‘Last pic’ of Joy Division star sells for thousands
AN ORIGINAL passport picture of Joy Division frontman Ian Curtis is thought to have been the last picture taken before his death.
The striking picture, which was taken just days before his untimely death in 1980 and signed by the iconic musician, has now been sold for thousands of pounds at auction.
The photo was taken at the Old Woolworths on Mill Street in his home town of Macclesfield and given to then road manager Terry Mason ahead of the Salford band’s planned US tour, Cheshire Live reports.
Mr Mason believes the photo is the last one taken of Ian as no one has made claim to a later one. The passport picture has now gone under the hammer and sold for £7,500.
The signed shot went for auction on last week at the Music Memorabilia & Vinyl Showcase Auction. On the Omega Auctions website, the former Joy Division manager spoke about events leading up to the picture.
Terry Mason said: “Taken on the morning of Thursday, May 15 1980, at the Photo Me booth in Woolworths Macclesfield, in preparation for the US Tour.
The band, Rob and the crew all needed to provide two passport photos, signed on the reverse complete with any middle initials.
“I was due to travel to the US Embassy in Grosvenor Square the next day and I already had everyone else, Ian’s were the last to be collected. I drove over with Barney and Rob Gretton.”
“Ian handed me the two duly signed passport photos for the US Embassy, and gave me the remaining copy, saying ‘you keep this you never know when you might need it,’ with Rob joking, ‘it’s your tip for going to the embassy.’
“In the 41 years since the photo, no one has made any claim to a later photo of Ian and so with a 99.999% probability this is the last photo of Ian.”
Ian Curtis’ tragic death on May 18, 1980 saw him take his place among rock and roll icons lost in their youth.
Joy Division are often described as one of the most influential bands of all time.
Since his death on May 18, 1980, several places in the town of Macclesfield have become a shrine for fans of the band.
While there are many tributes scattered around in the form of plaques, murals and artwork, the legacy of Joy Division lives on.