Ian Curtis grave — Macclesfield Cemetery

Ian Curtis was cremated following his death on 18 May 1980, and his ashes were interred in Macclesfield Cemetery. The headstone is engraved with the words: 'Ian Curtis 18-5-80 Love Will Tear Us Apart' — the title of Joy Division's most famous song, released as a single a month after his death. The grave has been a pilgrimage site for fans for over forty years.

The headstone has been replaced multiple times after being stolen — an indication of both the intensity of fan devotion and the darker edges of rock mythology. The cemetery is a working burial ground on the edge of Macclesfield, conventional and peaceful. The contrast between the ordinariness of the setting and the weight of what is marked there is profound.

Joy Division dissolved immediately after Curtis's death. The remaining members — Bernard Sumner, Peter Hook, and Stephen Morris — formed New Order and went on to reshape electronic dance music. Curtis is considered one of the most significant lyricists in British rock. His grave remains one of the most visited music memorials in England.