A huge 24-hour party is to be held to celebrate Tony Wilson's legacy.

The music mogul, who was known as `Mr Manchester', died last August of a heart attack.

Today, on what would have been his 58th birthday, the M.E.N. can reveal that a spectacular event will honour his memory.

On June 21, a unique 24-hour celebration will begin. It will bring together star guests for a series of hourly workshops. An audience of 200 people at Urbis will get to swap ideas with them.

Council leader Richard Leese said: “Tony Wilson was the epitome of the Mancunian spirit. He had a huge sense of civic pride, he was innovating, entrepreneurial and inspired many people in many different ways.

“The twenty-four hour event that will take place on 21st June is an opportunity to harness some of the great creative talent that has been formed and developed in Manchester.

“These ‘Experienced’ individuals will share their knowledge and pass on the legacy. We are very excited about the prospect of who may be taking part and details will be announced over the coming months once everyone has had the opportunity to offer their support.’

Tony was battling kidney cancer when he died. In happier times, his record label, Factory, and his nightclub, the Hacienda, created the `Madchester' scene.

Since his death the city has considered a string of ideas to pay tribute to the former Granada broadcaster.

Factory Records designer Peter Saville, the city's creative director, is the driving force behind the plan.

New Order bassist Peter Hook is already confirmed. It is hoped top comic Steve Coogan, who played Tony in the film 24 Hour Party People, will also be involved.

Dozens of people who worked with Tony over his years as a broadcaster are clamouring to sign up.

Leading figures who knew Tony include Richard Madeley and Judy Finnegan, Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, Tim Booth of pop band James, and Urban Splash developer Tom Bloxham.

Architect Ben Kelly and Happy Mondays' manager Eliot Rashman could also be among those organisers approach.

In tribute to the unconventional approach that made Tony so influential, the event will involve every creative discipline.

Music, architecture, design, writing, fashion and drama are all expected to be included.

The council-backed celebration will coincide with the 60th anniversary of another major event that put Manchester on the map. It was on June 21, 1948, that the world's first stored computer ran its initial program at Manchester university.

Organisers hope the event will sow the seeds for an annual summer school in Tony's memory.

Tony's son Oli, 23, who works for music promotions firm AEG in Los Angeles, said: "It's a great idea.

"Tony had a lot of influence on people when he was alive and that influence should continue down the line. The idea is to get people who worked with Tony to come and do talks and young people can meet these people and learn from them."

"It's fitting because it is about new ideas, it's original, it's about helping the next generation coming through.

"It's not just asking the Mondays and New Order to gig - which we'll probably do at some point - but something different. I think Tony would be really happy with it."

Oli is also in talks with the Warehouse Project about organising a rave in his father's memory. Peter Hook said: "Tony to me was everything. It will be a total pleasure to celebrate what he did for us, so I'll be available to do anything.

"The Factory community is still a close community. We're still keeping the old flame burning, so this whole experience has got everybody excited."