ROCK mythology has a habit of turning complex lives into simple narratives. The tragedy of Ian Curtis’s death has long overshadowed Joy Division’s astonishing achievements as a band, often reducing a remarkable story of artistic growth to a tale of loss. Overlooked, too, is the reality of Joy Division as a working band: ambitious, funny, flawed and increasingly transformative whenever they stepped onstage. Behind the legend, then, lies the true story of Joy Division – one involving Vimto, goat curries, pranking William Burroughs, the unexpected theft of their sandwiches by none other than an ’80s pop superstar and the overwhelming power of their live shows. You can read all about the real Joy Division in this month’s revelatory cover story.
There are more fresh takes, don’t worry. For decades, Eric Bennett has maintained a discreet silence about his years as Jimi Hendrix’s trusted confidant and roadie, but is now finally sharing his extraordinary memories of life inside the inner circle, from Woodstock to the Isle of Wight. Is it the last great Hendrix insider story waiting to be told? It just might be. There’s also a fine survey of Van Morrison’s overlooked ’80s. I’m surely not alone in stumbling across a copy of No Guru, No Method, No Teacher in a local Oxfam and discovering an unexpectedly rich and profound seam of music long after becoming acquainted with his peerless run of ’70s albums. There’s also The Cramps, Elliott Smith, Margo Cilker, Steve Hillage, Dave Stewart, Syd Barrett, Sugar and much more – as well as a terrific, 15-track CD of post-punk/new wave greats to see you through the rest of the summer.
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