Joy Division stars reflect on Ian Curtis’ suicide during 42nd anniversary event

Members of the band Joy Division have called for better mental health support during a panel in the Houses of Parliament marking 42 years to the day since their frontman Ian Curtis killed himself. Curtis died in 1980 aged 23 on the eve of the Salford band’s first North American tour – shortly before the release of their second and final album, Closer. Bernard Sumner, 66, who played guitar and keyboards for Joy Division before taking over lead vocals in its new iteration, told how, despite his dark lyrics, Curtis had been been a “happy go-lucky guy”.He said this changed when Curtis had his first epileptic fit and was prescribed “very heavy barbiturates” that appeared to change his personality.