Hard to believe that is was 45 years ago today that IAN CURTIS, lead singer and lyricist of the band JOY DIVISION took his own life at the age of 23.

I was just getting into indie music in a huge way and was seeking to buy my first JOY DIVISION music.

Little did I know what that tragic unravelling would portend for my insatiable interest in post punk music.

JOY DIVISION were an up and coming post punk outfit from Manchester. They had released 1 LP “Unknown Pleasures” (Factory Records 1979) and some singles to growing acclaim.

My friend Brad had shared a couple of songs of theirs with me on cassette. Thinking back, they were probably were probably off the “Ideal For Living” release. I was impressed.

The tragedy occurred in the eve of the first trip by the band to North America.

Joy Division were to play in Toronto on May 25, 1980. I did not have a ticket for that but oddly heard the news (I don’t remember how) and sadly had to break it to call my friend Brad who had a ticket.

At that time there was an ongoing (6 week) strike at the offices of the British weekly publicatios NEW MUSICAL EXPRESS (NME) and MELODY MAKER (MM). This meant there was little or no indie music news…

On about June 23, 1980, I travelled from London, Ontario to Port Huron, Michigan to purchase whatever Joy Division music I could find.

On entering FULL MOON RECORDS the picture above is the cover of the NME that was the first thing I saw!

I purchased their debut LP “Unknown Pleasures” and the 7” record pictured below.

On returning home, “Transmission” went on my turnable. It could arguably be said that it has never been taken off…

That is, little did I know then that in purchasing “Transmission b/w Novelty” it would instantaneously become (and remain) my favourite song of all time.

[Ed. Note- b- side “Novelty” alone would have been worth making the 75 minute journey.]

Here it is in somber recognition of the artistry of IAN CURTIS.

This coming Friday I am travelling with DJ Drew, Jay and John and will be seeing PETER HOOK & THE LIGHT performing the NEW ORDER Lp “Get Ready” along with some other amazing Joy Division and New Order songs. I am hopeful to hear the thundering bass of PETER HOOK remind me yet again of what was and what has been a constant sound for me ever since.

Thanks to HOOK, POTTS, KEHOE, BATES and REBELSKI for keeping these sounds and lyrics alive…

SPOTIFY-

https://open.spotify.com/track/4Ua6NZVapMvAGrrJTmva1k?si=_gLgMu2nSneJnGxn8usR7Q

(SONG 1083)

Play Loud So You Don’t Ever Perish

MAY 18, 2025