The gravestone of Ian Curtis, deceased singer of Joy Division, has been stolen from a cemetery in Cheshire, England. The gravestone bore an inscription of Curtis’ most famous song lyrc, “Love Will Tear Us Apart” the title of the one song that can legitimately be described as a “hit” from his highly influential late 70’s band.

Curtis, whose life has been documented in the acclaimed films “24 Hour Party People“, directed by Michael Winterbottom, and “Control“, directed by Anton Corbijn, tragically hung himself in the kitchen of his home on May 18, 1980, at the age of 23. His band, Joy Division, subsequently reformed as New Order and went on to be one of the most popular British post-punk/new wave bands of the 1980’s and beyond. Joy Division has retained a loyal following since the singers’ death however, drawing in later generations and even fans who weren’t born yet during their short run from 1977-1980, with their influential, often dark, foreboding sound. After the jump you can check out a video of “Love Will Tear Us Apart”.

While, obviously, neither myself nor TakePart advocate any type of robbery, particularly from graveyards, there is something strangely fitting about this crime. Ian Curtis lived a troubled life, plagued with seizures and an acute depression that is visceral throughout his work as a musician. He stands as a certain tragic type of figure in modern popular music, along the lines of a Syd Barrett from Pink Floyd or Nick Drake, who were provided no solace with the success they had achieved in their craft, and subsequently by death or insanity never saw how much their music continued to affect people, even decades after they stopped making it.

You can takepart in preventing suicide by learning more about the disturbing subject and ways to help those at risk by logging onto suicide.org.

LINKS:

The Times of London: Headstone of singer Ian Curtis stolen

The Guardian: Ian Curtis’ Headstone Stolen

BBC News: Ian Curtis memorial stone stolen