Yesterday marked the 36th anniversary of the death of musician Ian Curtis, acclaimed singer and songwriter for influential English rock band Joy Division. The anguished frontman committed suicide on May 18, 1980 at just 23 years old.
Hailing from Manchester, England and active from 1976-1980, Joy Division are among a handful of revered rock bands from that era and locale, including A Certain Ratio and The Smiths. Heavily shaped by the last wave of English punk from outfits like Buzzcocks and the Sex Pistols, Joy Divison helped usher in the new era of British post-punk.
Upon the musician's unfortunate demise, former Joy Division members Bernard Sumner, Stephen Morris and Peter Hook went on to form new wave band New Order, finding great success both at home and abroad throughout the 1980s and '90s.
During Joy Division's tenure, Curtis was plagued by personal problems, largely depressed and usually medicated -- the vocalist had previously overdosed, presumed an initial suicide attempt. Guitarist and eventual New Order singer Sumner recalled the terrible news delivered that May 18:
"I was just about to launch into what a great day I'd had when I heard him say something about Ian committing suicide. 'Oh, bloody hell,' I said. 'He's not tried it again, has he?' The room swam in front of my eyes and I was hit full on by a wave of shock. I said again, 'What, he's tried it?' 'No' Rob said. 'He's really done it, Bernard. He's dead. Ian's dead.'"
Joy Division's two albums, Unknown Pleasures and Closer, are considered pillars of the post-punk genre. Beyond the forward-thinking songwriting he contributed to Joy Division, Curtis is frequently remembered for his eccentric stage performances. Known to launch into spastic, elbows-out dance moves while playing with the band, drummer Morris recalled the frontman's stage transformation:
"When we rehearsed he used to literally just sit in the corner mumbling into a microphone," said Morris, "and then you'd do a gig with him and he'd turn into this... dervish thing."
New Order is still active and touring today, albeit without original bassist Hook. The band just released their latest album, Music Complete, late last year.
