Died On This Date (May 18, 1980) Ian Curtis / Joy Division
themusicsover Ian Curtis
July 15, 1956 – May 18, 1980
Ian Curtis was the troubled singer and main songwriter for the Manchester rock band, Joy Division. Even as a young boy, Curtis showed signs of being a gifted writer, and by his late teens, he was turning his focus on becoming a rock performer. By 1978 he was fronting Joy Division. His lyrics were dark, sad and intensely hopeless. On stage, Curtis, who was epileptic, would mimic those fits while dancing. Unless of course he was having an actual seizure on stage. Fans sometimes didn’t know the difference. On May 18, 1980, two weeks after what would be Joy Division’s final show, Ian Curtis hanged himself in his kitchen. Some have speculated that the drugs he took for epilepsy and the exhaustive touring may have contributed to his desire to take his life. Others claim it was his disappointment over his failed marriage. Following the death of Curtis, the other members of Joy Division went on to form New Order.
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