FACTORY: Manchester from Joy Division to Happy Mondays

In a dark, northern city in the late 70s, five dreamers built a record label – Factory; 3 classic bands – Joy Division, New Order and Happy Mondays, and Britain’s first super club – The Hacienda.

Led by Tony Wilson, they created a unique collision between conceptual art and street music. This is the story of how a TV presenter(Wilson), an out of work actor(Alan Erasmus), an art student(Peter Saville), a DJ(Rob Gretton) and an aspiring record producer(Martin Hannett) pioneered Britain’s independent pop culture, imagined a new Manchester, and blew a shed-load of money.


Produced and directed by Chris Rodley in the last three months and featuring an extensive interview with Factory’s creative genius Anthony Wilson who sadly died last Friday, August 10, 2007, this 90 minute documentary celebrates the triumph, tragedy and human comedy that was Factory and is a fitting tribute to Wilson’s contribution to British pop culture and to Manchester.

BBCFOUR Plan to air ‘FACTORY’ initially on Friday, September 21, at 21.00 as a fitting tribute to Tony Wilson.

Featuring:
From Factory: Anthony H. Wilson; Peter Saville; Mike Pickering; Nathan McGough. Band members: Bernard Sumner, Peter Hook and Stephen Morris (Joy Division/New Order); Shaun Ryder, Paul Ryder, Gary Whelan and Rowetta (Happy Mondays); Vin and Larry Cassidy (Section 25); Martin Moscrop (A Certain Ratio); Vini Reilly (The Durutti Column). Writers Paul Morely and John Robb.