24 Hour Party People - Wish I'd Had an Invite!

Only over the past 12 months have I become acquainted with the romantic image of the legends that were Joy Division; falling in love with the music, the film “Control” and their story. Of course I took a keen interest in all connections surrounding the band, of which Tony Wilson fell into that category; the main man behind it all.
I have to say, I’m glad I found this. Tony Wilson simply has to be one of my biggest inspirations. Journalist, music lover and embracer, finding music to simply be a way of life, and achieving his dream of opening his own music venue, the infamous “Haçienda”, I’m already singing off the same hymn sheet. I almost feel cheated that I wasn’t around for such inspiring, influential and invigorating times in music. Scrap that. I am cheated. So much so I feel sick with envy. But Tony Wilson was there building the dream, living the dream, as noted in this very book: 24 Hour Party People.
From reading this prestigious and captivating read, it leaves one question: “If he was still around what truly great things would he be up to now?” Wilson, truly changed the face of music and is in fact THE face of music, as illustrated by these fine words of his tale. Now the book is very blunt, very real, very “Manc” and I almost lost count of the times I saw “C*nt” printed before my eyes, but it’s no off-putter; it’s part of the Wilson charm. This book is all about the music and keeping it real, both of which go hand in hand. After all, that’s what it’s all about, isn’t it? The very beauty and essence of music is in its authenticity and truth.
The general message relayed in the book is that of: “Thank f*uck for the North” (to mimic the style of the text). These days of the late 70’s and early 80’s were THE DAYS of music; a new dawn, a new generation; new birth and hope of music for years to come and it was all going down in Manchester. Why can’t it be like that now; why have we lost such electrifying and innovative ways within our music scene? Not that I’m suggesting that there’s need for, or ever should be another Tony Wilson, because there never ever will be. But one thing is for sure; he wouldn’t stand for all this emo rubbish. Wilson was a voice of the music, and the fans, speaking out and forever leaving an imprint on music’s colourful and impacting history, and it’s his phenomenon that brought life to the city, producing projects such as The Hacienda, and nights of live music entertainment for the starved “kids” of Manchester.
Joy Division, New Order and The Happy Mondays live on because of him. Yes, the bands are fantastic, but it was the man with a vision, the man with a belief, who is the true genius behind such bands. That man being Tony Wilson. He wanted to put his beloved Manchester on the map and boy did he succeed, more so than he could have ever imagined, The Hacienda, knocked down and replaced by apartments still keeps the nightclub’s name in honour of him. The true patriot only continues to remain in our memories and the music from the drumbeats down to the synth of “Blue Monday”.
Even though “Control” was later released than the book, co-written by Debbie Curtis and Wilson; it’s the perfect back drop to 24 Hour Party People (despite its own film). Like me, you can completely fall in love with it all; the scene, the epic story, the music.
With absolute disregard for all the Stephen Kings and Tolkeins out there, no-one and I mean no-one, could write such a compelling, humorous, entertaining, picturesque, romantic, edgy, traumatic and astounding tale. Not enough words, (evidently) can do it justice, and it’s from the man himself, the man of dreams.
I guarantee you’ll be digging your copy of “Unknown Pleasures” out before you even turn the last page of this stunning account of his epic journey. Purely stunning.