Town to hold first ever Joy Division Day

A mural paying tribute to music icon Ian Curtis was commissioned by Cheshire East Council for Macclesfield in 2022

The home town of singer Ian Curtis will hold its first ever Joy Division Day to celebrate the British band.

Joy Division fans will be able to learn more about the post-punk band and its lead singer, who died in 1980 aged just 23, at the event in Macclesfield on 7 September.

Curtis fan and tour guide, Trevor Stokes, will lead two tours to 12 stops around the town including to the singer's grave in Macclesfield crematorium.

"It's going to be a wonderful celebration and hopefully a regular feature on the Macclesfield calendar for generations to come," Mr Stokes said.

The tours, for up to 25 people, will take place at 10:30 and 14:30 BST.

The event will also include a performance by Joy Division tribute band, Transmission, at Cinemac Cinema on Roe Street.

It is the first time the Cheshire town has held a Joy Division Day, Mr Stokes said.

He said: "I wanted to do this day because I didn't think we were doing enough locally in the town."

Joy Division pictured in the 1970s, Ian Curtis is second from the left

Curtis, who fronted the critically-acclaimed band, took his own life shortly before they were due to go on tour in the US.

Mr Stokes said he had always been a "big fan" ever since he crossed paths with signer when he was a young boy.

He said: "My grandad lived 10 doors down from him and I would often throw a ball for his dog, rock stars even had dogs in those days.

"I didn't speak to him much because I must admit as a child I was quite frightened of him and when I said hello I would refer to him as Mr Curtis.

"He would joke with me and call me Terry even though I corrected him and told him my name was Trevor.

"I've been doing these tours for the past 15 months and fans from all over have come, from Brazil, Chile, America and I want to continue to promote our musical heritage."