Thursday night (4th October) saw the Cornerhouse gala screening of 'Control', Anton Corbijn's highly-anticipated film about the life of Ian Curtis, based on Debbie Curtis's book 'Touching from a Distance'.

The film received a tentative round of applause from the assembled Manchester movers and shakers, and a Q and A session followed, led by John Robb with director Corbijn, scriptwriter Matt Greenhalgh, Peter Hook and members of the cast.

DJs Dave Haslam and Jason Boardman had the tough job of lifting everyone's spirits at the party afterwards - also at Cornerhouse - where invitees were plied with free booze and intriguing canapés, a scene somewhat in contrast to the ascetic melancholy of the screening preceding it.

Opinions of the film seemed varied. Many people commented on the beauty of the black and white photography, whilst some objected to the impenetrably bleak portrayal of Northern life in the seventies, where apparently sometimes life was, in fact, in colour.

Many Joy Division obsessives, who could be heard nit picking at chronology and detail, were nevertheless wowed by Sam Riley's uncannily accurate rendering of Curtis.

The film will divide opinion all over Manchester, but remains a must-see for Joy Division fans, and Manchester music aficionados alike.

Click here to see the Joy Division artefacts that have been uploaded by our users.

Abigail Ward

*dots*

JOY DIVISION RE-ISSUED

(Source: BBC Manchester)

To coincide with the release of Control, the surviving members of Joy Division have announced the re-release of their long-player back catalogue in extended form, which means that the albums will include the recordings of live shows.

The Unknown Pleasures, Still and Closer albums have been re-mastered fro the release and will be available as double CDs or weighty 180gm vinyl. There’s also a re-release for the classic Love Will Tear Us Apart single.

The second CD of each of the albums feature classic Joy Division live performances. Still has a gig at High Wycombe, which includes the band’s soundcheck, while Closer has one from ULU, complete with encore.

The real treat comes with Unknown Pleasures, which features a gig from The Factory in Manchester.

Alongside them, there is also the release of the Control soundtrack, which has been hand-picked by the film’s director, Anton Corbijn. Obviously, music plays an important part of Control’s story, helping the viewer understand Ian Curtis and his music.

As a result, there are tracks from David Bowie and Iggy Pop, both important influences on Ian; songs by the Sex Pistols and Buzzcocks, bands that inspired the formation of Joy Division; tunes by both Joy Division and earlier incarnation Warsaw; and an epic version of the classic Shadowplay by The Killers, which shows just how important Curtis is to modern music.

*dots*

DID YOU SEE JERRY LEE LEWIS IN 1964?

MDMArchive has been contacted by a Belgian music journalist who is currently researching Jerry Lee Lewis. He would like to talk to anybody who attended the filming of Granada's rock 'n' roll TV special 'Whole Lotta Shakin' in 1964, which featured an incendiary performance by Jerry Lee Lewis. 'Whole Lotta Shakin' was produced by Johnny Hamp, who was also responsible for Granada's '64 Blues special, 'The Blues and Gospel Train', filmed in Chorlton.

*dots*

WILSON STREET WEST?

(Source: David Ottewell/MEN)

A street in the heart of Manchester is set to be re-named in honour of music mogul Tony Wilson.

Whitworth Street West - which was home to the legendary Hacienda nightclub - could become Tony Wilson Way, Anthony H Wilson Way or Wilson Street West.

The plans have been drawn up by the city council as a fitting tribute to the man known as `Mr Manchester'.

He died of a heart attack in August aged 57, following a battle with cancer.

Whitworth Street West is the official address of the Hacienda building, the site of the former nightclub that Wilson used to put Manchester music on the map.

The name change would have to be approved by two thirds of the residents of the street.

The idea was put forward by Mr Wilson's son, Oliver, and daughter, Isobel.

The re-naming could happen as early as next spring. A street party would be held to celebrate.

The council is likely to throw the shortlist of names over to residents to help choose a favourite.

Pat Karney, the council's city centre spokesman, said he was confident that the move would go ahead.

"We need two thirds of people to agree but I have gone round all the blocks and I am confident people will want to make history on that street," he said.

In a separate move Peter Saville, the designer behind some of the city's most famous record sleeves, is at the heart of plans to set up a "Wilson Academy", possibly in Urbis. The academy would work with local children on arts and music projects and would involve many of Mr Saville's well-known contacts in the media world.

The M.E.N. disclosed on Wednesday that the council is already due to pass a unanimous motion next week in honour of Mr Wilson.

Councillors will agree to etch his name in the town hall alongside 75 individuals granted honorary freeman of the city status.

Technically that status can only be given to people while they are alive - but the council has decided to take the action to reflect Mr Wilson's importance to the city.

*dots*

PROTEST SONG FOR LEVENSHULME

(Source: Ciara Leeming/MEN)

Singer-songwriter Claire Mooney has composed a protest song about the neglect of her community.

Claire, who has released seven albums since 1989, is a supporter of The Friends of Levenshulme campaign, which was launched following the closure of the neighbourhood's only supermarket and bulldozing of its community centre.

Hundreds of residents have signed a petition and attended meetings calling for a development plan for the area.

They say they are fed up of the poor amenities, of public land being turned over for private development, over-supply of new flats and of empty shop units being taken over by fast-food takeaways.

Claire has lived in Levenshulme for 15 years and attended a Friends demonstration outside Manchester town hall in May.

She then did what she knows best - turned her feelings into music.

The song, which has been called the Levenshulme Blues, has the words:

`On the east side of the city, on the edge of another town

Where the shops are shuttered or flattened to the ground

There's whispers of discontent hanging in the air

From the mild but angry people who live there

From Cringle Fields to Highfield Park

Through the daylight hours and after dark

Will help be coming soon?

Who's looking after Levenshulme?'

The song will be performed at a fundraising evening organised by the Friends of Levenshulme tonight.

Claire said: "We want to use different techniques to get our message across - this is a creative way of saying that this area desperately needs some TLC. I write about issues that concern me and Levenshulme is something that bothers me.

"Many other districts are getting regeneration money and projects, but we don't even have a supermarket or a community centre. It's a shame because Levenshulme's a great place to live. It's got a real heart and soul - but it needs a centre."