SKV Communications are handling the national and regional PR campaign behind Unknown Pleasures, the first exhibition featuring the music and lyrics of Joy Division, and personal exhibits inspired by their music.
The festival marks the 30 year anniversary of the death of the band’s lyricist and singer Ian Curtis, on 18th May 1980.
As the first in-depth look at the life and work of the singer and band that shaped the future of popular culture, the exhibition is staged in Curtis’ hometown, Macclesfield, and is part of a wider community festival, the details of which will be announced soon.
It follows huge interest in the charisma of the band’s legendary label Factory, from tributes to the late Tony Wilson, the Control bio-pic about Curtis, and other Factory-related books, TV and films.
As part of the Festival activities in Macclesfield an exhibition will be held at Macclesfield’s 1813 Sunday School Heritage Centre building. The exhibition will run from Thursday July 29th until 7th August and is timed to coincide a new wave of interest sparked by Rhino’s planned release of a boxed set of 7″ Joy Division singles in the summer.
The exhibition will feature a serial chronology and items from the late 70s including original record sleeves, posters and handbills, as well as set lists, collectable vinyl singles and albums, music business memorabilia, and letters from Tony Wilson and band members to manager Rob Gretton.
The festival also includes a series of linked talks, screenings and tours in Macclesfield, including a special film screening on July 31st in the town’s independent cinema, Cinemac featuring the three Joy Division related films: 24 Hour Party People, Control and Joy Division and a celebrity panel discussion.
Director Richard de Peyer says: “Macclesfield has never had the opportunity to celebrate Ian Curtis’ work in a way which benefits the communities of the town and also attracts music fans from far and wide. This summer seemed like the right moment to do that.”
The remaining members of the band who went on to form New Order, Stephen Morris, Peter Hook and Bernard Sumner, are supporting the exhibition.
SKV are managing the interview schedule for Stephen Morris and Jon Savage, speaking to national TV programmes interested in filming the exhibition, and handling the social media campaign around a Twitter feed at www.twitter.com/joydivision2010 and generating conversations with the Twitter hashtag #JD2010.
Creative Concern have designed and developed the website at www.joydivisionexhibition.com
For media information, contact Andrew Spinoza at SKV Communications 0161 838 7770 firstname.lastname@skvcommunications.co.uk
