From Joy Division to New Order: The True Story of Anthony H. Wilson and Factory Records

by Mick Middles

FACTORY RECORDS' REPUTATION AND FORTUNE WERE FOUNDED ON TWO BANDS -JOY DIVISION AND NEW ORDER - AND ONE SINGLE-MINDED AND STUBBORN PERSONALITY: ITS MEDIA-FRIENDLY COMPANY DIRECTOR ANTHONY H. WILSON. AT THE HEIGHT OF IT'S SUCCESS IN THE LATE 1980S, THE COMPANY REIGNED OVER THE MANCHESTER RAVE SCENE, RAN IT'S OWN CLUB, THE HACIENDA, AND HAD A STRING OF HIT RECORDS AROUND THE WORLD. BY 1992 THE BACK CATALOGUE HAD BEEN SOLD OFF, NEW ORDER AND HAPPY MONDAYS...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0753506386
• ISBN13: 9780753506387
• Release Date: January 2002
• Publisher: Virgin Publishing
• Length: 320 Pages
• Weight: 0.70 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.1" x 7.6"

Customer Reviews

fun

this was a fun read even if structurally it's a little bizarre. probably not the best source on any of the bands featured, but interesting as an all-encompassing perspective on the time

Fair to Middles

At the start, I felt Mick was a bit of a sycophant. And he may well be. As things progress, I was able to put that aside and was quite fascinated with this slice of British music history. And really, being sycphantic is not a bad thing in context. Anyone who was around when the music came out, or anyone who loves electro pop, dance and DJ culture should enjoy this. Me, I always love the Brits and their writing. I enjoy the quiet humour. Does that sound sycophantic???

This is the story of a scene, not a simple rock biography.

It's true that if you go in expecting just another Joy Division story you'll be disappointed, but this is about the evolution of the Manchester scene centering on Factory Records and spiralling outwards.I thought the author was very astute and I would place the book alongside "England's Dreaming" and "Lipstick Traces" as a good example of the richness of music journalism. Definitely not the worst book you've ever read in your life.