Joy Division has been one of my favorite bands since I first heard them in the early 80s.
They had a short run, because their singer, Ian Curtis, hung himself on this day in 1980.
Like many great bands' singers, he was the one struggling with emotion, ideals and health issues. Ian had Grand Mal epilepsy, which forced him to perform under strained conditions, with no lights and limited sets.
Despite their short-lived career as a band, Joy Division were hugely influential on many who would follow. After Ian's death, they became New Order, managing to do what most bands could never do: survive the death of their lead singer.
I wasn't as big a fan of New Order, but they also went on to become a huge force in the 80s and 90s, and still put out innovative music to this day. Still, they are very different from Joy Division, with only the bass guitar of Peter Hook (who left the group over a decade ago) as their remaining common sound.
You'll probably see a fair amount of dedication to Ian today, as it is the anniversary of his death. And he is fondly remembered by many.