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Ian Curtis

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Ian Curtis
Photo by Rob Verhorst/Redferns

Joy Division singer, songwriter and guitarist Ian Curtis hanged himself in the kitchen of his house in Macclesfield, England on 18th May 1980 at the age of 23. Curtis had the Iggy Pop album The Idiot, playing on his stereo and left a note that said, “At this very moment, I wish I were dead. I just can’t cope anymore.”

Curtis had met his future bandmates at the infamous Sex Pistols gig in Manchester, England during 1976: a gig that inspired a generation to make their own music, (out of the 30 odd people who attended were Morrissey who formed the Smiths and the guys who formed the Buzzcocks and The Fall).

While performing in Joy Division, Curtis became known for his quiet and awkward demeanour, as well as a unique dancing style reminiscent of the epileptic seizures he experienced, sometimes even on stage. There were several incidents where he collapsed and had to be helped off stage. One such night was when Curtis pulled wooden tiles off the stage and threw them into the audience. He then dropped a pint pot glass on the stage, which smashed, the singer then rolled around in the broken glass, cutting a ten-inch gash in his thigh.

The first embodiment of Joy Division were known as Warsaw and took their name from the track ‘Warsawa’ on Bowie’s ‘Low’ album. The band played their first gig on 29th May 1977 at the Electric Circus, on a bill which also included the Buzzcocks and John Cooper Clarke. During this period Ian wrote an abusive letter to Tony Wilson at Granda TV to try to provoke him into giving the band a TV slot. He gave Tony the letter and called him a bastard for not having put them on – it worked. Tony got them to perform ‘Shadowplay’ and again for ‘She’s Lost Control’.

Joy Division released the critically acclaimed debut album Unknown Pleasures in 1979 and recorded their follow-up Closer in 1980. Suffering from epilepsy, a failing marriage, and bouts of depression, Curtis committed suicide on the eve of Joy Division’s debut North American tour.

In 1995, Curtis’s widow Deborah published Touching from a Distance: Ian Curtis and Joy Division, a biography of the singer. In 2007 a British Ian Curtis biographical film called Control was released, based on material from Deborah Curtis’ book, directed by the Dutch rock photographer and music video director Anton Corbijn, who had previously photographed the band and directed the video for “Atmosphere”. Sam Riley, the lead singer of the band 10,000 Things, portrays Curtis, while Samantha Morton plays his wife, Deborah.

The film had its debut at the Cannes Film Festival on 17 May 2007 to great acclaim, taking three awards at the Directors’ Fortnight. It portrays Curtis’ secondary school romance with Deborah, their marriage, his problems balancing his domestic life with his rise to fame, his alleged affair with Annik Honoré, his struggle with poorly medicated epilepsy and depression and his suicide.

Curtis’s memorial stone, which is inscribed with “Ian Curtis 18 – 5 – 80” and “Love Will Tear Us Apart”, was stolen in July 2008 from the grounds of Macclesfield Cemetery. A new stone later replaced the missing memorial stone.

Important Dates In The Life Of Joy Division:

On this day in music
4 Feb 2021
American R&B singer and songwriter Nolan Porter died age 71. He recorded two albums and six singles in the early 1970s. His best known song is "Keep On Keeping On", which became popular on the northern soul scene. In 1978 Joy Division used the guitar riff from Porter's song for their song "Interzone" on their debut album Unknown Pleasures.
6 Feb 2014
Nirvana's 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' was named as the greatest song of all time by NME. 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' was one of the last songs written for Nirvana's breakthrough album, 'Nevermind', which was released in 1991. The rest of the top five tracks were: 5: 'Last Nite', The Strokes, 4: 'How Soon Is Now?', The Smiths, 3: 'I Feel Love', Donna Summer, 2: 'Love Will Tear Us Apart', Joy Division
23 Sep 2009
A Blue Plaque was unveiled on the building where Cargo Studios used to be on Kenion Street in Rochdale, England. The plaque was to recognise the part the building played in the British music scene between 1978 and 2000. In the early years as a home to Cargo Studios and Tractor Music then later Suite 16 Studios. Factory producer Martin Hannett spent a great deal of time in Cargo recording Joy Division, Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, Durutti Column, Section 25 and Nico amongst others.
2 Jul 2008
The gravestone of former Joy Division frontman Ian Curtis was stolen. Cheshire Police said his memorial stone was taken from where he is buried in Macclesfield Cemetery. Officers were appealing for anyone with information on its whereabouts, detectives said the stone, had the inscription ‘Ian Curtis 18 - 5 - 80’ and the words ‘Love Will Tear Us Apart’.
29 Nov 2007
Control, the biopic about late Joy Division singer Ian Curtis scooped five prizes at the British Independent Film Awards. The black-and-white film, which featured The Killers, David Bowie and New Order on the soundtrack, was shot for just £3m.
29 Oct 2007
Walk the Line, the film about the life of singer Johnny Cash was voted the greatest music biopic in a poll. The film starred Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon as Cash and his wife June Carter as the country stars and won the actress an Oscar in 2006. It was followed by rapper Eminem's 8 Mile, with Mozart's life story Amadeus next and Ray, starring Jamie Foxx as musician Ray Charles, at number four. The most recent film in the top 10 was Joy Division biopic Control.
20 Aug 2007
The funeral of Manchester music mogul and broadcaster, Tony Wilson was held at St Mary's Roman Catholic Church in Manchester. Peter Hook and Stephen Morris - two members of first Factory signing Joy Division and later incarnation, New Order attended along with Happy Mondays front man, Shaun Ryder.
13 Feb 2005
Readers of UK newspaper The Sun voted George Michael’s ‘Careless Whisper’ as the greatest British pop single of the past 25 years. Oasis came second with ‘Wonderwall’ and Kate Bush third with ‘Wuthering Heights’. The rest of the Top 10: No.4, Robbie Williams, ‘Angels’, No.5, The Jam, ‘Going Underground’, in equal 6th, Sex Pistols, ‘God Save The Queen’ and Joy Division, ‘Love Will Tear Us Apart’, 7th was Queen, ‘We Are The Champions’, 9th, The Stone Roses, ‘Fool’s Gold’ and 10th The Undertones ‘Teenage Kicks’.
15 May 1999
Rob Gretton manager of Joy Division and New Order died aged 46. He was also a partner in Factory Records, proprietor of the Rob's Records label and a co-founder along with Tony Wilson of The Hacienda nightclub in Manchester, England.
26 May 1995
The Rolling Stones played two semi-acoustic concerts at the Paradiso Amsterdam over two days. Keith Richards later said that the Paradiso concerts were the best live shows the Stones ever did. The venue is housed in a converted former church building that dates from the nineteenth century, subsequently squatted in 1967 by hippies who wanted to convert the church into an entertainment club. Artists who have recorded concerts at the Paradiso include Joy Division, Willie Nelson, Phish, Nirvana, The Cure, Lenny Kravitz, Nick Cave, Dave Matthews and Amy Winehouse.
22 Feb 1992
UK music paper the NME printed their writers all-time best debut albums; at No.1, Patti Smith, 'Horses', No.2, Joy Division, 'Unknown Pleasures', No.3, MC5, 'Kick Out The Jams, No.4, The Jesus and Mary Chain, 'Psychocandy' and No.5, Television, 'Marquee Moon'.
18 Apr 1991
Record producer Martin Hannett died. He worked with many Manchester acts including The Smiths, New Order, Joy Division, Happy Mondays, Magazine as well as U2 and The Psychedelic Furs.
5 Oct 1980
UK music weekly The NME had Joy Division's 'She's Lost Control' as single of the week. The song is about a girl who singer Ian Curtis worked with at a disability center. One day she didn't come to the center and Ian later learned that she died from a epileptic seizure.
18 May 1980
23-year-old Joy Division singer and guitarist Ian Curtis took his own life at home in Macclesfield, England. The artist, who struggled with depression and epilepsy, left a note that said, 'At this very moment, I wish I were dead. I just can't cope anymore.' Joy Division released the critically acclaimed debut album Unknown Pleasures in 1979, and recorded their follow-up 'Closer' in 1980.
2 May 1980
Joy Division played what would be their last gig with singer Ian Curtis when they appeared at Birmingham University, England. Curtis committed suicide two weeks later.
7 Oct 1979
Factory Records released 'Transmission' the debut single by English post-punk band Joy Division. In May 2007, NME magazine placed 'Transmission' at No.20 in its list of the 50 "Greatest Indie Anthems Ever", one place below their third single 'Love Will Tear Us Apart'.
6 Oct 1979
Buzzcocks, supported by Joy Division appeared at the Odeon Theatre, Edinburgh, Scotland, tickets £2.50
1 Mar 1979
Joy Division appeared at The Hope & Anchor, Islington, London, England. Admission was 75p ($1.28).
14 Apr 1978
Joy Division played at the Stiff Test Chiswick Challenge, at Raffters in Manchester, England. Future managers Rob Gretton and then journalist Tony Wilson saw the band for the first time.
25 Jan 1978
After changing their name from Warsaw, (inspired by the song Warszawa on David Bowie's Low album), Joy Division made their live debut when they played at Pips Disco in Manchester, England.
29 May 1977
Manchester band Warsaw, (later to become Joy Division) made their live debut supporting The Buzzcocks at The Electric Circus, Manchester, England.
20 Jul 1976
Buzzcocks made their live debut supporting the Sex Pistols and Slaughter & The Dogs at The Lesser Free Trade Hall, Manchester. In the audience was, Morrissey, Bernard Sumner, Peter Hook (soon to form Joy Division) and Mark E Smith, (The Fall) and Mick Hucknall. Tickets cost £1.
4 Jun 1976
The Sex Pistols appeared at The Lesser Free Trade Hall, Manchester, England. The now legendary night is regarded as a catalyst to the punk rock movement. In the audience was, Morrissey, Bernard Sumner, Peter Hook (soon to form Joy Division) and Mark E Smith, (The Fall). Tickets cost £1.
23 Aug 1975
Joy Division singer Ian Curtis married Deborah Woodruff, whom he met while still at school, when he was 19 and she was 18. They remained married until his untimely death at 23.
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