Ian Curtis

Rapper Aitch has apologised after a decision was made to cover over an iconic mural of Joy Divison's Ian Curtis with his new album artwork.

[Darius Campbell Danesh was at the top of the charts with Colourblind exactly 20 years ago](https://metro.co.uk/2022/08/17/darius-campbell-danesh-was-number-1-with-colourblind-20-years-ago-17196635/?ico=more_text_links) [at the age of 23](https://metro.co.uk/2020/05/18/how-old-was-ian-curtis-when-died-what-are-joy-divisions-best-known-songs-12719783/). [to Facebook ](https://www.facebook.com/akse.p19crew)to voice his disappointment over the painting being covered due to its origins. The social media user then added: ‘(no disrespect to @OfficialAitch) but that mural is iconic and it’s so sad that such a lovely pic of a manchester icon is gone. [Rapper Aitch](https://metro.co.uk/2021/08/18/rapper-aitch-shows-off-parkour-skills-as-new-face-of-relentless-energy-15088280/) has apologised after it was pointed out to him that an advert for his debut album was being painted over an iconic mural of [Joy Division](https://metro.co.uk/tag/joy-division/)’s Ian Curtis. [Manchester](https://metro.co.uk/tag/manchester/?ico=auto_link_entertainment_P3_LNK1), it appears someone on the marketing team made a questionable choice.

The rapper says he did not know the mural would be painted over with his album art and that he would never "disrespect a local hero like Ian".

He must be fully restored and left in his place for time in memoriam. “Ian is a true icon of our city. No way on earth would I want to disrespect a local hero like Ian."

The Manchester rapper has apologised for the event, which saw the late Joy Division icon's likeness being painted over in the city.

He don’t need me on his album anyway, but I do appreciate the fact that he thinks I’m cool, I guess. No way on earth would I want to disrespect a local hero like Ian.— Aitch (@OfficialAitch) No way on earth would I want to disrespect a local hero like Ian. It isn’t important what has replaced it but simply that it has been replaced. This should have been a tribute to a legend for as long as that building remained. [@akse_P19](https://twitter.com/Akse_P19?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) Ian Curtis mural in Manchester has been painted over.

The wall painting on Port Street, in Curtis' home city of Manchester's Northern Quarter, was unveiled in 2020 by highly-acclaimed street artist Akse P19.

He said: “So my mural of Ian Curtis based on the original photograph by Philippe Carly has been painted over to promote the release of a new album. In May, former members of Joy Division gathered for a mental health panel in the Houses of Parliament to mark 42 years to the day since Curtis’s death. The 22-year-old tweeted: “It’s come to light that the iconic Ian Curtis mural on Port Street has been painted over with my album artwork. The artist who created a mural in the borough of punk pioneer Pete Shelley has spoken out after his artwork of Joy Division frontman Ian Curtis was painted over for a new album release. [artwork of Buzzcock’s frontman Pete Shelley in Leigh](https://www.wigantoday.net/news/people/mural-celebrating-punk-pioneer-pete-shelley-unveiled-in-wigan-borough-3766193), posted on social media to express his disappointment at the move. It was revealed on Tuesday that the piece had been covered over with the visuals for rapper Aitch’s new album Close To Home, which is due out on Friday.

apper Aitch has said he is trying to fix the situation “pronto” after a mural of late Joy Division frontman Ian Curtis was painted over with an advert for ...

He must be fully restored and left in his place for time in memoriam. “Ian is a true icon of our city. [Aitch](/topic/aitch) has said he is trying to fix the situation “pronto” after a mural of late [Joy Division](/topic/joy-division) frontman Ian Curtis was painted over with an advert for his forthcoming debut album.

Rapper Aitch has said he is trying to fix the situation “pronto” after a mural of late Joy Division frontman Ian Curtis was painted over with an advert for his forthcoming debut album. The wall painting on Port Street in his home city of Manchester's ...

“Ian is a true icon of our city. He must be fully restored and left in his place for time in memoriam. Late on Tuesday, Aitch shared a photo on Twitter of the image being covered over with the visuals for Close To Home, which is due out on Friday.

Rapper Aitch has said he is trying to fix the situation “pronto” after a mural of late Joy Division frontman Ian Curtis was painted over with an advert for ...

“Ian is a true icon of our city. He must be fully restored and left in his place for time in memoriam. Late on Tuesday, Aitch shared a photo on Twitter of the image being covered over with the visuals for Close To Home, which is due out on Friday.

Fans of an 'iconic' mural of the Joy Division frontman Ian Curtis have been left outraged after it was painted over with an advert for Aitch's new album in ...

Thanks to everyone for showing what Ian means to us,' he tweeted. He must be fully restored and left in his place for time in memoriam. Aitch took to social media to reassure fans he was 'getting this fixed pronto' after hearing that a mural of Joy Division's Ian Curtis had been painted over with his album artwork The wall where the mural of Ian Curtis once stood on Port Street in Manchester is now empty after it was repainted with an advert for Aitch's artwork The original mural of Ian Curtis (pictured left) was painted over with an advert for Aitch's upcoming album (right) on Tuesday, prompting an outpouring of anger Fans of an 'iconic' mural of the Joy Division frontman Ian Curtis have been left outraged after it was painted over with an advert for Aitch's new album.

The painting of the late Joy Division singer was unveiled in Manchester in 2020.

Following his death, the band continued under the new name of New Order, eschewing their dark post-punk sound in favour of synths and electronic beats, and becoming a powerful commercial force. “He must be fully restored and left in his place for time in memoriam. The 22-year-old tweeted: “It’s come to light that the iconic Ian Curtis mural on Port Street has been painted over with my album artwork. The wall painting on Port Street in his home city of Manchester’s Northern Quarter was unveiled in 2020 by street artist Akse P19. Responding with a thumbs up emoji, he wrote: “Thank you @OfficialAitch great gesture.” [Aitch](https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/whats-on/music/) has apologised after a mural of late [Joy Division](https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/whats-on/music-nightlife-news/joy-division-peter-hook-liverpool-9280444) frontman Ian Curtis was painted over with an advert for his forthcoming debut album, saying he will fix the situation “pronto.”

British rapper Aitch has apologized for an advertisement for his new album that painted over a mural of Joy Division's Ian Curtis.

“It’s come to light that the iconic Ian Curtis mural on Port Street has been painted over with my album artwork,” Aitch tweeted. “Wall owners permission needs to be obtained before original mural can be reinstated.” No way on earth would I want to disrespect a local hero like Ian.” He added that he wasn’t aware the ad would be placed over Curtis’ portrait, and said the situation is being remedied “as we speak.”

Aitch has promised to fix an advertisement for his new album that was painted over a Manchester mural of Joy Division frontman Ian Curtis.

Akse P19 responded to the mural being painted over on Instagram. 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.— Aitch (@OfficialAitch) Getting it fixed as we speak.” “This is the first time I’ve heard of this, me and my team are getting this fixed pronto. [rapper](http://www.rollingstone.co.uk/tag/aitch), whose [debut album is out Friday (19 August)](https://www.rollingstone.co.uk/music/news/aitch-announces-debut-album-close-to-home-new-single-1989-17192/), posted on Twitter yesterday that he’d become aware of the advertisement being painted over the iconic mural in Manchester’s Northern Quarter on Port Street.

A mural of Joy Division's Ian Curtis was painted over with an advert for Manchester rapper MC Aitch.

"That mural did stand for a lot. Hook, who was present at the painting of the Curtis mural, said it had meant a lot to Joy Division fans 40 years after the singer took his own life at his home in 1980, shortly before the Salford band were due to go on tour in the US. A row that followed the painting over of a mural of Joy Division singer Ian Curtis should be an incentive to create a statue of him, his ex-bandmate says.

A mural of Joy Division's Ian Curtis was painted over with an advert for Manchester rapper MC Aitch.

"That mural did stand for a lot. Hook, who was present at the painting of the Curtis mural, said it had meant a lot to Joy Division fans 40 years after the singer took his own life at his home in 1980, shortly before the Salford band were due to go on tour in the US. A row that followed the painting over of a mural of Joy Division singer Ian Curtis should be an incentive to create a statue of him, his ex-bandmate says.