Photo: Press
Today marks what would have been the 60th birthday of the late, great Ian Curtis. As the frontman of Joy Division, his life and career may have been short-lived - but the impact and legacy of lyrics and work shall endure.
Born on 15 July 1956 before tragically taking his own life on 18 May 1980, Curtis left behind a body of songs that would go on to inspire countless more artists and young minds than he could possibly have imagined.
His dystopian view of a society decaying through the horror of the 20th Century, met with his own personal demons as he struggled to find his place in the world, made for some of the finest existential poetry of the era - and music has never seen his kind since.
Their most seismic track is arguably the bittersweet 'Love Will Tear Us Apart'. We sat with bassist Peter Hook to play us the song, and tell us what went into writing it. Watch our video below.
"I think 'Love Will Tear Us Apart' is a very poppy, very 'commercial' I suppose you'd say riff - it's very memorable," Hooky told Gigwise, while touring with The Light. "The thing is that allied to the very dark lyrics in the song, I suppose it makes it very bitter-sweet, it lasts longer than it would have done if it was just a 'normal' pop song.
"It's quite a frightening song lyrically. It's completely at odds with the music. I think that's very Joy Division actually - it sort of lulls you into a false sense of bonhomie and then rips your heart out."
Meanwhile, Peter Hook will be taking Hacienda Classical on the road for the following dates:
31/7/16 The Rainbow Open Air Arena, Birmingham
7/8/16 M25 Festival, Trent Park, London
19/8/16 Herrington Country Park, Sunderland
