Joy Division

[Dr Bunsen Honeydew]

Did the singer have something wrong with him, or was he just a spastic as we used to say in non politically correct days.

[jammy395]

He suffered from depression & epilepsy.
He committed suicide.

[Fretless]

Ian Curtis hung himself the day before Joy Division were due to leave for their first American tour. Leaving a young wife and a baby daughter. There was at the time an enormous 'buzz' around the band due to their (then) groundbreaking first album 'Unknown Pleasures'. We will never know what might have happened, but Joy Division could have gone on to achieve the same status that Radiohead now have. The Manchester Scene that evolved in the late 80's was a direct result of the success of this band and their label Factory Records, managed by the erratic Tony Wilson and featuring the astonishing production work of the strangely amazing Martin Hannett.

The rest of the band continued as New Order and moved away from a guitar-based sound to a more electronic approach, which would probably have happened with Curtis still alive - as he was a huge Kraftwerk fan.

For those interested, the film 'Control' gives a good idea of Ian Curtis's life and the music of Joy Division. '24-hour Party People' is also worth a view, if only for Steve Coogan's wacky interpretation of Tony Wilson.

[BillyBones]

Bernard and Hooky were in my class at school. We attended our first proper gig together with a few other like minded kids from our year, The Groundhogs, at Manchester Free Trade Hall in either 71 or 72. No one had any inkling then what the future would bring.

[Fretless]

That's really cool, Billy.!

I have the original 'Return of the Durutti Column' LP with the sandpaper sleeve that were hand-glued by the members of Joy Division - they were so hard up they needed to earn a bit of extra cash from Factory.

[Dr Bunsen Honeydew]

Poor sod, I didn't know, I suppose I should have googled. On stage (looking at youtube) he definitely looked as if he had something wrong with him.

[Daniel Quinn]

The video you have probably watched is a classic ian curtis lose control dance .He did not have cerebral palsy [ proper name for spasitic ] or any other disability just an intense personality and a unique dance style .

though he did have epilepsy.

[_D_S_J_R_]

The drugs he was undoubtedly then on for his condition may well have played a part in his appearance I'm reliably informed, the 'stage dance' was probably another matter entirely of course

[Lindsayt]

I enjoyed watching Control - the Joy Division biopic.