Peter Saville-designed memorial headstone for Tony Wilson unveiled

Tony Wilson's memorial headstone has been unveiled, having been designed by his long-term Factory Records cohort Peter Saville and his associate Ben Kelly.

The black headstone, which is made of granite, is now sitting at The Southern Cemetery in Chorlton-Cum-Hardy, Manchester, reports Creative Review.

Wilson died of a heart attack in 2007, following a long-term battle with cancer. He is referred to on the headstone as a "broadcaster and cultural catalyst". It also features the following book extract, selected by Wilson's family and taken from Isabella Varley Banks' 1876 novel The Manchester Man:

"Mutability is the epitaph of worlds/Change alone is changeless/People drop out of the history of a life as of a land/Though their work or their influence remains."

Despite being designed by Saville and Kelly, the headstone does not feature one of Factory's trademark catalogue numbers. Wilson's coffin, labelled FAC 501, was the last of these.

Paul Barnes and Matt Robertson also helped Saville and Kelly to design the headstone.

http://www.nme.com/news/tony-wilson/53571

Better picture's here also.

http://www.creativereview.co.uk/cr-blog/2010/october/peter-saville-anthony-wilson-headstone

http://www.thedailyswarm.com/headlines/better-late-and-good-tony-wilsons-peter-saville-and-ben-kelly-designed-headstone/

To quote my friend Maureen from Facebook, Tony would approve, me thinks.

Personally, I think it's very nice and very fitting. Proper simplicity, not overdone. Very good job done by Saville once again.

I think it's very elegant and tasteful.

Magnificent. A fitting memorial to a great man. R.I.P Tony.

It's beautiful.

Granite headstone inspired by 2001: A Space Odyssey placed on Tony Wilson's grave

A memorial headstone for music legend Tony Wilson has been unveiled at his grave – three years after his death.

The black granite tablet, designed by Wilson’s friend and Factory Records designer Peter Saville, was erected in Southern Cemetery, Chorlton.

It reads ‘Anthony H Wilson. Broadcaster. Cultural Catalyst. 1950-2007’.

Wilson, who helped put Manchester on the world map with the Hacienda nightclub and Factory Records, died in August 2007 after losing his battle with cancer.

But it has taken three years for the 5ft by 3ft headstone to be designed and placed at his grave.

There has been a temporary stone memorial at the site since Wilson’s death.

Peter Saville, pictured left, said the new stone is reminiscent of the vast, black obelisk in the cult film 2001: A Space Odyssey.

He said: “I think everyone involved in this felt it was more pressing to get it right, rather than to bother too much about time frame. The black, polished granite was shipped in from India, which took six months.

“There were also a lot of people to consider and we wanted to get it right.

“It is completely different from all the other stones around it, but it reflects them. It’s a polished, black tablet that has just arrived in that place.”

At the foot of the stone there is a quote, chosen by Wilson’s family, from The Manchester Man, the 1876 novel by Isabella Varley Banks, who wrote as G Linnaeus Banks.

The quote reads: “Mutability is the epitaph of worlds/Change alone is changeless/People drop out of the history of a life as of a land/though their work or their influence remains.”

Wilson’s close friend and former Joy Division and New Order bassist Peter Hook said: “When you lose someone that close to you it’s very hard – as it was for Peter Saville. I think it’s a wonderful tribute that Peter designed the headstone. I look forward to seeing it.”

http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/news/s/1346450_granite_headstone_inspired_by_2001_a_space_odyssey_placed_on_tony_wilsons_grave

Very,very fitting,& totally in line with the Factory aesthetic,intended or not

Guardian Report

Denholm Reynholm wrote: Very nice.

Must have been a fairly tough and sobering brief for Saville; designing his friend's tombstone. I'm sure he wanted to do something AHW would've loved and it is indeed very classy in the usual minimalist style.

Plus as usual... late Wilson would have loved that.

i was thinking exactly the same thing, typically late, and more than likely over budget, but a work of art.

A bit harder to slip into a mucky overcoat than Ian's was, too.

Lesson learned.

Really like this, a fitting tribute indeed. A quote at the end of the stone as well whch Mr Wilson would have liked

"Typography by Matt Robertson"

Looks great. Let's hope people leave it alone.

linus sulanki wrote: Tony Wilson's memorial headstone has been unveiled, having been designed by his long-term Factory Records cohort Peter Saville and his associate Ben Kelly.

The black headstone, which is made of granite, is now sitting at The Southern Cemetery in Chorlton-Cum-Hardy, Manchester, reports Creative Review.

Wilson died of a heart attack in 2007, following a long-term battle with cancer. He is referred to on the headstone as a "broadcaster and cultural catalyst". It also features the following book extract, selected by Wilson's family and taken from Isabella Varley Banks' 1876 novel The Manchester Man:

"Mutability is the epitaph of worlds/Change alone is changeless/People drop out of the history of a life as of a land/Though their work or their influence remains."

Despite being designed by Saville and Kelly, the headstone does not feature one of Factory's trademark catalogue numbers. Wilson's coffin, labelled FAC 501, was the last of these.

Paul Barnes and Matt Robertson also helped Saville and Kelly to design the headstone.

http://www.nme.com/news/tony-wilson/53571

It's just black and white! No color. How boring.

It's hella cool thou.

Without even trying Wilson manages to out-cool an entire cemetary. Impressive stuff.