This morning, with the weather as a perfect backdrop, I saw Control, the film about Ian Curtis. A stunningly dark film that catches the mood underlying the music of the Manchester scene. Ian Curtis was the singer for Joy Division.
This was their most succesfull song. Apart from a wonderful rhythm and melody, apparently people saw the truth in it.
Now, I see it too.
(His tombstone, in Macclesfield Cemetery. The words on it are chosen by his wife Deborah..)
(His tombstone, in Macclesfield Cemetery. The words on it are chosen by his wife Deborah..)LOVE WILL TEAR US APART
When routine bites hard
and ambitions are low.
And resentment rides high
but emotions won't grow.
And we're changing our ways
taking different roads.
Love, love will tear us apart again.
Love, love will tear us apart again.
Why is the bedroom so cold
turned away on your side?
Is my timing that flawed
our respect run so dry?
Yet there's still this appeal
that we've kept through our lives.
Love, love will tear us apart again.
Love, love will tear us apart again.
Do you cry out in your sleep,
all my failings expose?
Gets a taste in my mouth
as desperation takes hold.
Why is it something so good
just can't function no more?
Love, love will tear us apart again.
Love, love will tear us apart again...
When routine bites hard
and ambitions are low.
And resentment rides high
but emotions won't grow.
And we're changing our ways
taking different roads.
Love, love will tear us apart again.
Love, love will tear us apart again.
Why is the bedroom so cold
turned away on your side?
Is my timing that flawed
our respect run so dry?
Yet there's still this appeal
that we've kept through our lives.
Love, love will tear us apart again.
Love, love will tear us apart again.
Do you cry out in your sleep,
all my failings expose?
Gets a taste in my mouth
as desperation takes hold.
Why is it something so good
just can't function no more?
Love, love will tear us apart again.
Love, love will tear us apart again...
Tony Wilson, a co-founder of Factory Records and one of the most influential people in the Manchester scene once recounted :
"I'd been warned on a train to London two weeks earlier by Annik [note: Annik Honoré, Curtis' lover]. I asked her, 'What do you think of the new album.' She goes, 'I'm terrified.' I said, 'What are you terrified of?' She replies, 'Don't you understand? He means it.' And I go, 'No, he doesn't mean it; it's art.' And guess what, he fucking meant it."
(Factory: Manchester from Joy Division to Happy Mondays. BBC documentary 2007)
Indeed. Ian Curtis knew better. Love CAN tear people apart....he commited suicide on 18 May, 1980.
2 comments:
Well, Ian Curtis was a troubled soul..the consecutive drug/alcohol abuse caused profound erosion in his psyche. Love served as an alibi for the subsequent suicide...not for him though,but maybe for the band who shared guilts about his death. In my personal opinion I disregard the "love factor" in his "death outline". I would definetely state politically incorrect "madness" and the anxiety of quick coronation to stardom. Take a look at other similar rock star suicides, they either implicate drugs or some emotional dysfunction. I'm not trying to stereotype Ian's causes of death, but a rational explanation always underlines these incidents.
Anyway,great music to be rememberd for generations...
Ian and Debbie were indeed a dysfunctional couple. This does not negate his troubling over the fact that their very powerful and deep emotions for each other were not enough to prevent the decline of their relationship.
It was not my intention to argue that he commited suicide because of that.
However, what is the point in living if one cannot be with THE person one loves and will always love for the rest of his days? Why prolong the torment? Sometimes suicide IS the answer.
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