A row over the painting over of a Joy Division mural should be an incentive to create a statue of Ian Curtis, his former bandmate Peter Hook has said. The mural, painted by artist Akse P19 in 2020 for a mental health charity, was replaced with a promotional image for rapper MC Aitch's new album in Manchester's Northern Quarter.
Hook, who co-founded Joy Division with Curtis, said the singer and late band manager Tony Wilson should be honoured with statues in Manchester and Salford. He sympathised with Aitch, noting the site was a prime commercial advertising spot. 'Business moves on and so it's no wonder Aitch didn't know about it,' Hook told BBC 5 Live.
Hook recalled being present as the mural was finished, and meeting one of Curtis's cousins who had the same 'intensity in his eyes'. He said the mural 'did stand for a lot' and hoped the controversy might spur a permanent tribute. A permanent mural was painted in Curtis's hometown of Macclesfield earlier this year.
Aitch promised to have the mural 'fixed pronto' after the backlash. Hook has been campaigning for years for statues of Curtis and Wilson in the two cities.
