Last Orders for the Originator of the Manchester Scene

Tony Wilson, the music mogul behind some of Manchester’s most successful bands, has died of cancer.The Salford-born entrepreneur, who founded Factory Records, the label behind Joy Division, New Order and the Happy Mondays, was diagnosed last year.

The 57-year-old, also famous for setting up the Hacienda nightclub, underwent emergency surgery in January to remove a kidney.

He passed away on Friday evening in hospital.

Doctors recommended he take the drug Sutent after chemotherapy failed to beat the disease, but the NHS refused to fund the £3,500-a-month treatment.

However, members of the Happy Mondays and other acts he supported over the years stepped in and started a fund to help pay for it.

His vision and determination played a key role in helping to put Manchester on the map for its music and vibrant nightlife and his entrepreneurial skills inspired people everywhere.

Phil Saxe, who used to work at Factory Records with Wilson, said: “Part of me, part of Manchester, part of modern British music has died tonight.

“Tony was a genius, basically.

“He was a visionary in that he helped bands, who otherwise wouldn’t have made it, who were a bit out of the ordinary.

“He helped them realise their dreams and through that probably realised himself to be Mr Manchester”.

‘An inspiration’

BBC journalist Kristan Deconinck sought advice from him in the early 1980s on how to launch an independent record label shortly after Wilson had started Factory Records.

“He couldn’t have been more helpful and more patient,” Kristan said.

“He inspired me – and countless others – to have a go if you believed in something.

“That in itself is a great legacy, apart from the vision he had with his label, his shows, his attitude – his contribution to a new culture.

“When I later met him, I found him far more amenable than scurrilous rumours had led me to believe and my esteem for the guy never diminished.”

-BBC News

Vintage 1988 Interview w/Tony (recorded off-air with a few awkward jumps)

Joy Division on ‘Something Else’-1979

That Tony Wilson- Granada TV 2002

Raise a glass in Tony’s name tonight.

Doctor Who goes to Rome?

In an article related to HBO’s series ROME, Variety Magazine reports that Doctor Who will be filming on the same lot used by the cable program next month.

Cinecitta (‘Cinema City’ in Italian) is the premiere Italian film studio started by Fascist leader Benito Mussolini in 1937 and has been used to create such monumental Hollywood films as Ben Hur and Gangs of New York.

Could this mean that a big budget historical story is headed this way?

Funnybook/Cartoon Movie News

VOLTRON

Variety Magazine reports that the multi-part lion-making-giant-robot Voltron is on its way to becoming a movie franchise.

The 80’s cartoon responsible for many a child trying to make a human pyramid in the backyard to fight the toughest kid on the playground, Voltron spawn a sequel series that no one really watched and a toy line that few children owned.

It remains one of the most successful (and cheap) experiments in marketing that I’ve ever seen.

20th Century Fox’s New Regency has begun work on their film entitled ‘Voltron: Defender of the Universe.’

Seeing as how big robots are now all the rage thanks to the $300 million dollar earning Transformers film, be on the look out for more of these films… perhaps Force Five isn’t far behind?

Do I see Keanu Reeves in a Gaiking movie?

PUNISHER 2

Strangely, the working title of the Punisher sequel has been announced as ‘The Punisher: Welcome Back Frank.’ I say that it’s strange because the first film largely adapted the storyline in full… except for punching out a polar bear (seen above).

Shooting begins in Montreal late September.

The Mighty Thor
Matthew Vaughn, director of the just released Neil Gaiman fantasy film, Stardust, is working on the hammer wielding Goldilocks of the Avengers, The Mighty Thor. Vaughn also worked on ‘Layer Cake’ which many say is responsible for vaulting star Daniel Craig into the Aston Martin seat of the James Bond franchise.

Mark Protosevich (“I Am Legend”) is working on the script.

Suggested reading:

Voltron – Defender of the Universe – Collection One
Voltron – Defender of the Universe – Collection Two
Voltron Volume 1: Revelations (Voltron: Defender of the Universe)
Punisher MAX Vol. 1: In the Beginning
The Punisher Vol. 1: Welcome Back, Frank
Punisher: Born
The Punisher (Extended Cut)
The Mighty Thor: Loki HC
Marvel Masterworks: The Mighty Thor Volume 3
Thor: Resurrection

Doctor Who Season 4 Official Press Release

Filming is underway for Series Four of Doctor Who, with Catherine Tate reprising her role as Donna, the runaway bride featured in last year’s Christmas Special.The start of the new series will see Donna tracking down the Time Lord during an alien emergency in modern-day London. The couple are destined to experience a series of wonderful adventures throughout the new series including meeting one of Doctor Who’s most popular aliens, The Ood in a brand new episode, Planet of The Ood.

Catherine Tate said: “I am delighted to be returning to Doctor Who. I had a blast last Christmas and look forward to travelling again through time and space with that nice man from Gallifrey.”

Donna and The Doctor will also be travelling through time for an encounter with the legendary murder mystery novelist, Agatha Christie, played by Jekyll star Fenella Woolgar. Fenella will be joined by The Good Life actress Felicity Kendal, who will star as Lady Clemency Eddison.

“What a brilliant idea that Agatha Christie and Doctor Who should meet!,” noted Matthew Prichard, Agatha Christie’s grandson. “Two characters whose contribution to British entertainment is absolutely unrivalled. As far as I know my grandmother, Agatha Christie, never saw Doctor Who, but I am sure she would have been intrigued, excited and above all flattered by all this attention in 2007.”

Doctor Who’s executive producer and head writer, Russell T Davies comments: “Visiting Agatha Christie has been on my wish-list for ages now, and for the Doctor, it’s a real meeting of minds! Viewers can expect many more ambitious storylines and a whole host of guest stars in 2008!”

Blackadder and Notting Hill actor Tim McInnerny will also guest star later in the series.

Freema Agyeman who has played Martha Jones, The Doctor’s companion throughout the critically acclaimed third series will return to the show to join The Doctor and Donna mid series.

No word on a specific air date for Season Four yet (though it has a traditional Spring debut), but as the production seems to be behind schedule in comparison to last year, it should be later than usual.

I’ll post any info as soon as I get it.

Doctor Who Season 3 concept artwork

Now that the long wait for Season Four of the BAFTA award winning show Doctor Who has set in, the BBC has decided to whet fandom’s appetite with the concept designs for Season Three.

I picked out a few that I thought were interesting because they differed from the final result or they had very little (if any screen-time), such as the Seal of Gallifrey.

Enjoy!

THE RUNAWAY BRIDE: Racnoss Empress

SMITH AND JONES: Burnt Sonic Screwdriver

DALEKS IN MAHATTAN: Dalek Console

HUMAN NATURE: Chameleon Arch

THE SOUND OF DRUMS: Saxon’s Ring

THE SOUND OF DRUMS: Time Lord Seal

THE SOUND OF DRUMS: Gallifrey Citadel

LAST OF THE TIME LORDS: Ancient Doctor

To view the full gallery, visit the official BBC Doctor Who website here