This month’s MOJO looks at the legacy of Ian Curtis, the tortured, epileptic frontman of Joy Division. May 18th marks the 25th anniversary of Curtis’ suicide on the eve of his band’s first U.S. tour. Let’s assume you saw 24 Hour Party People so we don’t have to review the story in all its gory Manchester glory. Long story short, New Order are still cranking out pleasant electropop albums, and Joy Division are as influential as ever. Here’s a little Q&A with Curtis’ 26-year-old daughter.
MOJO: When did you become aware that your father was an icon?
NATALIE CURTIS: When I was a teenager. I’d heard “Love Will Tear Us Apart” on the radio as a young child. I was aware of it; I thought it was a cult thing, and they weren’t that well known.
MOJO: Did people ever approach you asking “Are you Ian Curtis’s daughter?”
NATALIE CURTIS: It started when I was about 16. How did I react? I got used to it, really. I didn’t happen that much. In Manchester, everyone’s in bands and no one gives a shit…
MOJO: What do you think of people your own age who are into them? What’s the attraction?
NATALIE CURTIS: A lot more people are into them now than a few years ago. I think it’s brilliant music. I suppose if it wasn’t my dad I’d have been listening to it loads and they would be one of my favourite bands — well, they are one of my favourite bands.
The free CD with this April issue thoughtfully mixes cuts from Joy Division’s post-punk contemporaries and the latest crop of bands they’ve inspired. “It’s designed to reveal the progression and power of the bands that have moved punk music forward … [setting] new standards in expressing the sense of freedom which punk rock ushered in in ’76-’77.” Surprisingly seamless, highly recommended.
MOJO Beyond Punk: 15 Post-Punk Tracks 1978-2004
1. Pere Ubu “Non Alignment Pact”
2. A Certain Ratio “Choir”
3. Cabaret Voltaire “Silent Command”
4.
5. Essential Logic “Aerosol Burns”
6. Mission Of Burma “Fight Academy Songs” [sic]
7. Death From Above 1979 “Better Off Dead”
8. Kleenex “You”
9.
10. Human League “Almost Medieval”
11. Siouxsie & The Banshees “Mirage”
12. Bird Blobs “Billy”
13. The Fall “The Classical”
14. Scritti Politti “Skank Bloc Bologna”
15. Radio 4 “State Of Alert (Edit)”
That Wire choice is decidedly more new romantic than post-punk, but again, that’s why I like this CD. Anything Pink Flag would’ve been obvious. When’s the last time you listened to ’88 Wire?
Oh, you were probably expecting some Joy Division. Scroll to the bottom of this page for 14 versions of “Love Will Tear Us Apart.”
Also on the post-punk tip, anyone else going to see Gang Of Four?
OK, that’s all you get for now. Off to the Doves show.
UPDATE: Optimo asks “What Would Ian Curtis Have To Say?” (via Aziz).
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just picked up my gang of four ticket today (wednesday show).
thanks for the mojo news and the wire track. because i don’t listen to anything but Pink Flag. okay, Chairs Missing too.
You know in 24 Hour Party People when they first show New Order and they’re playing acoustic? I wants some of that. Anybody know if it exists? If so, mail me at ‘dozens’ at ‘gmail’ ‘com’.
So is this Mojo magazine any good? Does every issue come with a CD?
The music magazine I’ve been subscribed to forever isn’t doing it for me any more and I may be looking to make a switch.
I heartily recommend the Unknown Pleasures entry in the generally solid 33 1/3 series Series home page: http://tinyurl.com/4pgdy
I did not grow up as a Joy Division adherent, but the book really captures that era well.
Also, ups for late 80s Wire. I fell into it by accident, when the endless live version of “Drill” was the only song among new releases that was long enough to permit a bathroon break. Eventually, I noticed that it was cool, as well as long. At the time, I remember reading that Wire was touring with a tribute act called the Ex Lion Tamers that would open for them and play all their old stuff. Smart–surprised more bands do not do it, in that one of the worst things about being a legend would seem to be having fans hollering “Woo! Do that thing you were doing 12 years ago!” Fortunately, as an academic, I do not have anyone shouting “Woo! MA thesis! MA thesis!” when I present current work.
Do i get any points here for being old enough to remember when he died? Yes, it was a sad day in my teenage life. (me and about the other 2 people who had ever heard of him.)
Yes, i’m takin my old ass to Gang of Four, and then I will pontificate for the next 2 weeks about how there will never be another great time in music like that era.
im off to see gang of four on their first ny date…anyone know who’s opening for them?
cheers
Radio 4 is opening for gang of four: http://jumpoutyourwindow.blogspot.com/2005/03/my-favorite-number-has-always-been-4.html
Take THAT Interpol
wow, that’s a lot of “love will tear us apart.” thanks..
Uh hem, it is Wire – Kidney Bingos not Bongos
hey, that site is missing calexico’s “love will tear us apart”!
uh, then again, maybe no one is missing that. thanks, starbucks!
http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/record-reviews/comp/hear-music/sweetheart-2005.shtml
i was just about to pick up this issue before leaving for bali at the end of the week, should make good plane reading. the issue with bob dylan (last issue) had a great cd of classic blues tracks that is worth checking out if yer into that sorta stuff.
don’t they mean Mission of Burma “Academy Fight Song” ?
oh ill be at that gang of four show. you betcha…
I love 80′s wire – Kidney Bingoes was good, as was “Eardrum Buzz”, “Finest Drops” and my personal fav, “Ahead”
Gang of what ?? save your money cause Bloc Party are touring US and Canada soon!!
Not sure why, but Mojo totally mixed up the name of that Mission Of Burma song. Morons. It’s “Academy Fight Song”
i will be seeing Go4 at coachella…should be grand
Hey Joey – Mojo is pretty damn good. It depends how much history you have with music, really – they deal with all of the good new stuff, but always have lots of content about old classic or semi-obscure stuff that younger/newer music fans should be on top of. I was a college DJ for many years in the 80s and 90s, and have been obsessed enough throughout my life to pretty much have exhausted the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd tier of 60s/70s music (though I’m still going on the 4th and 5th and beyond), so they don’t often have much new for me. But it’s great for newer serious rock music fans who are looking to extend both into the present and past.
I just find that mainstream British mags in general beat the crap out of American ones.
I remember Squarepusher also doing a really good version of Love Will Tear Us Apart that’s got some jazzy ride cymbals going. Keep your eyes out for that one if you could locate it.
hey scott-
this dj by the name of “dsico” does an awesome mash of joy division ‘love with tear us apart’ with missy elliot’s ‘get your freak on’…
it’s tight as hell!
ellen
damian I hope you were joking about your saving your money for Bloc Party instead of seeing Gang of Four. It’s almost hilarious listening to Bloc Party and hearing all the riffs they “borrowed” from Gang of Four.
i’m seeing gang of four on 5/18