Joy Division's 'Unknown Pleasures' Ranked 31st Best Punk Album, Reflecting Ian Curtis's Tragic Story

If there were an award for the album cover that's been on the most T-shirts and hoodies, it would without a doubt go to Joy Division's 1979 masterpiece, Unknown Pleasures. Now, the album has received another honor: It was ranked No. 31 on Rolling Stone's list of 100 greatest punk albums of all time.

Despite the album's critical acclaim and lasting legacy, it foreshadowed one of rock's greatest tragedies. Just months after releasing a record famous for its brooding lyrics and melancholy melodies, Joy Division's frontman, Ian Curtis, took his own life in May 1980 at just 23 years old.

Curtis suffered from epilepsy, a condition that caused him to have sporadic seizures. His epilepsy was particularly severe, at times even causing him to have seizures onstage mid-performance. In one live performance of "She's Lost Control," Curtis began seizing towards the end of the song and cleverly turned his frantic motion into a dance. Those in the dark about his condition would have never guessed he was having a seizure.

Ironically, the song "She's Lost Control" is not very subtly about his frequent seizures. "And she screamed out kicking on her side / And said I've lost control again," Curtis sings. "And seized up on the floor, I thought she'd die / She said I've lost control."

Unfortunately, Curtis' epilepsy worsened in the last few years of his life. His friends and family would frequently find him on the floor with cuts and bruises, according to Elsevier. As his condition worsened, Curtis became increasingly checked out.

"With the epilepsy, he just knew he couldn't carry on with the performances," his friend Lindsay Reade told Uncut. He'd sort of hit a pinnacle with [Joy Division's second album] Closer, and he knew he couldn't go on."

After Curtis' death, Joy Division's surviving members Bernard Sumner, Stephen Morris, Peter Hook, and Gillian Gilbert became New Order, and continued pioneering new wave music.

If you or someone you know is contemplating suicide or struggling with suicidal thoughts, help is available 24 hours a day through the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988.

This story was originally published by Men's Journal on May 23, 2026, where it first appeared in the Entertainment section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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This story was originally published May 23, 2026 at 12:30 PM.