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”. In 1995, Curtis’s widow Deborah published Touching from a Distance: Ian Curtis and Joy Division, a biography of the singer. Suffering from epilepsy, a failing marriage, and bouts of depression, Curtis committed suicide on the eve of Joy Division’s debut North American tour. Joy Division released the critically acclaimed debut album Unknown Pleasures in 1979 and recorded their follow-up Closer in 1980. Tony got them to perform ‘Shadowplay’ and again for ‘She’s Lost Control’. He gave Tony the letter and called him a bastard for not having put them on – it worked. 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. 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. The first embodiment of Joy Division were known as Warsaw and took their name from the track ‘Warsawa’ on Bowie’s ‘Low’ album. 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. One such night was when Curtis pulled wooden tiles off the stage and threw them into the audience. There were several incidents where he collapsed and had to be helped off stage. 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. I just can’t cope anymore.”Ĭurtis 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). 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. 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.
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