Ian Kevin Curtis (15 July 1956 – 18 May 1980) was an English musician, best known as the lead singer and lyricist of the post-punk band Joy Division. Joy Division released their debut album, Unknown Pleasures, in 1979 and recorded their follow-up, Closer, in 1980.

Curtis, who suffered from epilepsy and depression, committed suicide on 18 May 1980, on the eve of Joy Division’s first North American tour, resulting in the band’s dissolution and the subsequent formation of New Order.

Curtis was known for his bass-baritone voice, dance style and songwriting filled with imagery of desolation, emptiness and alienation.

Joy Division were an English rock band formed in 1976 in Salford, Greater Manchester. Originally named Warsaw, the band primarily consisted of Ian Curtis (vocals and occasional guitar), Bernard Sumner (guitar and keyboards), Peter Hook (bass guitar and backing vocals) and Stephen Morris (drums and percussion).

Here’s a brilliant documentary on Joy Division and Ian Curtis (it says Ita Sub, but there’s no subtitles):

I always thought their music was sombre, even sad, but these days I can hear a kind optimism or eagerness in the songs. Great to hear them again. They certainly made a big impression on me in my formative years as a music nerd.

Love Will Tear Us Apart:

Album of the day:

Other July15:

• Dust Bowl Ballads is an album by Woody Guthrie, recorded for Victor Records during Guthrie’s time in New York City in 1940. It was Guthrie’s first commercial recording and the most successful album he made. It is sometimes considered the first concept album.
  

  Released	July 1940
  Recorded	April 26, 1940 & May 3, 1940
  Genre	Folk
  Length	45:44
  Label	RCA Victor
  Producer	R. P. Weatherald

  The songs on “Dust Bowl Ballads” are semi-autobiographical, chronicling Guthrie’s experience as a so-called “Okie” during the Dust Bowl era, where Guthrie witnessed the economic hardship that many migrant workers faced in California. Like many of Guthrie’s later recordings, these songs contain an element of social activism, and would be an important influence on later musicians, including Pete Seeger, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Phil Ochs and Joe Strummer.

– Hallgeir

Sources: Wikipedia, BBC