10 Moments That Changed Rock Music History

10. The Death Of Ian Curtis And The Birth Of New Order

The early death of Ian Curtis and the dissolution of Joy Division was a tragic moment in the history of rock.

Celebrated as the new sound of the British alternative music scene, Joy Division made a marked impression, with their catchy bass driven melodies laced with the gothic undertones of Curtis's lyricism. This music was energetic, you could bop to it, but it was dark...

The true weight of the heavy subtext behind Joy Division's music would come to be realised in may of 1980 when Ian Curtis died by suicide, months before the release of his bands second album.

But, out of the ashes rose the phoenix that would spearhead the alternative dance music of the 1980s. New Order.

The fusing of guitar led new-wave music with electronica and acid house resulted in that wonderful moment in the mid 1980s, appropriately dubbed the 'Madchester' scene. The Stone Roses and Happy Mondays were the conductors of that moment, leading a mad waltz of ecstasy infused mayhem as they set the stage for the Britpop era a decade later.

Ian Curtis may have been taken too young, but his legacy has sent sonic shock waves through the world of rock.