He went to great lengths to hide his various conditions as much as he could, and his bandmates remember him as sound of mind until the weeks preceding his death. The signs were all there, and yet, at the same time they were not. The line ‘People like you find it easy’ serves as a haunting reminder of how Curtis was gradually consumed by his health problems and yet suffered in silence as those who knew him struggled to understand what he was fighting. Of all of Joy Division’s releases, their 1980 single ‘Atmosphere’-released just two months before Curtis’ death, is among the most strikingly poignant. He was one of many to have redirected the course of alternative British music, shifting this sense of undiluted contempt away from the establishment to mankind-and, often, himself. ![]() Beneath frenetic, moody melodies lie the innermost thoughts of a man plagued by ill physical and mental health, creating a unique sense of manic melancholy that defined Joy Division’s music. Knowing that the album was written in the immediate run-up to his suicide is, quite simply, chilling. He has a point-Joy Division’s second album is saturated with imagery of disillusionment, isolation and anguish, and so through his songwriting, Curtis gave the listener a glimpse into his own deeply troubled mind. “Listening to Closer, you think, fucking hell, how did I miss this?” Stephen Morris, Joy Division’s drummer, remarked in an interview with the Independent to mark the fortieth anniversary of Curtis’ death. Curtis was never an especially big name at the height of his success-only in death could he become the cultural icon that he is today. He died before he had a chance to truly shine as an artist-just days before the band’s first North American tour was due to start. Who Curtis was as a man is shrouded in mystery, to fans and friends alike. Those who knew him describe him as a deeply contradictory figure-good-natured and friendly, but erratic and aggressive after a few drinks a sensitive artist who championed bohemian ideas and at the same time a staunch Tory a loving husband and father who embarked on an affair with Belgian journalist Annik Honoré. Diagnosed with epilepsy the same year that Joy Division’s debut album Unknown Pleasures (you know, the one on all the T-shirts) was released, his condition gradually worsened, coupled with depression, drug abuse and marital woes. A quiet, scholarly boy from Macclesfield with keen interests in philosophy and poetry eventually became one of the most enigmatic figures to have made his mark on the post-punk scene in the late 1970s-and one of the most tragic.Ĭurtis was the archetypal “troubled soul”, plagued by mental and physical health issues. It was cold and breezy at 1000ft, but the view was warm and we were together.Monday 18th May marked forty years since Ian Curtis, the lead singer of Joy Division, took his own life by hanging himself in his kitchen using a washing line in the early hours of the morning. This being one, a lovely early summer sunset with Linda and supper. So I’m going to rewind and hit a few spots that make me smile when I find them. It has meant not posting memories for my older self… wait, I think I might actually be becoming my older self now, how long has the place been alive now? Aw, man. That’s okay though, the love of being out there is for always, maybe I just don’t bring it flowers and chocolates all the time. Planning, scrapping plans and then making last minute half arsed attempts at having fun due to the frankly horrific review sample supply situation (thank you Tory Bastards, Brexit Bastards, Covid Bastards and Bastard Putin) has had a big part in it too. I think the new camera has somehow been a part of that too, I really don’t like it at all and happy snapping has always been a part of my days out and about, I hate fiddling with the bloody thing to take a photie, it’s intrusive. It’s always been like this for me though, just more so this time, the ebb and flow of enthusiasm and indeed the nature of that enthusiasm and how it manifests itself changes constantly. It’s seeped into my own joy of sharing stuff despite being out and about all the time and enjoying some magic days. However, of late I’ve found the barrage of stunning images, joyful tales and beyond has overloaded me and things that should have brought a mist to my eyes have been a swipe past onto the next thing to swipe last. ![]() This is brilliant for comparing notes, seeking answers to questions, reliving memories and finding inspiration. ![]() If you’re an outdoor person and you’re on social media you likely have a lot of outdoor friends on there too.
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