Factory Records - Tony Wilson and Shaun Ryder

Factory Records was founded by Tony Wilson and Alan Erasmus in 1978 and was a Manchester based British independent record label boasting artists such as Happy Mondays, Joy Division and James.

Anthony Howard Wilson was born on 20th February 1950 in Pendleton, Salford. Better known as 'Tony' Wilson, he was a record label owner; radio and TV presenter; nightclub manager; and a journalist for Granada and BBC. He was behind some of Manchester's most successful bands; one of the founders of Factory Records; founder and manager of The Hacienda.
Shaun William George Ryder was born in Worsley on 23rd August 1962. He is most famous for being the lead singer of The Happy Mondays. He was an influential figure in the Madchester cultural scene in the late 1980s. In 1993 he formed Black Grape with his fellow member of The Happy Mondays, Bez. The label, Factory Records, featured other iconic acts including OMD, Joy Division and James. The label also ran The Hacienda night club partnership with New Order.