60 years ago today (7/15/56), Ian Curtis, lyricist and lead singer of Joy Divison was born. 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. With his baritone voice and dark lyrical content, Curtis helped create two landmark albums with Joy Division – Unknown Pleasures, in 1979 and their follow-up, Closer, in 1980. Watch Joy Divison perform “Shadowplay” live in 1978..
