Durutti Column Salute Tony Wilson

Manchester legends The Durutti Column have spoken to ClashMusic about their emotional new album.

Led by virtuoso guitar player Vini Reilly Manchester band The Durutti Column are one of the most unusual to emerge from the city. Combining superb musicianship with tender songcraft, Reilly's hushed vocals are a signature aspect of the band's sound.

However on their new album 'A Paean To Wilson' the band have foregone using vocals. A tribute to their friend and Factory Records boss Tony Wilson the album is a deeply emotional experience.

Speaking to ClashMusic, Vini Reilly revealed how Tony Wilson challenged him to charge towards ever great artistic heights.

"Basically, Tony just let the reins out" the guitarist recalled. "He would get behind and support whatever project I wanted to do next. It was very organic and coincidental. The second album was never meant to be an album, for example. That was just five hours of recordings I had made in my mum’s house, on my little four track".

"Tony decided it should be an album. I never intended for it to be an album, it was very personal. So again it was Tony having the foresight to push me on."

"I remember one Christmas he bought me a sequencer, a drum machine and a synthesiser to try and make electronic music" he continued. "Which resulted in the ‘Guitars And Other Machines’ album. He always had an opinion about things. He was good at pushing me gently towards things that he knew I would enjoy doing. He enjoyed people experimenting with music, and could be very indulgent."

Read the entire interview with The Durutti Column HERE!