Joy Division's Ian Curtis at an office Christmas party is strangely wonderful

13 December 2023, 19:00

Check out these rare photos of the Love Will Tear Us Apart singer taking part in the festive season in the 70s.

By Radio X

@RadioX

2023 marked 43 years since the release of Joy Division's second and final album, Closer.

One of the darkest records ever made, it's gone on to be a post-punk classic and was overshadowed by the suicide of singer Ian Curtis in May 1980.

But in contrast to the tragic, doomed figure he's remembered as, some photos have emerged that show the singer in a completely different light.

The snaps show the man who sand Love Will Tear Us Apart enjoying himself at what appears to be an office Christmas party.

The rare snapshot of the iconic Joy Division frontman's life was originally shared on a Facebook group called Macclesfield ExPats.

The image, which has been updated with new AI technology to make the fuzzy snaps clearer show the team from Macclesfield Job Centre out for some boozy fun during Christmas sometime in the late 70s.

The job centre in question was based at South Park Road in Macclesfield, mere yards away from Ian's house at 77 Barton Street. There he worked as Assistant Disablement Resettlement Officer, helping find work for people with special needs.

Jake Rudh shared more photos of the star in a response to the tweet, which confirms it's not a one-off, seeing Curtis larking about with his colleagues of all ages.

The response to the image has captured the imaginations of Joy Division fans, with many calling it the best thing they've seen on Twitter, while some Macclesfield natives have claimed to visit the same dole office in later years.

Oldpuddle wrote: "I signed on in that dole office in around 86-87, a few years after this pic was taken, bloody depressing place it was too. Brought our first house on the same road years later."

Despite this account, the Manchester icon - who is known for being a serious figure - seems to be laughing and posing happily.

READ MORE: What is Joy Division's Love Will Tear Us Apart about?

In 2020, the members of Joy Division and New Order discussed their decades-long career in a podcast titled Transmissions - The Definitive Story.

Listen to Transmissions - The Definitive Story on Global Player

In the first episode, guitarist Bernard Sumner recalled that Curtis "was a good laugh - a really good laugh.

"But he was unpredictable - he'd say one thing and do another, which was a bit annoying at times. He could be a bit volatile. Which is fair enough."

Radio X has teamed up with the Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM), to bring you a series of short podcasts, hosted by some fantastic names, to help with advice and real stories about mental health.

Listen via Global Player