An iconic British band is receiving a spotlight in New York City.
For the first time, a collection of rare photos, handwritten lyrics, and personal items from Ian Curtis, the late frontman of the influential ‘70s post-punk band Joy Division, will be showcased in New York City.
Named “Ian Curtis: Insight,” this traveling exhibition will open at the Voltz Clarke Gallery in the Lower East Side on June 25. Among its highlights are Curtis’ handwritten lyrics for the legendary song “Love Will Tear Us Apart.”
“Ian Curtis of Joy Division is a pivotal figure in the landscape of UK popular culture,” stated Mat Bancroft, curator at the British Pop Archive of the John Rylands Library.
Bancroft further commented, “Curtis was a lyricist and performer known for his profound emotion and energy, often seen as the embodiment of post-punk. His personal archive includes handwritten lyrics, his own record and book collections, fan letters, and various memorabilia.”
The exhibit, sourced from the special collections at the University of Manchester, will be available for viewing until July 22.
The display comes just months before Joy Division and successor band New Order — created by remaining members after Curtis died by suicide in 1980 — are set to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in November.
“Joy Division and New Order were postpunk pioneers and electronic dance-floor innovators, inspiring thousands of bands and becoming a beacon for millions of listeners,” the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame website states.
“They were innovative musicians who created something revolutionary and massively influential – not once, but twice.”
“The Ian Curtis archive is of national significance, and Joy Division are one of the UK’s most important and iconic bands,” said Professor Christopher Pressler, director of the John Rylands Library.
“The exhibition in New York forms part of a series, showcasing the archive and promoting the University’s ‘From Manchester for the world’ strategy.”
