Northern Ireland

Tributes paid to Belfast business guru who was instrumental in the success of iconic Factory Records label

Dr Gary McCausland helped boost careers of acts including New Order and the Happy Mondays

Dr Gary McCausland.
Dr Gary McCausland.
By Paul Ainsworth

The arts and business communities in the north have paid tribute following the death of a leading figure who began his career in one of the UK’s most influential record labels.

A funeral service was held on Wednesday for Dr Gary McCausland, who worked with Invest NI in helping hundreds of start-up businesses get off the ground after first joining the development agency in 2010.

Dr McCausland, who died last week, had previously worked as a marketing and production head with legendary label Factory Records, joining it in 1988.

The Manchester-based label was home to Joy Division, who later became New Order after the death of lead singer Ian Curtis, and the Happy Mondays among other acts, with Dr McCausland played an instrumental role in their success.

Co-founded by the late broadcaster and music mogul Tony Wilson, the label was central to the ‘Madchester’ scene, while Factory also ran the now-shut Manchester nightclub The Hacienda, which is often claimed as one of the birthplaces of rave culture and one of the world’s most famous dance music venues.

The story of Factory Records was told in the 2002 Michael Winterbottom film 24 Hour Party People, starring Steve Coogan as Wilson.

2002 film 24 Hour Party People, starring Steve Coogan, tells the story of Factory Records.
2002 film 24 Hour Party People, starring Steve Coogan, tells the story of Factory Records.

Among those to pay tribute to Dr McCausland was Belfast punk icon and founder of the Good Vibrations label, Terri Hooley, who said in a social media post he was “very sorry to hear of the passing of my friend”.

“He was an inspiration to a lot of us as well as just a lovely guy who would have helped anyone. RIP Gary,” he wrote.

Dr McCausland went on to earn a PHD in 2017, after having returned to the north and played a role in developing the Black Box arts venue in Belfast’s Cathedral Quarter.

His legacy will be celebrated in an evening in Belfast’s Oh Yeah Music Centre next Saturday September 14.

A description if the event states: “Taken too early, Gary was a mentor and advisor to many of us. A friend to every single one of us he met.

“A few of us have decided to give him a proper ‘start-up’ send off and we are calling it ‘We Are Bored in the City’ - the title of the first Factory Records club night (that of course Gary was a huge part of).”