Researching Ian Curtis

Curtis suffered from epilepsy and depression and took his own life on the eve of Joy Division's first North American tour and shortly before the release of Closer. Shortly after his death, the three surviving members of the band reconstituted themselves as New Order. Continuing a stylistic shift towards a more electronic sound that characterized Joy Division's later releases, New Order would eventually achieve considerable commercial and critical success in their own right. They remain an active unit to this day, albeit without Joy Division bassist Peter Hook, who left the band in the mid-2000s due to personal disputes with the other members.

Despite their short career, Joy Division have exerted a wide-reaching influence. John Bush of AllMusic argues that they "became the first band in the post-punk movement by ... emphasizing not anger and energy but mood and expression, pointing ahead to the rise of melancholy alternative music in the '80s". According to critic Simon Reynolds, Joy Division's influence has extended from contemporaries such as U2 and The Cure to later acts including Interpol, Bloc Party and Editors. Rap artists such as Danny Brown and Vince Staples have cited the band as an influence.

As a director Ian has co-written and directed the Channel 4 Comedy Lab FM in 2006 which is now in series development with ITV2. With co-writer Oliver Lansley they are writing six episodes which starts shooting in November 2008. Ian directed the 2007 Comedy Lab episode "Blowout", which won best comedy at the Scottish BAFTAs in 2007. Other credits include Sorry, I've Got No Head, a 13 episode 30-minute sketch show for CBBC.

Curtis made his first-class debut for Oxford University against Somerset in 1980. He made 16 further first-class appearances for the university, the last of which came against Cambridge University in 1982. A bowler, Curtis took 33 wickets at an average of 41.90, with best figures of 5/140. These figures, his only five wicket haul for the university, came against Glamorgan in 1982. While studying at Oxford, he made his List A debut for Combined Universities against Northamptonshire in the 1980 Benson & Hedges Cup. He made 6 further List A appearances for the team, the last of which came against Glamorgan in the 1982 Benson & Hedges Cup. In his 7 List A matches for the team, he took just 3 wickets at an average of 60.33, with best figures of 1/18.

After completing his studies he joined Surrey, making his first-class debut for the county against Leicestershire in the 1983 County Championship. He made 13 further first-class appearances for Surrey, the last of which came against Sussex in the 1984 County Championship. In his 14 first-class matches for the county, he took 18 wickets at an average of 40.33, with best figures of 6/28. These figures, his only five wicket haul for Surrey, came against Oxford University in 1983 at The Oval. His first List A appearance for Surrey came against the touring New Zealanders in 1983. He made 5 further List A appearances for Surrey, the last of which came against Leicestershire in the 1983 John Player Special League. In his 6 limited-overs matches, he took just 2 wickets, which came at an expensive average of 60.50. He left Surrey at the end of the 1984 season.

Curtis joined Oxfordshire in 1985, making his debut for the county against Wiltshire in the Minor Counties Championship. He played Minor counties cricket for Oxfordshire from 1985 to 2000, making 119 Minor Counties Championship appearances and 15 MCCA Knockout Trophy appearances. He made his List A debut for Oxfordshire against Worcestershire in the 1986 NatWest Trophy. He made 9 further List A appearances for Oxfordshire, the last of which came against Lancashire in the 2000 NatWest Trophy. In his 10 List A matches for Oxfordshire, he took 5 wickets at an average of 71.20, with best figures of 2/53.