Closer to Curtis On a typical fall evening in October 2007, Richard Jongetjes saw the movie Control, the first biographical film top photographer Anton Corbijn directed. The story details the life and death of Ian Curtis, the lead singer of Joy Division, the legendary band of the 80’s. Though the music the band produced is still – and once again – admired by numerous fans, Richard thought that the Netherlands still lacked a Joy Division tribute band that could give aficionados and those interested the chance to experience a Joy Division performance once more. The concert is expected to be an excellent chance to relive the atmosphere of a long-gone era and the gloomy songs of a legendary band.
De Staat In September 2007, De Staat found its perfect line-up, a powerful five-headed coalition, showing its love for the old roots music, though not afraid to put that in a new and refreshing perspective. Since then they've done shows in every possible setting, from small bars to big clubs with bands like Fu Manchu and the Belgian dEUS. “2009 will be the year of De Staat”, said Eric Corton, DJ for the biggest Dutch radio station 3FM. So it won't be a surprise that they've recently got a record deal with the unique and legendary label Excelsior Recordings.
J. D. Isolated One of the leading figures of Hungary’s underground music scene, Péter Sziámi Müller, has long been impressed by the art of Joy Division. His band played a few songs by them years ago at Sziget Festival, and he, together with jazz pianist Béla Szakcsi Lakatos, also performed some in London recently. For this ceremonial occasion, the band will play under the name J. D. Isolated, including further renowned musicians and a whole wind section in the line-up.
The afternoon of screening and discussion, already heavy with Joy Division nostalgia, turned into a hilarious craze of concerts. Closer to Curtis, De Staat and J. D. Isolated took to the stage, while the audience in the depths of the ship mocked the Manchester audience of the eighties and the choreographers of renowned pantomime theatres. “As if my heart had been its very source, troubled, wise was the Danube, mighty force” More
