London Gallery Exhibits Photographs By Tony Wilson

The portrait of Tony Wilson, taken by acclaimed photographer Kevin Cummins at the Hacienda club in 1985, will go on display in the Contemporary Galleries.

Born in Salford, Lancashire, Tony Wilson read English at Jesus College, Cambridge before beginning his career as reporter and presenter for Granada television in Manchester. Hosting the pioneering culture and music programme, So It Goes (1976-7), Wilson championed up-coming bands, including the Sex Pistols and keenly promoted the cultural status of Manchester. Wilson co-founded the Factory nightclub in 1978 followed by the Factory Records label, signing bands including Joy Division, New Order, Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark and the Happy Mondays. In 1982 Wilson set up the internationally renowned nightclub, the Hacienda, which during the 1990s hosted bands including the Stone Roses and Oasis, and was fictionalised in Michael Winterbottom's film 24 Hour Party People (2002).

Kevin Cummins became one of the prime photographers of the Manchester punk scene in the late 1970s and for ten years was the chief photographer for NME. He has contributed to major publications including The Times, Vogue and Mojo and is currently working on a photographic retrospective of Manchester musicians to be published by Faber & Faber in 2008.

To coincide with the acquisition and display of this portrait, Kevin Cummins will be selling limited edition prints of it to raise money for the two hospitals where Tony Wilson was treated this year. These are handmade 16 x 20 inch gelatin silver archive photographic prints in an edition of thirty signed by Kevin Cummins. No further prints will be made in this edition. Proceeds will go to Manchester Royal Infirmary (Kidneys for Life charity) and Christie's Hospital. -- www.npg.org.uk