Ian Curtis: Latest News

Kurt Cobain in Manchester, commemorating the 30th anniversary of his passing.Headstock, which is based in Manchester, intends to work with the street artist Akse to create the mural on the side of The Bred Shed – a music venue just off the city’s Oxford Road. The venue is a short walk from where Nirvana played their only two gigs in the city, at the site of the current University of Manchester Students’ Union.Readers can donate to the crowdfunder here, with the organisation aiming for a total target of £3,500.The mural would be designed to raise awareness of the mental health text message support service, Shout 85258, with the charity’s logo and text number printed large on the artwork.Cobain took his own life on April 5, 1994 at the age of 27.Headstock have worked on a number of previous music-themed murals, including the famous image of Joy Division’s Ian Curtis, which was infamously painted over in 2022 to make space for an advertisement for Aitch’s debut ‘Close to Home’.The mural was later reinstated at a different location – the Star and Garter pub on Fairfield Street, close to Piccadilly Station – also overseen by Headstock and Akse.In 2021, Headstock also curated a mural honouring the late Keith Flint from The Prodigy, who had died two years earlier.

Manchester music legend Peter Hook is to play an intimate gig at an iconic Manchester pub in aid of mental health charity Headstock. The Joy Division founding member will play a set of the band's classic songs at the Star & Garter pub - which is now famously home to a stunning mural of Ian Curtis.

United We Stream on October 10 and 11, coinciding with World Mental Health Day on Saturday.

The pair teamed up for a stunning rendition of 'Isolation'

The Killers frontman said Joy Division "had a profound impact" on him growing up

Hook tells NME: “It was tough, it was completely stupid and ridiculous, but in the end we did it and it felt absolutely wonderful to play the whole library of my absolutely favourite band.” 

Bernard Sumner and Stephen Morris will take part in the online event next week