Artist of the Week: Ian Curtis

I've been really diggin' into the 60s, 70s and 80s grunge and punk-rock and garage band scene, lately.  And Ian Curtis' story really popped out at me the most.

Ian Curtis was the lead vocalist, songwriter and frontman of the English Rock band, that formed in 1976, Joy Division.

Joy Division developed their own unique sound and style of punk-rock and thus helped pioneer the post-punk movement in the late 70s.

Their debut full-length album, Unknown Pleasures, was released in 1979.

Joy Division's popularity grew and so did their touring schedule.

However as the band's popularity grew, so did Curtis' health problems.  Curtis suffered from epilepsy.  When he was on stage he would have epileptic seizures.  And as the band's touring schedule increased, so did the intensity of the seizures.  Though it was said to be difficult to tell the difference between Curtis' seizures and his usual onstage jerkiness.

It's said that Curtis eventually became depressed, because he felt that the people would come more to see him breakdown that to listen to Joy Division.

On May 18, 1980, Curtis, could no longer take the pain and the depression.  He hanged himself in his Macclesfield home, as the band rested between a European and American tour.  He was 23.

Curtis left a note that said, "at this very moment, I wish I were dead.  I just can't cope anymore."  The note rested beside Curtis' turntable, with Iggy Pop's album, "The Idiot" found on it.

After Curtis' death, Joy Division released their second album, "Closer" in 1980.  

Remaining members from Joy Division continued on, under the new band name, New Order. 

~Peace, Happiness and Music~