Today marks the 27th anniversary of Ian Curtis’ death, when at age 23, Curtis hanged himself on the eve of his band’s departure for a tour of the U.S. In a fitting tribute to his brief, but brilliant career, a new biopic titled Control premiered last night at Cannes which chronicles his short life and that of his band Joy Division. The film is based on the book written by Curtis’ wife Deborah called Touching From a Distance and follows his life from the start of band’s formation (1976) to his death on May 18th, 1980. The couple have one child, daughter Natalie who was born in 1979.

It would be difficult to imagine today’s musical landscape without the influence of Ian Curtis and Joy Division. Despite having the legacy of being one of the youngest rock musicians to die so early in his career, Ian Curtis like so many before and after him, continues to impact our lives through his music.

Dutch rock-photographer and videographer Anton Corbijn, who is making his directorial debut with Control, photographed Joy Division in the late 70’s. He’s also a legendary music videographer who directed Nirvana’s “Heart Shaped Box,” Depeche Mode’s “Personal Jesus,” and literally dozens of others, as well as, having photographed virtually every big name in music including the album covers for Depeche Mode and U2′ s Joshua Tree. Corbijn is quite literally a legend of rock in his own right, which makes him the perfect fit to capture the life of a rock legend.

Working as a photographer for British rock mags, Corbijn was on the scene to capture the dark, but electric mood of the late 70’s as the now legendary label Factory Records helped spawn the careers of Joy Division, and later New Order (see also OMD, Happy Mondays and Duritti Column) during a period that also saw the emergence of The Sex Pistols and the Buzzcocks, just to name a couple.

Corbijn recalls the period and his decision to film the movie in stark black and white:

”My whole memory of that period is black and white. There is basically no color photography of that band around. So it felt very proper to the project.”

Corbijn also felt strongly about his decision to cast a relative unknown actor Sam Riley in the role of Curtis based on his initial impressions of the actor:

”A lot of bands I met, including Joy Division, were kind of underdressed - a thin coat on, smoking and shivering in the cold. When I met Sam it was also in the winter and he was totally the same…had an innocence and a freshness that I was hoping for but never thought I would find.”

Despite an all-too-short life, both as a group and for that of their lead singer Ian Curtis, Joy Division has had a tremendous influence of many of today’s biggest names in rock. U2’s Bono has described Curtis voice as “holy” and wrote the song “A Day Without Me,” as a direct reference to the suicide of Curtis. This was the first single released off of U2’s debut album Boy in 1980. NIN’s Trent Reznor is also a fan of Curtis’ work and covered Joy Division’s amazing song “Dead Souls” which was a released on The Crow soundtrack and Reznor often lists the band and Curtis as an early influence.

It would be fair to trace Curtis and company in the sounds of Bauhaus, Echo and The Bunnymen, Depeche Mode, The Cure, Siouxie and The Banshees and certainly later in the sounds of techno master Moby, who covered “New Dawn Fades” for the Heat soundtrack, which may possibly be the greatest movie soundtrack ever made.

Clearly, Curtis’ life was polarized between his creative forces and his personal pain. Ian suffered from epilepsy and this certainly contributed in part to his various spikes in emotions and personality conflicts. His wife Deborah described him as very controlling, often moody and distant. At the time of Curtis’ suicide the couple were contemplating divorce which was exacerbated by Ian’s affair with a Belgian writer named Annik Honore.

Deborah says these torn feelings may have been at the root cause of his suicide, but even she has no definitive answers:

“Maybe he was concerned about doing the right thing. Maybe he was torn between what he should do and what he wanted to do. Maybe Annik wasn’t the one, but he felt he needed to go. I don’t know. I’ve spent a lot of time wondering, because there were so many other things he could’ve done besides commit suicide.

Only Ian Curtis knows why he took his own life on the eve of what was clearly to be a journey into rock greatness, leaving behind many broken lives, including that of his bandmates. With the end of Joy Division (the band agreed that if any member departed, they would change the name) New Order was created, and we should all be thankful for that.

Hopefully this new biopic will shed some light into the world of a mysterious figure that most of us know only through his lyrics and haunting voice; and while these gifts are priceless in quality, their absence in quantity is painful to bear.

Perhaps the answer to the mystery of his death can be found in Ian’s own words:

Love Will Tear Us Apart

When the routine bites hard
And ambitions are low
And the resentment rides high
But emotions wont grow
And were changing our ways,
Taking different roads
Then love, love will tear us apart again

Why is the bedroom so cold
Turned away on your side?
Is my timing that flawed,
Our respect run so dry?
Yet theres still this appeal
That weve kept through our lives
Love, love will tear us apart again

Do you cry out in your sleep
All my failings expose?
Get a taste in my mouth
As desperation takes hold
Is it something so good
Just cant function no more?
When love, love will tear us apart again

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The above video is about as gratifying as it gets (and NSFW). We all know now that Dustin “Screech” Diamond is a tired has-been never-was who talks crap like its water and he’s lost in the desert, but when VH1’s Celebrity Fit Club’s Sgt. Harvey “expresses” his feelings about Diamond it’s like he’s channeling me with my kids after they pull some stupid sh*t.

Man, you don’t want to cross Sgt. Harvey — and you under ten set — best be minding your “P’s” and “Q’s”. Mommy ain’t playin!

Must be a slow news day if I am writing about Britney Spears hair, but peeps be talking about Britney’s broke-a** weave and when I say broke, I mean like up-on-blocks, all trailer-park style.

The above pic is from a new crop showing Britney’s new growth, bleached and with some synthetic looking weaves all woven into that mess. If you told me a family of squirrels were eyeing that for their summer home, I wouldn’t bat an eye.

If Britney had any sense at all, which I realize is one of those oxymorons, she’d let her hair grow out and do some kind of funky-punk do in the interim, but because Britney is a complete and utter alien life form, she’s gotta go with the same hair fiasco that made her head look like some kind of Nazi science experiment.

Oh and by the way, Britney posted this message on her “under construction site” yesteday. I guess all three of her fans were excited. As for me, I was so inspired I took a nap. Man, do I feel refreshed. Unlike Britney’s scalp. Ewww….I bet it’s itchy and smelly from all those wigs.

Photo credit: Splashnews

American Idol contestant Melinda Doolittle was delivered a shocking blow last night when she was sent home leaving the final two, Blake Lewis and Jordin Sparks, to battle it out next Tuesday for American Idol’s final’s week.

As is typical, the show dragged out revealing the results as long as possible, but the first contestant to receive relief was the bubbly Jordin Sparks who continues to be lovable and sweet. This left us with Blake and Melinda, and I doubt few watching could have expected the outcome to favor Blake Lewis who has seen his fair share of close calls this season. Melinda Doolittle hasn’t been in the bottom three once this season and judge Simon Cowell called her the “most consistent contestant” in the group. True dat!

But, alas Melinda’s wild ride came to an end last night. Fellow contestants Blake and Jordin seemed quit stricken with the news, shedding several tears during her goodbye montage. Melinda, with all the graciousness and professionalism we’ve come to expect shed barely a tear, smiled throughout and cheered on her friends who remained while closing the show with her strong voice intact performing once again “I’m A WOMAN.”

Worry not about Melinda. She will get a recording contract and likely be a huge hit.

So that leaves us with beat-boxer Blake and cute-as-button Jordin. My bets are with Jordin, but I wouldn’t be shocked one bit if Blake wins. The guy is stealthy.

There were concerns that Paris Hilton would be released within hours of serving her 45-day sentence, as was done with actress and repeat offender Michelle Rodriguez. Ms. Rodriguez was released within the first 24 hours of her sentence due to jail over-crowding. While her case also fell under some media scrutiny, it was nothing compared to that of heiress Paris Hilton.

The LA County Sheriff’s department released this statement yesterday after media speculation surfaced that Paris would also be released due to jail over-crowding:

“The Sheriff’s Department is announcing that Ms. Hilton will do a minimum of 23 days in jail. The possibility that she will be processed in and out in a day is over. She will do her full time, minus 22 days because of a state jail policy encouraging good inmate behavior.”

Which means of course that Paris is far more hated that Michelle Rodriguez and is definitely being made an example of.

And that’s what we like call Karma!

And totally awesome!!

And schweet!!

And IN YOUR FACE!!

ok, I think I’ve made my point.

 

Avril Lavigne is on the latest cover of Blender Magazine, which as it turns out, is not in fact a torture device which she will be fed to, but instead a music mag.  Why is she on the cover of a music magazine you ask?  Beats me, because what she makes isn’t music, but something I like to call: a steaming pile of excrement. 

I am assuming that the “hell yeah, I’m hot” quote came directly from Avril herself.  She is well known for her self-deprecating charm and quiet modesty.  She’s also known for being a raging b*tch who bleats and barks like a like a caged wolverine, which could be hot, but in her case is really annoying and makes you want to light it on fire to put it out of its misery.

While I am not privvy to the contents of the article (THANK YOU LORD) I did find this ridiculous blurb in Blender’s Editor’s Picks section for May 20, by none other than their senior Editor Mike Errico:

“Avril Lavigne, “Girlfriend”
Resolved: There is no such thing as a “Guilty Pleasure.” You either like something or you don’t. Does this song have substance, weight … importance? Will generations huddle for warmth around a postapocalyptic trash fire humming “Girlfriend,” wistful for the promise of a generation choked to near-extinction by their own political and environmental policy decisions? Oh, shut it. You won’t ruin Avril for me. Not this week, anyway.”

Talk about some feint praise.  So, what this tells me is that Mr. Errico was forced to say something vaguely nice about Avril as she graces their cover, this also means Mr. Errico is a shell of a man willing to sell his soul for money, and from this day forward anything he endorses is to be treated like the ramblings of an idiot — oh he is also touched in the head.

Avril fans, her new album is shallow, immature and unlistenable.  You want some female angst rock, do yourself a favor, burn your Avril and listen to Liz Phair’s Exile In Guyville.

There are reports that Britney Spears has completely cut herself off from her mother, Lynne Spears. Not only did she NOT call her mother on Mother’s Day while her mom was in the hospital suffering from pneumonia, but she didn’t call her on her mom’s birthday as well!

That’s one cold-hearted beeyotch. From the MSNBC story:

“Britney has cut off all communication with her mom,” a “friend” of the 25-year-old singer told the National Enquirer. “She’s gone from calling Lynne ten times a day to flat-out refusing to speak to her.”

“Britney says her mom betrayed her and she refuses to get over it,” the source told the Enquirer. “When she was told to give her mom a call, Britney said: ‘I’m busy, I have my own kids now.’ ”

Britney is reportedly still furious at her mother for the role she played in making Britney go to rehab earlier in the year, and is refusing to let it go. That’s really ironic. Britney’s mom tries to help her save her from herself and Britney then turns her back on her.

She’s going to regret how she treated her mom, but it’s quite typical. Kids in their 20’s think they know EVERYTHING, especially spoiled kids who are borderline mentally-challenged — which let’s face it — accurately describes Britney Spears. Britney will eventually realize that unlike Dina Lohan, who most likely picks up her daughter’s 8-balls for her, her mom is just trying to help her. And then she will be overcome with guilt and remorse, spending her days in an alcohol-induced fog of self-contempt and personal loathing.

Er, wait, who were we talking about again? Britney? Oh yeah, sorry. Yeah, so Britney needs to suck it up and call her mom. We moms aren’t perfect, but you bratty little kids aren’t a friggin’ vacation in Hawaii either. I will wish upon Britney what I wish upon my own kids and my mother wished upon me: “I hope you have ten kids JUST LIKE you someday.” Two down, only 8 more to go!

Cheese on rice already!!

Marilyn Manson (age 38) is so completely enamored with his own cleverness ,is now trying to milk the recent claims that he and his teenage paramour were getting it on for real in his recent video for “Heart-Shaped Glasses.” The video’s dumb as hell and contains more cliches than a post game press conference for the World Series. If Manson were smart he’d pretend it was someone else’s video and call it a day. But no, the middle-aged vampire wanna-be has now released an intentionally ambiguous statement in an effort to create more controversy — and certainly much more than a person his age who humps teenagers on film should receive.

Marilyn on the rumors:

“Let’s say there were some conservative people involved (with the video) that got a little upset about things that were taking place, and there’s been rumors back and forth, but I will not confirm or deny them.” He adds, “It does look real.”

Let’s say there were some MM fans left who weren’t totally repulsed by Manson’s maturing backwards into a state of infantile regression, and there some of those fans were willing to buy his records despite his pedophilic proclivities, would that make them as big of a losers as Manson? Perhaps, but I will not confirm or deny — although it certainly looks that way though.

So now, in addition to the “real sex” issue with the video, information has been released which states the actress from the video, Evan Rachel Wood, Manson’s teen girlfriend (age 19) was paid the highest figure ever for a music video. I’m just not sure how to even respond to that, other than maybe: Evan Rachel Wood is a high paid hooker. Manson’s statement on Wood’s salary for the video:

“I did insist that Evan be paid the most that any actress has ever been paid in music-video history to be in this, even though she wouldn’t have asked for it. There’s no one else that could’ve been in it, because it was inspired by her.”

E.R.W. had sex on film and got paid well for it, clearly barely-legal porn is just a stone’s throw away for this classy young lady! Her parents must be swelling with pride.

 

Yes, that’s right folks.  Having your inner nostril cavities eaten away by toxic white substances, humping anything that stands still long enough and mugging for any and all cameras is all it takes to be hot.  Having a successful movie career, not so hot.

Whomever wrote this garbage for Maxim about Lindsay Lohan needs a raise for this shovel-full of nonsense:

Tabloid bloodsuckers have been feasting on this Long Island native for three years running, but that’s only because this unbelievably beautiful, untamable Golden Age throwback with a nonstop social calendar and acclaimed acting chops is Ann-Margret, Meryl Streep, and Sophia Loren rolled into one. Moving well beyond kid fodder like Herbie Fully Loaded, she next stars in the highly anticipated film about the murder of John Lennon, Chapter 27. She’s following that up with the freaky thriller I Know Who Killed Me. But if you happen to see Lindsay’s smoky eyes from across some bar in West Hollywood, don’t bother sending over a drink—she’s accomplished all this before her 21st birthday. Wink.

But worry not, this list has Fergie at #10 and so this list can’t be taken all that seriously can it?

Here’s the Maxim Top Ten:

• 1.Lindsay Lohan
• 2.Jesssica Alba
• 3. Scarlett Johansson
• 4. Christina Aguilera
• 5. Jessica Biel
• 6. Ali Larter
• 7. Eva Mendez
• 8. Rihanna
• 9. Eva Longoria
• 10. Fergie

And some notable numbers, Ashlee Simpson #16, Avril Lavigne#15, Angelina Jolie #12, Carmen Electra #28, Rose McGowan #44 and Dita Von Teese #82?  WTF?  Clearly these numbers aren’t based on looks alone, or talent, or whether some of these women are hags (like Rose McGowan).  The good news, not one mention of Paris Hilton or Britney Spears!!!! Schweeet!