Outrage as iconic Ian Curtis mural painted over in Manchester
Rapper Aitch has addressed the controversy
Last updated 17th Aug 2022
An iconic mural of late Joy Division frontman Ian Curtis in Manchester was painted over yesterday (16th August) with album artwork for the rapper Aitch.
The Ian Curtis painting on the side of a central Manchester building was created by world-renowned street artist Akse P19 in October 2020 to mark World Mental Health Day.
The mural, based on a seminal photo of Ian Curtis taken by Philippe Carly, swiftly became a fan-favourite landmark.
However, yesterday (16th August) the mural was controversially destroyed and painted over with artwork for Manchester rapper Aitch’s debut album ‘Close to Home.’
Many Twitter users shared photos of the artwork being painted over, with one writing: “Just to let everyone in #manchester know something criminal is happening in NQ and the beautiful ian curtis mural is being painted over by an ad for an @OfficialAitch album.”
Artist AkseP19 also shared an image of his painting being destroyed and wrote: “I don’t have anything against hand-painted advertising as this is how I make a living, but this mural was painted in collaboration with @headstockuk and supported by @manchestercitycouncil and @sweetnothingmcr to raise awareness for Mental Health and support @giveusashoutinsta a free text messaging services to help people with mental health issues.”
He added: “It had become a cultural landmark and meant so much to people from Manchester and beyond; it doesn’t take much common sense to understand that this mural should have remained for what it represented and stood for.”
Ian Curtis’s Joy Division band mate Peter Hook also commented on the controversial removal of the mural, calling it “very sad.”
Last night, 22-year-old Aitch – real name Harrison James Armstrong - took to Twitter to address the furore around the Ian Curtis mural being replaced by his album artwork.
He tweeted: “It’s come to light that the iconic Ian Curtis mural on Port Street has been painted over with my album artwork. This is the first time I’ve heard of this, me and my team are getting this fixed pronto. No way on earth would I want to disrespect a local hero like Ian.”
Peter Hook responded: “Thank you @OfficialAitch great gesture.”
The Aitch album artwork was removed this morning (17th August) and fans are hoping a new Ian Curtis mural will be painted in the same spot.
Music icons honoured with murals:
Malcolm Young
Created by anonymous Australian artist Lushsux, this sublime mural of Malcolm Young is located on AC/DC Lane in Melbourne. It was unveiled shortly after the fabled guitarist's death in November 2017.
Malcolm Young
Lushsux's second Malcolm Young mural on AC/DC Lane in Melbourne featuring angel wings and devil horns. The quote reads: "C'mon Saint Peter. How many bloody times are you gonna make me play Hell's Bells before you let me through the gates mate?"
Eddie Van Halen
Created by Los Angeles artist Robert Vargas, the gargantuan Long Live The King mural of Eddie Van Halen measures more than five metres high and 32 metres wide and is located on the outside wall of the world-famous Guitar Centre store in Hollywood, California. It was unveiled on 26th January 2021 to mark what would have been Van Halen's 66th birthday.
Bob Dylan
Created by Brazilian artist Eduardo Kobra, this astonishing Bob Dylan mural called The Times They Are A-Changin was unveiled in September 2015. Depicting three photo-realistic images of Bob Dylan from different eras, the mural features kaleidoscopic colours and patterns throughout.
Joey Ramone
Painted by artists Solus and John CRASH Matos, this Joey Ramone mural on Bleecker at the Bowery in New York City was unveiled in September 2015. Featuring Joey Ramone sporting boxing gloves, the mural was created to mark the 40th anniversary of The Ramones' first gig at legendary venue CBGB. The mural was painted over in August 2017.
Debbie Harry and Blondie
In August 2017, the Joey Ramone mural in New York was painted over by esteemed graffiti mastermind Shepard Fairey who created this impressive Debbie Harry and Blondie mural in homage to the legendary now-closed CBGB club.
Black Sabbath
Celebrating the 50th anniversary of the heavy metal pioneers, a new Black Sabbath mural was unveiled in Digbeth, Birmingham in September 2019 as part of High Vis Street Culture Festival by artist N4T4.
Lou Reed
This astonishingly life-like mosaic mural of Lou Reed was created by late photorealist artist Chuck Close in 2017. It's located at the Second Avenue Subway in Brooklyn, New York.
Ringo Starr
Painted by Liverpool artist John Culshaw, this spectacular Ringo Starr mural adorns the facade wall of The Empress Pub in Toxteth. Unveiled in March 2022, the mural is located near to Starr's humble childhood home.
David Bowie
Painted by Australian street artist Jimmy Cochra in 2013, the David Bowie 'Aladdin Sane' mural in Brixton became a focal point for mourners upon his death in January 2016.
Joe Strummer
Once located on the corner of Blenheim Crescent and Portobello road in Notting Hill, London, this Joe Strummer mural was unveiled in 2015 but was sadly demolished three years later when the adjacent shop was refurbished.
Prince
Manchester street artist Akse P19 created this Prince mural in the Northern Quarter in 2016 just a few weeks after the music legend's death.
Leonard Cohen
On the 1st anniversary of Leonard Cohen's death in November 2017 a vast 1,000 square metres mural of the singer was unveiled in downtown Montreal. Led by local artist Gene Pendon and internationally renowned American street portrait artist El Mac, Tower of Songs took 2 muralists, 13 assistant artists, 240 cans of paint and thousands of hours of work to replicate a photograph taken by his daughter, Lorca Cohen.
Muddy Waters
Eduardo Kobra's 'Muddy Waters Tribute' mural in downtown Chicago, Illinois. Kobra also created the astonishing Bob Dylan mural called The Times They Are A-Changin.
Keith Flint
Artist Akse P19 created this mural of late Prodigy icon Keith Flint in Hackney, London ahead of World Suicide Prevention Day 2021. The artwork was made to raise awareness of mental health text support service Shout85258
Mick Ronson
Late-great David Bowie guitarist Mick Ronson was immortalised as this mural on Greenwich Avenue in his hometown of Hull in 2019. Before fame, Ronson worked as a gardener for Hull City Council.
27 Club mural
Eduardo Kobra's 27 Club mural in New York features five musicians who died aged 27 –Janis Joplin, Kurt Cobain, Jim Morrison, Jimi Hendrix and Amy Winehouse.
Jimi Hendrix
Such is his enduring legendary status, there are many Jimi Hendrix murals around the world. However, we particularly like this psychedelic one by German street artist Won ABC that was created in Leicester in May 2022 for the Bring the Paint event.
Lemmy
The Lemmy mural at his favourite drinking haunt, The Rainbow Bar & Grill in Los Angeles.
Prince
A small yet brilliant mural of Prince on Graham Road in London in April 2016.
Massive Wagons
A massive Massive Wagons 'Full Nelson' mural was unveiled in their native city of Lancaster in July 2018 to celebrate the release of their new studio album. The three-storey painting of the album cover adorned the side of The Pub in Lancaster where the band played many of their early shows. The band tweeted: 'Humbling beyond belief to have this monster mural of the Full Nelson album cover on the walls of our great city of Lancaster!'
Lemmy
A piece of graffiti in London by artist Paul Don Smith of Motörhead legend Lemmy. It appeared in 2016 a few months after Lemmy's untimely death.
The Rolling Stones
This mural of The Rolling Stones by Subset Dublin appeared above JJ Smyth's pub in Dublin's city centre, just a couple of days before the group's concert at Croke Park in May 2018.
Ian Curtis
Based on a seminal photo of Ian Curtis taken by Philippe Carly, this painting on the side of a central Manchester building was created by world-renowned street artist Akse P19 in October 2020 to mark World Mental Health Day. It was controversially painted over in August 2022 with artwork for the Manchester rapper Aitch.