On the 11th Day of Mavericks ...

... my reader gave to me.

Ian Curtis

as nominated by ‘Challenge 69’ reader Wendy J

As far as I’m aware Wendy is the only ‘Challenge 69’ reader who was a regular at The Hacienda, and once resided in Macclesfield (or simply Macc, as she and Ian would call it!). So I really can’t think of anybody more appropriate to have nominated the absolute legend that is Ian Curtis.

Let’s hear what Wendy has to say about him:

“I’m not messing around with this; Ian was (how I wish I could say is!) the maverick to end all mavericks. I know it, you know it, the musical world knows it. I’m not entering into a load of unnecessary debate, just get his membership card printed. Now!”

Phew! That has to be our most forceful nomination to date, but I find it impossible to disagree with Wendy’s sentiment.

Ian, always one to be an individual, sadly formed his own ‘23 Club’ when we lost his life and talent, at such a tender age, back in 1980; a full four years younger even than the early demises, and tragic loss of potential, of the infamous ‘27 Club’.

If you add Curtis (as a sort of ‘kid’ brother?) to that sad list; Brian Jones, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison, Kurt Cobain, and Amy Winehouse, then it makes for a heartrending reminder of how much great music we have missed out on.

I don’t want to dwell on the tragedy though, this list is all about celebrating ‘mavericity’ (thanks for that one Tim W), and I’m not going to try any lengthy critique of Ian Curtis’s obvious talents, that has been done (I nearly said to death!) many times before, by far more talented scribes than me.

Instead, I’ll just share with you my (43 year old) memory of seeing Ian and Joy Division, supporting Buzzcocks, at the Top Rank, Sheffield, on 21 Oct 1979.

Firstly, we were late arriving and completely missed the band’s first song (of a fairly short set). Missing the start of Joy Division; how cool were we at eighteen (nowadays I would be camped out two hours in advance!)

Buzzcocks were also good that night, but were unavoidably ‘blown away’ by their support act, with a sound, and performance, like nothing I had ever heard or seen before. ‘New Rose’ may have announced the arrival of ‘punk’, but for me the equally important ‘post-punk’ period began in Sheffield that night.

But my one overriding memory (what I can still see if I close my eyes) will always be Ian’s manic dancing, and haunting vocals, to ‘Transmission’.

“Dance, dance, dance, dance, dance, to the radio.”

I have a sneaking feeling Stuart may prove a relatively soft touch on this one:

“Wendy, I can’t fault your nomination. Tim, I can’t better your recollection. Of course Mr. Curtis is a maverick (of the very finest order).

Can I just ask that we put ‘Shadowplay’ on the playlist, or maybe ‘Love Will Tear Us Apart’. Then again it could be ‘Transmission’, or ‘New Dawn Fades’. You decide.

Actually, having thought about it more, how about ‘Decades’. A great song and (sadly) the last Ian Curtis vocal ever released?”

Having given us such an easy nomination ride, it seems only fair we should stick with Stuart’s recommendation (the last of his many) for the ‘12 Days’ playlist.

Remember to look out for our final ‘new maverick’ nomination at the same time tomorrow.