Let’s face it, there’s always some degree of instability when it comes to our brightest musical stars. As the old saying goes: it’s better to burn out than to fade away - but the truth of this statement is highly debatable. Whether it’s drugs, alcohol, the pressures of fame or mental illness, so many of our icons fall short of their potential, and there’s no better example than Ian Curtis of Manchester based post-punk band Joy Division. It’s hard to pinpoint exactly how many bands have taken a bite off of the Joy Division block in hopes of creating their own sound, but it’s certain that bands like U2, The Cure, Bloc Party, and Interpol were inspired by Ian Curtis’s legacy.

Famed photographer and director Anton Corbijn has paid homage to his early work with Joy Division in the form of his first feature length film Control. Based on the book written by Curtis’ widow, the film takes a raw look at Curtis’ life and the bleak world in which he existed. From the first frame, Corbijn captures the raw beauty and sadness of late 70s Manchester, as if the film itself was made up of breathtaking stills. Winning 5 awards at the British Independent Film Awards (including Best British Independent Film, and Most Promising Newcomer), and most recently BAFTA’s Carl Foreman Award, Control is finally available on DVD today in the UK.

Check out this new video by Jonathan Beamish using the earliest recorded version of “Love Will Tear Us Apart” produced as a John Peel Session for the BBC in 1979, using original performance footage produced by Joy Division for the 1980 single release version. R.I.P. Ian Curtis: