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Saville and Kelly's memorial to Tony Wilson
Posted by Patrick Burgoyne, 22 October 2010, 13:53 Permalink Comments (103)
In death as in life: Peter Saville and Ben Kelly's memorial to their friend and collaborator Anthony H Wilson is three years late, but it was worth the wait
Factory Records founder Anthony H Wilson died in August 2007. Just over three years later, a memorial headstone designed collaboratively by Wilson's long-term associates Peter Saville and Ben Kelly with Paul Barnes and Matt Robertson, was unveiled in The Southern Cemetery in Chorlton-Cum-Hardy, Manchester.
The black granite headstone carries a quote, chosen by Wilson's family, from The Manchester Man, the 1876 novel by Mrs G Linnaeus Banks (aka Isabella Varley Banks), the story of one Jabez Clegg and his life in Victorian Manchester. The quote is set in Rotis.
Typography by Matt Robertson. Photographs: Jan Chlebik.
This story has been updated with additional information since first posted.
103 Comments
The typography is beautiful.
2010-10-22 16:00:44
Don't get me wrong it's lovely and moving. But 3 years?
2010-10-22 16:00:54
Quite perfect and beautiful in so many ways.
2010-10-22 16:02:31
Typeface?
2010-10-22 16:03:54
We did a project with Saville a couple of years ago. He said there some 'typographic opportunities' which is the best euphemism for 'client amends' we've ever had. Lovely piece of work above. Very fitting to the Manchester legend.
2010-10-22 16:05:36
@ James
I'm just waiting for a few more details - including confirmation of the typeface. Will add to the post once I hear
PatrickBurgoyne
2010-10-22 16:07:22
Understated and beautiful. No FAC number?
2010-10-22 16:08:30
Beautiful.
"But if you could just see the beauty,
These things I could never describe,
These pleasures a wayward distraction,
This is my one lucky prize." (Joy Division)
2010-10-22 16:16:39
I believe that it took 3 years down to long discussions with family members. As with all things that surround Peter Saville he wanted it to be 'just so', please reference the expression that Jan Tschichold makes here: http://designmuseum.org/media/item/4799/-1/101_4Lg.jpg
2010-10-22 16:20:41
@Daniel
His casket has the FAC number 501 and if I remember his estate vowed that would be the last thing catalogued
2010-10-22 16:21:44
I love the delay. I doubt Wilson would have expected anything else.
What Daniel said… a FAC number could have been a nice touch.
2010-10-22 16:23:44
They could at least have fitted it with a mechanism whereby everything surrounding it disappears up it's own arse too.
2010-10-22 16:59:00
Nice!
2010-10-22 17:19:00
It's Rotis Serif. And I like it.
2010-10-22 17:33:15
Peter Saville. Three years. That would be about right. And the result speaks for itself.
2010-10-22 18:33:26
Have we all seen Paul Rand's headstone?
http://allisonwilton.blogspot.com/2008/07/iconic-paul-rand-was-one-of-most.html
2010-10-22 18:53:19
This the most perfect thing I've ever seen... So sad I missed it when I visited Manchester
2010-10-22 19:18:29
new order esque. beautiful!
!
2010-10-22 19:20:41
The lateness definitely in keeping. Looks beautiful. He needed something that suited his ego.
2010-10-22 19:46:28
Lovely as it is.
It should have been in Industrial orange and royal air force blue. If you catch my drift.
2010-10-23 00:36:31
When Anthony died, another broadcaster he dated some years previously, when they were both stars of local TV, described how he would drive his Jag home, sharing a big spliff with with each other, and a back seat full of flowers for company, down Princess Road, which runs alongside the Cemetery. Made me laugh. First class bloke and an outstanding Northerner.
Anthony's legacy is mocked a little by those clowns who made 24 Hour Party People, however the people who were there know the invaluable contribution to Manchester Anthony made.
2010-10-23 07:20:08
FAC 616
2010-10-23 10:45:46
Love the "to the memory of E" gravestone in the background ;)
2010-10-23 13:02:19
Suave
2010-10-23 13:29:02
Very lovely memorial.
2010-10-23 13:54:57
The similarity to FAC004 demonstrates what everyone knows, Saville's best work is now 30 years old.
This looks like the business card of the creative director of a provincial design agency.
2010-10-23 15:51:09
Why no full stops?
Makes the typesetting look poor!
Love the layout though!
2010-10-23 21:35:02
Wow! I live (and work) just across the road from the Southern Cemetary and may pop across Barlow Moor Road for an ambiguous designer gawp... I'm not a big fan of Rotis (I think it's prissy and pretentious) but I think it's a fair choice for Tony Wilson's gravestone! Unfortunately, judging by the photographs, the typeface hasn't quite survived being carved in stone at such a small letter size (particularly for the quote at the bottom)... although the ghastly, preening letter "e" still comes through, like a ghostly wail...
2010-10-24 00:31:13
typeface...? ha ha ha ha ha
from the colloseum in nelson all the way to the heights of the ha´c
typeface...? ha ha ha ha ha
the disconnect is staggering, but that's graphic designers for you
2010-10-24 08:29:24
i’ve just had a wander around southern cemetery. couldn’t find it. has anyone been and know where it is? thanks x
2010-10-24 14:07:21
When I go I certainly don't want my gravestone in bloody Rotis.
2010-10-24 23:39:07
Is it tacky to want a similar headstone for myself?
2010-10-25 00:12:46
As with Durutti Column : I love the delay.
2010-10-25 10:05:45
A beautiful piece of work. Tasteful, traditional whilst also contemporary. Well done! A befitting memorial to a legend of pop culture.
2010-10-25 10:39:29
Beautiful. Three years delay makes it even more worthwhile. Will Peter Saville be late for his own funeral?
2010-10-25 10:42:49
A beautiful piece of work. Tasteful, traditional whilst also contemporary. Well done! A befitting memorial to a legend of pop culture.
2010-10-25 10:45:16
hahaha
2010-10-25 10:51:33
As considered as the type is, the application looks sand-blasted, or possibly machine engraved, rather than hand-carved. This usually produces a boxed indent (i.e. flat bottom with vertical sides) rather than the V indentation of hand-carving. Such techniques often make for short-lived quality, as the boxed indent is prone to chipping and weathering at a much faster rate than the sloped sides of hand-carving.
2010-10-25 10:56:08
MLA, you must lead an exciting life eh? All machine guns, Aston Martins and fit blonds....
2010-10-25 14:35:26
It took 4 of them to come up with this
2010-10-25 15:18:45
Some really great typography there.
2010-10-25 17:13:55
3 year??!! hope didn't have to pay for it. could have came up with better #$%^ in 3 days.
2010-10-25 17:23:11
In fifty years this headstone will be unreadable. The text is too small, too shallow, and carved into the stone without consideration about how it will wear.
Headstones are meant to last centuries. Immediate prettiness is a secondary concern. This is a classic example of the failure of form over function.
2010-10-25 17:50:04
It's certainly individual, but as others have said, it won't last. Plus 3 years is almost embarrassingly long for something this simple - although the client was clearly in no rush...
2010-10-25 21:12:33
it might get stolen anyway.... but it`s beautiful, katja and fotoreportage23-in search of ian curtis (the book is dedicated to mr. tony wilson)
2010-10-25 21:40:26
The fact that it took Peter Saville 3 years to do so is kind of brilliant. He was famously notorious for missing deadlines, and often delivered gig posters after the gig had already occured. I think Tony would have found it fitting.
2010-10-25 21:44:34
"cultural catalyst" on a headstone??
2010-10-25 23:26:57
Some of these comments are hard to fathom. It's clean, classy and brilliant. Why dissect it so much?
2010-10-26 03:50:11
Reminds me a little bit of this tombstone in Kensal Green Cemetery.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/75077866@N00/5116694452/
2010-10-26 04:19:47
Plenty of space for someone spray the obligatory "wanker" on it.
RIP Tony
2010-10-26 08:22:47
Tony Wilson's fingerprints are still on the best bands around today.
I've just decided what I want my memorial stone to look like. Which is a bit strange as a 24-year-old I guess...
2010-10-26 09:04:04
Striking. Like all Factory-related artwork, it hits you straight away. Love the idea of minimalism. Think it's fair to say that Anthony H Wilson would have approved. I don't agree with any of the negative comments. I don't know art at all, but it does stand out amongst the other gravestones aas it is so different. Bit like seeing one of the black and white Joy Division videos by Anton for the first time.
2010-10-26 09:22:47
Tony Wilson's coffin was given a Factory catalogue number - FAC 501
2010-10-26 09:50:16
3 years is more than a bit of a wait. What else was he up to - hope he didnt spend the whole 3 years just on this.
2010-10-26 10:47:46
The type has shades of Rotis, which was 'Factory'.
2010-10-26 11:32:45
Three years is not a long time to put up a headstone. Most graves sit unmarked for at least a year to let the ground settle, and this has clearly taken more work than the standard version.
Also, this headstone could be around for hundreds of years, what's an extra few months at this stage?
A beautiful tribute.
2010-10-26 11:35:15
What are the proportions of the stone, is it 2.21:1 like the monolith in 2001?
2010-10-26 12:36:50
Robin '...and this has clearly taken more work than the standard version'
Really? Has it? How do you know? Just because it looks 'designed'?
For us designers it might well be a nice drop of layout, (loving the er, black space), but come on folks, let's stop the gratuitous fawning simply because Saville was involved with it.
2010-10-26 14:03:14
B&Q do a kitchen work top just like this. Looks great with their lime woodgrain effect cupboards.
2010-10-26 14:32:42
Hesketh Pearson: "As with Durutti Column : I love the delay"
QOTD
2010-10-26 16:00:41
Going there next week. Has anyone a “map” or description where about it is. Thanx a lot.
2010-10-26 22:07:21
Beautiful, precise type & layout. Stands out by being discreet. Very appropriate in my view.
2010-10-26 22:50:00
My goodness it's beautiful!
I am without speech.
Reminds me of the monolith in 2001 Space Odyssey.
2010-10-27 00:53:55
Love It, great font an' all, but I'll hang on for the 12 inch to come out.
2010-10-27 11:34:27
Shame they couldn't add Fac502
2010-10-27 14:17:40
If it had a Factory number on it, someone would steal it.
Besides, Wilson himself wasn't a Factory product.
You can bet they seriously considered putting one one there though...
2010-10-27 16:29:04
Beautiful work for a great man.
@CraigS: We drew a custom version of Rotis for Factory. We used to call it "Factis" around the studio.
2010-10-27 17:02:54
FAC 999
A shame they didn't give it a factory records release number.
2010-10-28 17:12:02
With regard to comments concerning a FAC # - Wilson's funereal casket has a solid silver plate that reads
Anthony H. Wilson
FAC 501
The burial plot for those wishing to pay respect is through the main cemetary gates and first path on the left.
2010-10-29 11:57:21
It took a year for the ground to settle and 6 months for the stone to be shipped from India... That means it only took Peter a year and a half. Type is laser etched and apparently will last forever.
2010-10-29 11:59:11
It's a fitting tribute in my opinion. It seems a bit vulgar scoring 'cool points' making slating Wilson or Saville.
But I suppose Tony / Anthony / H / Wilson would revel in the debate.
2010-10-29 12:52:26
Stands out Stands Proud! Much like the man. Well Done Petex Hooky
2010-10-29 17:13:00
I agree with Hooky`s comment but I didn`t Know Tony was black and shiny. Shaun makes a good point. I don`t believe in death so I`m not visiting any graves. Lindsay Reade`s book is the best memorial so far Tony was actually a better(conceptual) artist than Picasso or Warhol or Hirst . Respect from all of us in The Royal Family & the Poor.
2010-10-30 19:48:57
Stunning tribute, stands out from the crowd around it, a bit like Tony
2010-11-01 09:59:56
none more black
2010-11-01 16:23:43
Going there next week. Has anyone a “map” or description where about it is. Thanx a lot.
2010-11-04 11:18:00
Isn't it ROTIS for the Type?
2010-11-04 14:18:00
looks like the iPhone 5
2010-11-05 09:02:20
nice to see good modern design influencing this part of culture too.
2010-11-11 09:49:04
Quite wonderful. Just like the great man himself.
2010-11-11 12:09:26
dude if my tombstone looks like that i want you to dig me up and kill me again
2010-11-11 17:07:58
My first thought is 2001: A Space Odyssey - but then that obelisk did represent intelligence so fitting - after that then, all it is missing is the Pulsar image from Unknown Pleasures.
2010-11-11 21:17:01
Tony would love it, especially coming three years late. He would have appreciated that most. It must have the last fac #! Hooky, can't you see to that? Yes it's Rotis. Here's to you, Tony!
2010-11-12 12:25:55
Perfectly understated.
2010-11-12 22:08:22
Available at the Monocle shop.
2010-11-16 18:04:22
HAHAHHA ^ top one
2010-11-23 12:39:00
Awful monument to a great man. This sand blasted black granite stone is everything that is wrong with modern memorial masonry. It wont last hundreds of years, it will last thousands. The grave sites are normally leased for 99 years. This stone will end its life being used as a paving stone or in a wall. Much better to use a local stone which will erode naturally as this mans family die off and memories fade.
2010-12-06 17:40:00
If you should visit the cemetery it's interesting to note the location and that the late, great Anthony H has blagged himself a ring-side seat at Southern. Even in death, love him, hate him, can't ignore him.I think his legacy lives on not just in the music but in the psyche of many mancunians of a certain age. Growing up in 70s/80's Manchester was pretty grim & he was always there-with a sweep of the fringe, coming out with some outrageous comments. Manchester made me who I am-Wilson made me proud to say where I was from. I'd have chosen millstone grit but I love it. It fits.
2010-12-15 23:29:31
Absolutely wonderful, almost a mystical monolith - dare I say. Design in death, wild - fits design in life - nicely considered!
2010-12-20 02:36:00
Lovely, and quite fitting for Tony Wilson that it's suitably late.
2011-01-02 15:13:07
Hmmmmm... I was walking through house of fraiser the other day.
http://img28.imageshack.us/i/hofg.jpg/
2011-01-02 19:43:02
It took three years to come up with this egotistical boredom?
2011-02-03 21:07:19
2001: A Space Odyssey will never look the same again.
The obelisk in the film shares the same design as the headstone.
The inspirational obelisk appears in Kubrick's film every time mankind makes an evolutionary step forward.
I'd say that's a good monument to a catalyst.
2011-02-20 20:37:52
Negative comments pathetic. Critique pathetic. Headstone wonderful. Man legend. Manchester proud.
2011-03-06 14:30:55
“My friend, he took his final breath. Now I know the perfect kiss is the kiss of death.” (New Order).
2011-03-10 15:01:00
Anthony H isn't alone in the cemetery-there's Rob Gretton fairly close by and Martin Hannett across the way-Manchester City Council has a map on their website but locations are: Tony Wilson Plot B, Grave 118
Rob Gretton Plot G, Grave 278-not far from Wilson & Martin Hannett Plot FF, Grave 713- Hannett is across the way in the "new" part while Rob & Tony are in the part of the cemetery between Nell Lane & Barlow Moor Road. Something not quite right about the stillness & silence of these former whirlwinds of creativiity.
2011-03-12 21:13:12
More memorials should reflect contemporary typography. That way, in future, we'll be able to identify the year of someone's passing by the design trend reflected on the headstone, as well as the date engraved upon it. I'm writing this tongue-in-cheek, of course. I really like this.
2011-03-25 14:48:54
DIE NEUE TYPOGRAPHIE
2011-08-03 22:11:58
Peter Savile was late for everything - remember the tickets for the first Hac gig, amusingly recreated in '24 Hour Party People'? Some things never change (and thus are changeless).
Savile had Tony Wilson's eternity to get the headstone finished from August 2007, so three years is nothing in the scheme of things.
RIP the now forever-late Tony Wilson.
2011-08-28 20:33:27
Even in death, love him, detest him, can't disregard him.I believe his legacy inhabits on not just in the melodies but in the psyche of numerous Mancunians of a certain age. Growing up in 70s/80's Manchester was attractive bleak & he was habitually there-with a clear of the edge, approaching out with some outrageous comments. Manchester made me who I am-Wilson made me pleased to state where I was from.
2011-09-27 09:05:44
Marvellous. What a wonderful quotation and a fatntstaic piece of art from Mr. Peter Saville. I wonder just how ashamed the late Mr. A.H.W. would feel if he knew Manchesster Council were about to overturn their own decision to refuse planning permission for ugly flats at Castlefield , in a conservation zone, so that peel developments could realise their dream of megolomania. Very sad. sad to lose a Manchester icon and sad to think Manchester’s been left to the vultures.
2012-01-13 06:47:02
The headstone for architect Mies Van Der Rohe is equally impressive:
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Mies_van_der_Rohe_headstone.JPG
2012-01-20 17:32:39
Total art.
Love it.
2012-02-21 21:01:52
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