By: E&P Staff Cartoonist Steve McGarry will spotlight seminal post-punk band Joy Division in the Oct. 14 installment of the "Biographic" feature he does for Universal Press Syndicate.
The strip is timed to coincide with the U.S. release of "Control," an award-winning biopic about the life and death of Joy Division lead singer Ian Curtis, who committed suicide in 1980 on the eve of the group's first U.S. tour.
Formed in Manchester, England, in the late 1970s, Joy Division inspired artists such as U2 and Smashing Pumpkins. Following the death of 23-year-old Curtis, the remaining members of the group reemerged as New Order.
McGarry -- the former National Cartoonists Society president based in California since 1989 -- is an ex-musician who began his art career designing record sleeves in his native Manchester. He designed the sleeve for Joy Division's first single.
The cartoonist now serves as manager of Pop Noir, an indie band that features his 19-year-old twin sons.
"Biographic" combines McGarry's drawings with biographies of notable figures in music, film, TV, sports, and other fields. The strip also features daily quizzes and an online component featuring music, flash animation, and interactive elements.
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