The grave of late Joy Division frontman Ian Curtis has been vandalised.
According to ‘Joy Division Central’ on Twitter, the top stone has been removed from Curtis’s grave, without Macclesfield Cemetery’s knowledge.
This is the second time that Curtis’s grave has been vandalised. Back in 2008, the gravestone inscribed with ‘Love Will Tear Us Apart’ was stolen. In an interview with NME, drummer Stephen Morris told the thief to “have a bit of dignity about it” and return the stone “I just don’t understand why anyone would do it. You couldn’t sell it on eBay — it’s ridiculous and very upsetting. I’m speechless. It really is not a very nice thing at all.”
The top stone on Ian Curtis's memorial has been removed, without the cemetery’s knowledge.
Ian’s inscribed memorial stone was stolen in 2008 and a replacement securely cemented in place. It appears attempts were made to remove this as well.
Photos (C) Ian Seivwright pic.twitter.com/GB8ilUui0e— Joy Division Central (@JD_Central) August 5, 2019
Ian Curtis committed suicide on May 1980, just before Joy Division were due to tour the United States. He was 23.
This year marked the 40th anniversary of Joy Division’s debut record, the seminal Unknown Pleasures. Earlier this month, bassist Peter Hook celebrated the album’s legacy with a special one-off performance at Sydney’s Opera House, backed by The Metropolitan Orchestra.
