It was 35 years ago today that Ian Curtis, mesmerising but troubled frontman of Joy Division, devastated his fans by taking his own life.
Ian had already made his name beyond the clublands of Manchester, with his distinctive dancing, baritone voice and lyrics full of despair, emptiness and alienation.
Despite his success, though, Ian suffered from epilepsy and depression, and was overwhelmed by both burgeoning fame and a complicated personal life. The band were on the eve of their first American tour, but on 18 May 1980, Ian Curtis's life came to an end, although his place in pop history remains assured.
