation to the Christie Hospital NHS Trust - http://www.christies.org/makedonations.html.