Reilly was born in Higher Blackley, Manchester, and raised in Withington, Wythenshawe and Didsbury, Manchester. His father was an engineer who did not allow his five children to watch television. His death saddened Vini, who was 16 at the time, and lamented it later because he did not admire or know him enough. As a youngster, Reilly was a talented footballer. He was offered a trial for Manchester City F.C., but he declined, opting to concentrate on music. His first recorded work was Ed Banger & The Nosebleeds' "Ain't Bin To No Music School". Reilly was Tony Wilson's first signing to Manchester's iconic label, Factory Records. Reilly's music is respected by fellow musicians and those in the music industry, with Brian Eno citing Reilly's album LC as his all-time favourite album and former Red Hot Chili Peppers' John Frusciante stating that Vini Reilly is "the best guitarist in the world". Reilly arranged music and played guitar on fellow Manchester artist Morrissey's first post-Smiths album Viva Hate in 1988. Morrissey and Riley has both been members of The Nosebleeds, but in different incarnations of the group. Reilly has also recorded with artists including John Cooper Clarke, Pauline Murray, Anne Clark, The Wake, Richard Jobson, Quando Quango, Craig Davies, Swing Out Sister and Holly Johnson. He also attempted to produce the Happy Mondays' debut Forty Five E.P., but found that he simply could not work with the band. In September 2010, Reilly suffered a "minor" stroke which made him lose "some feeling in his left hand”. Despite this, in February 2011 it was reported that he is working on a new album. The new tracks are slower because after the stroke he cannot play as fast as he used to. In January 2013, Reilly's nephew made an Internet appeal on his behalf for donations because the guitarist had debts for unpaid rent from the time between his strokes and his assessment for disability benefit. Fans sent £3,000 within a day and Reilly was reported to feel that their generosity had "lifted the weight of the world off his shoulders".
