Anthony H. Wilson, co-founder of Factory Records, has died of a heart attack at the age of 57. The influential Factory Records was a Manchester based British independent record label, started in 1978 which featured several prominent musical acts on its roster such as Joy Division, New Order, A Certain Ratio, The Durutti Column, Happy Mondays, and (briefly) James and Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark.

Besides forming the label, in 1982, he set up The Hacienda nightclub, which became known as perhaps the most famous club in the world in the late 1980s and early 1990s. It became the heart of the "Madchester" scene, which was known for the embrace of post-punk and dance genres.

Punknews.org offers our deepest condolences to his friends and family.