Skinny Dog Records are proud to announce the release of ‘ST ANTHONY: AN ODE TO ANTHONY H WILSON’, a touching tribute to Factory Records legend Tony Wilson. The single is released on the 14th of August 2015 and features artwork by the great Peter Saville and a remix by Andrew Weatherall.
The poem was written by Mancunian poet and lifelong Wilson fan Mike Garry who took it to music composer Joe Duddell (New Order, Elbow). On the first read, Duddell immediately heard elements of New Order’s ‘Your Silent Face’, completely unrealised by Garry, and decided to base the music on that song. ‘St. Anthony: An Ode To Anthony H Wilson’ was born.
Wilson launched Factory Records in 1978 and he went on to establish the label by signing the likes of Joy Divison, New Order, and The Happy Mondays. He became known as Mr Manchester for his work throughout his career promoting the city. He was immortalized on film by Steve Coogan in 2003’s 24 Hour Party People and again in the Joy Division biopic Control, this time played by Craig Parkinson. After a long struggle with cancer, Tony Wilson died in 2007 in Manchester’s Christie Cancer Hospital. All profits from the single will go to The Christie Charitable Fund.
The accompanying video, made by Soup Collective and filmed at the Sharp Project, is testament to the love and respect for Wilson that continues after his death. Featuring a collection of close friends and collaborators each reciting lines from the poem, including Bernard, Gillian and Stephen from New Order, Christopher Eccleston, Iggy Pop, Peter Saville to name but a few.
St. Anthony video contributors:
Steve Coogan, Iggy Pop, Gillian Gilbert, Mike Garry, John Robb, Joe Duddell, Rowetta, Stephen Morris, Bernard Sumner, Elliot Rashman, Mike Pickering, Christopher Eccleston, Johnny Jay, Leroy Richardson, Terry Christian, Richard Madeley, Julie Hesmondhalgh, Shaun Ryder, Johnny Bramwell, Paul Morley, Mark Radcliffe, Larry Gott, Vini Reilly, Miranda Sawyer, Andrew Weatherall, John Cooper Clarke, Peter Saville & Philip Glass
‘St. Anthony: An Ode To Anthony H Wilson’ will be available to download and buy on CD and white
vinyl 12”, all featuring the Weatherall remix, on Friday 14th August. Skinny Dog Records is a label formed by members of I Am Kloot and Elbow.
To celebrate the release of St. Anthony, there will be a launch party at the old Granada Studios on 14th August. Mike Garry and Joe Duddell & ensemble will be performing the single live, there will be some very special guest DJs alongside a screening of the video as well as previously unseen, exclusive interview footage from the shoot. For more information and to buy tickets please go to www.stanthony.tickets . All proceeds from the event will go to The Christie Charitable Fund.
The newly launch website designed by Retro Fuzz at saint-anthony.co.uk allows you to explore the places, people and stories which make up the lyrics – helping to see the full picture of Wilson’s impact. Playing on the poem’s repeated refrain of ‘Talk to me of…’ the website allows you to send messages from your mobile phone direct into the site to join the conversation.
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