‘An Ideal For Living’ Macclesfield Cemetary 2007
For years I had wanted to travel to Macclesfield and visit the grave of Ian Curtis. If someone can hold such an emotional influence and ability over you then surely to physically acknowledge that would only enrichen the experience.
The film ‘Control’ by Anton Corbijn was due for release on October 5th and I decided that would be the day to visit the cemetary, for the film was going to alter perceptions and the myth of Ian would change in the mainstream conciousness forever. It was an auspicious event and I wanted to be with the reality as opposed to the myth.
I remember thinking as we drove through the countryside towards Macclesfield that the countryside was beautiful..not depressing like everyone had said.
I had a deep sense of fulfillment standing at his grave and rubbed some Armagnac (from 1980) on his gravestone, when I did this the blue fan you can see in the picture rotated three times although there was no wind.
Standing under the focusing cloth of my Linhof 5x4 camera I could hear a distressed woman shouting and crying and the voice was getting nearer. The voice was soon beside me and I pulled the cloth from over my head..It was diffcult to process everything that was happening for I had been in such a peaceful moment..to this..
She was shouting ‘I’m sucidal!’ and ‘look at my wrists’ We tried to calm her down and she told us she had just gotten out of jail and while she was in there her husband had died..he was epileptic. I passed her the bottle of Armagnac and she started guzzling it down so fast I had to snatch it back.
‘Fallen Idol’ when I was physically at the cemetary I was overwhelmed with the achievement of being there and showing respects to one of my idols..but then I realised the cemetary has been heavily vandalised. (you can see where Ian’s gravestone is to the far right).
I don’t remember this poor lady’s name but she wanted me to take this picture.
With a very abrupt thump I was woken to the problems of Macclesfield..frankly it was depressing in a profound way.
(This story is in note form for the purpose of this website entry. The book ‘Bathing Whiskey’ which I am still producing will feature this story in detail).
77 Barton Street Macclesfield. Ian’s home.
During our time in Macclesfield we asked many locals if they knew who Ian was or of his band Joy Division..no one did..we went to the pubs and I was constantly looking for graffiti or any telling signs in toliet cubicles or under railway bridges etc…there was nothing.
Returning to London there was several events that related directly to the experience.
Kevin Cummins signs his Limited Edition book ‘Juvenes’ at Amuti 23
Only 226 copies were in the edition.
It was amazing to witness Kevin sigining the books in his solitude and discuss his association with the band.
As we talked he told me he had a significant number of the book that I should have, being number 69 as both he and Ian are the star sign Cancer and it was the symbol of the sign.
Meanwhile across town a large crowd had gathered to queue to meet Anton Corbijn who was doing a book signing at HMV on Oxford Street.
The film left me feeling dissatisfied. Nothing more than an extended MTV video.
This happened about two months after the release of the film ‘Control’. It was something I almost expected in a strange way.
There are now guided tours in Macclesfield which will serve you the ‘Ian’ experience with maps of his favourite haunts posted on street lamps and a shiny new gravestone.