Today marks an anniversary. A sad one. On this day in 1980 Joy Division singer Ian Curtis hung himself at his home on the eve of what would have been their first American tour. Curtis had epilepsy and would occasionally have seizures on stage, which were only exacerbated by drum beats and stage lights. His "fly dance" onstage was one of the most famous sights of his era, but was criticized by some as epilepsy drama. Combined with substance abuse, depression, his medical issues led to early doom.
As for his band, it would be difficult to find another who has influenced more genres of music. (Perhaps Kraftwerk comes close)That high end bass that Peter Hook perfected was nicked by every indie and modern alternative rock band that succeeded them, such as Sonic Youth. Echo & The Bunnymen, U2, Midnight Oil and INXS wouldn't exist without them, nor would the mope rock of the Cure, the Church, Depeche Mode, Nick Cave and Morrisey. That "dance floor" sound that was perfected by Duran Duran, Wang Chung, Pet Shop Boys, George Michael and about 7,861 synth pop bands owe loads of debt to Joy Division. Industrial bands like Ministry, Big Black and Nine Inch Nails? Hugely influenced by Curtis, as well as by their rhythmic drum cadences. Radiohead? Not a fucking chance without Joy Division. I could go on and on for hours.
Like Pearl Jam rising from the ashes of Mother Love Bone and the Andrew Wood tragedy, surviving Joy Division members Hook, Gordon Sumner, and Steve Morris added a keyboard player and continued on as New Order. Few bands have shook up the music world to the magnitude they did. RiP Ian on the anniversary of his death.
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