Three years to the day, on Friday 10 August 2007, the great city of Manchester was hit by two earthquakes. The first, around noon, rattled a few windows and that was about it. A more significant seismic shock to Manchester, its creative industries and the media world wide was to come in the early evening with the premature and untimely passing of Factory Records, Granada TV, the Haçienda and In The City mainstay, Anthony H Wilson. As news broke throughout the evening, phones went into meltdown and immediate collective anguish was shared by those who knew him personally, those who respected his work and all those who’d become aware of him. As he would typically gently deride himself as a “minor regional celebrity”, he would have found it deeply ironic that the news carried as far afield as Russian and New Zealand radio.

“T had such an influence on me prior to even meeting him, which was not until 1988. From the late 70's onwards Manchester had an aura of musical anti establishment difference; it was, dare I say sexy, in its post-industrial, pre-Urban Splash grime. All of that I can trace to T and the music programmes for Granada, the label that released the best music, mostly, and his aggrandisement of the club that went about redirecting the course of club history.”

“According to T, I was too close to him to enjoy 24 Hour Party People. He was no buffoon and though I enjoyed the film's stylistics, I found it difficult to watch. He thoroughly enjoyed it! I don't want to be sentimental, for he would have laughed me out of the bar if I had said this to his face, but I will miss him dearly.”

Jon Dasilva, the Haçienda

"It's a very, very, very sad day! It’s like my father dying all over again. I'm devastated! My heart goes out to Yvette, Oliver, Hilary and Isabelle. I'm thinking of you all. My heart is broken. Say hello to Rob, Ian and Martin for me please Tony. Rest in peace. God bless."

Peter Hook, New Order

“What can I say that hasn’t already been said about the legend was the Tony Wilson? Right from his TV programme “So It Goes” to going to gigs at The Russell Club, then graduating to buying Factory’s records whenever they came out to getting off my head in his club the Hacienda, then appearing with my own band The Stone Roses on The Other Side Of Midnight. The man was such an influence on any aspiring musician, record buyer or clubber in the city of Manchester and I owe him a huge debt of gratitude. Thanks for being in my life Tony Wilson, you will be sorely missed.”

Mani, The Stone Roses / Primal Scream

“You could never sum up a giant of a man like Tony Wilson in a sound-bite but it was a great privilege to present UpFront and co-anchor Granada Reports with him. TV often tries to manufacture on- screen partnerships but from the moment I met him I loved him. He was hugely charismatic. It was never dull with Tony around – and you could never predict what would happen next.”

“He inspired a whole generation of young people and was a fantastic ambassador for the North West as a whole. He was a wonderful colleague and one of the kindest, loveliest men you could ever meet. Manchester without Tony Wilson will be a very strange place. I will miss you so much.”

Lucy Meacock, Co Presenter, Granada Television

“Tony changed Manchester and made Mancs proud to be Mancunian. Not only did he change Manchester but the western world would be a different place today without him.”

Martin Moscrop, A Certain Ratio

"Tony's enthusiasm for Manchester and its music was highly infectious and totally inspirational. Whether it was for a band, what Mike and I were playing at the Haçienda or anything to do with Factory, he really believed in what everyone was doing creatively and supported us all in a variety of ways. And he'd soon convince anyone who doubted him that they were in fact wrong to do so. I feel privileged to have known him, and feel very lucky to have worked with him only a few weeks ago at an awards ceremony where his unique, cutting wit was as evident as ever much to the delight of the adoring audience. I'll really miss those occasional moments when I'd bump into him and end up chatting for ages."

Graeme Park, the Haçienda

"I remember meeting him one night in the Haçienda and telling him about a new band I'd heard and loved called Happy Mondays. He just said "Michael, darling. If you like them, sign them." That was how he worked, always supporting you. I also went to his house one night to ask for a pay rise (we earnt very little as DJs in those days) and he said "We need a DJ who becomes a star that people look up to. You can do that MP." Six months later he swanned into the DJ box hugged me and said "I knew you would do it darling.”

“He was a chaotic genius who was an inspiration to all around him. It will feel very different coming home knowing Rob and Tony are no longer there Those two have done more for my city than anybody else.”

Mike Pickering, the Haçienda

“Tony Wilson was always more than an employer. His vision, ethics and love for those around him have shaped my life and outlook. Without him Manchester would be a very different place. He couldn’t fly, didn’t have x-ray vision or super strength but to me he is truly a hero. Everything I am, everything I have or will have I owe to Tony and Rob.”

Leroy Richardson, Manager, the Haçienda and Dry 201

"The last time I saw Tony was a few months back at Coachella outside LA when he was introducing the Mondays. He was very frail, painfully thin and walking with a stick. He really should not have been there but that was Tony all over. He was passionate about the things that he loved and his main passion was music. The Mondays were performing their new album for the first time and wild horses couldn't have kept him away. He had a huge grin all night.”

"He was a man who never compromised himself and never did anything for the money, it was always the love. Manchester owes him so much, and will never forget him."

Andy Rourke, The Smiths

“Tony gave Manchester belief in itself.”

Peter Saville, Designer

“I think that one of Tony’s greatest achievements has been In The City. Hundreds of bands such as Coldplay, Muse, Oasis, Placebo, The Fratellis, Stereophonics and more owe him and Yvette a great debt. It’s a great shame that a champion of new British music is no more and everybody involved with In The City intends to make 2007 a worthy tribute to Tony.”

Phil Saxe, A&R Director, In The City

“Every time I met Tony he had a story to tell. He was a great enthusiast, always singing the praises of the people he was working with. He was always full of ideas and he believed that ideas were important, yet he never took himself too seriously. How many people would let Steve Coogan play them in a film?”

Michael Winterbottom, Director, 24 Hour Party People

A version of this article was originally published in Clash Magazine, September 2007 but this is the first time the quotes have been viewed in full.