Rock bands will be descending on Macclesfield to pay tribute to Ian Curtis – the iconic rock star who died 30 years ago next month.
They are coming to town to turn the Heritage Centre into Macclesfield’s answer to Abbey Road for a day.
They will be recording cover versions of songs on one of Ian’s favourite albums – The Idiot by Iggy Pop, which Ian was reportedly listening to when he killed himself.
Macc lad Ian, who shot to fame as the frontman of Joy Division, was found hanged in his Barton Street home on May 18 1980.
The Roe Street centre will transform into a fully formed recording studio with its own design, PR and production departments on Saturday, May 8.
So far, I Am Kloot, Reverend Soundsystem and The Whip have confirmed they will be attending.
Macclesfield’s Virgin Marys and Peter Hook, one of the Joy Division members Ian left behind, will also be there.
The event, which is being branded the Un-Convention Factory, is part of the town’s Unknown Pleasures festival dedicated to Ian this summer.
There will also be an exclusive gig by several of the bands – which has already sold out.
Ruth Daniel, manager at event organisers Un-Convention, said: "We chose The Idiot because it was Ian Curtis’s favourite album and we didn’t want to go for something obvious like recording Joy Division songs – a lot of bands wouldn’t have gone for that. We were approached to come up with an event themed around Ian Curtis who was such an inspiration to young people. It will hopefully help some young people realise their potential in music and it is giving people a unique opportunity in Macclesfield. We want to demystify the music industry and all the different components will be there in the Heritage Centre."
Among the attractions will be print and poster making, and graphic design and journalism workshops.
