Special artistic tribute to Mr Manchester - the man, record label genius and night owl
Report by Tim Scott, ITV News Granada Reports
A mural of Factory Records Boss and Granada Reports legend Tony Wilson has been put up in Withington in South Manchester.
The street artist, who is a huge fan and prefers to be kept anonymous, works with a collective known as The Postman.
They were inspired to create the tribute, 14 years since The Hacienda owner's death, after seeing Marcus Rashford's mural in Withington in South Manchester.
The Postman found celebrated rock photographer Kevin Cummins' image of him most suitable (taken circa 1990) and got his permission for it to be used.
Ed Wellard at Withington Walls found the perfect spot at the local Barber shop.
The concept is to do a triple artwork of Tony reflecting three different aspects of his life - the man, the record label genius and the night owl.
The former Granada TV presenter, charismatic owner of Factory Records, and owner of the Hacienda died of a heart attack in Manchester on August 11 2007. He was 57.
Wilson, dubbed 'Mr Manchester' for his pivotal role in the city's cultural emergence in the 1990s, died after a battle with kidney cancer.
A key figure in the Manchester music scene, Wilson was credited with launching the careers of Joy Division - which later became New Order following the suicide of lead singer Ian Curtis - and the Happy Mondays through his record label Factory Records.
He co-founded the iconic Hacienda nightclub and the Dry Bar in Manchester, which together formed a central part of the music and cultural heart of the city.
Shortly before his death, friends from the music industry clubbed together to help pay for his £3,500-a-month cancer treatment after the NHS refused to fund it.
The Postman was born in Brighton in 2018 when two people met by chance and discovered a shared love for street art.
The pair became best friends and prefer to operate anonymously and work with a growing circle of friends called The Postman Collective.
Their work is inspired by a passion for photography and iconic imagery. A love for music and pop culture manifests itself throughout their artworks.
The Postman’s unique style also takes influence from their roots in graffiti culture.
Many of their artworks live exclusively on the streets and are never available for purchase.
They describe these pieces as ‘impermanent art’, which fades over time, and their fans love to seek these out before they disappear.
Here's a link to the many tributes following Tony Wilson's death - remembering Mr Manchester.