19th April 1980: Ajanta Theatre, Derby 
Supported by Section 25 and XL5
These photos from the concert were supplied by Steven Pares and
Gary Wood. They were taken by Charlie Kenny - who owns the copyright. They are reproduced here with his permission.
Steven Pares who lived in the area gives this account of the venue:
| For your interest I might just mention that I've always seen this gig referred to as the Ajanta Theatre, but back
then we all knew it as the Ajanta Cinema. The name is an Indian name because it used to show Indian films, because
Derby had (and has) quite a large Indian and |
Pakistani community.
The cinema itself was just outside the town centre and at that time pretty much stood on its own, as I remember.
That remoteness - and the fact that it was a bit run down and seedy - made it ideal for holding punk gigs. I saw
quite a few |
bands there between1978-80, including ATV, Stiff Little Fingers, The Lurkers, Manicured Noise, The Pop Group, The
Slits, The Mekons.
I'd say Joy Division were the biggest name band that played there (especially as it was so late in their history). |
| This gig was reviewed by George R Ross in 'Bias' - the Nottingham University Students' Union newspaper published
May 7th 1980: |
It was to the Ajanta Cinema in Derby on Saturday night that two of Factory Records' bands, Joy Division and Section
25, came.
The cinema still has most of its tatty seats fixed firmly in their rows, but some at the front have been removed
to allow dancing.
The first on were XL5, a local band, who warmed up the audience with their 1977 thrash-punk style, which only impressed
on the first song and didn't get an encore.
Section 25 were next on stage. They are a three-piece band, utilising some complex electronic equipment, as well
as drums and guitars, to produce some fine songs similar to the Pop Group, The Human League and Scritti Politti
in their jagged, cutting way. Titles like "Cambodia" set the mood for the evening in its apocalyptical
fashion, incorporating jungle drumming and flickering, machine-gun bursts of wailing guitars as a background to
the monotone vocals.
Joy Division came on stage to resounding applause, and kicked off with "Dead Souls". The magnificent,
deep voice of Ian Curtis, deadpan and ultimately spine-chilling, contrasted sharply with his manic dancing during
instrumental interludes. |
The bass guitar quietly set the beat, the drummer varied it, and the lead guitarist viciously attacked it in a
way that seemed the songs would destroy themselves before they finished. The set progressed, and I mean progressed,
and peaked with their rendition of "Transmission", their bitter attack upon the stagnation of live radio,
in which Curtis repeatedly urges the listener to "Dance, dance, dance, dance, dance to the radio"; and
"She's Lost Control", a track from their album "Unknown Pleasures".
They came back for two encores, but it wasn't enough. There were so many songs, like "24 Hours", or the
future single, "Love will tear us apart" (a masterpiece indeed), which they didn't play, that the audience
was left unsatisfied, still tense and expectant.
Perhaps this is what the group wanted to achieve, a desire to see the band again. I certainly will return to see
them for a fourth time, when they come round this area again, and I strongly recommend you to do the same.
Joy Division are a reminder that we are now in the eighties, and they are setting the pace for them.
(C) George R Ross and reproduced here with his permission |
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| In 2004 George has the following recollections to add to the above: The main thing that I remember about
the JD gig, aside from the fact that I had been desparate to see them, was Ian Cutis' dancing on stage. On the
previous occasions I had seen the band he had been fairly lively and eye-catching, but this time he was almost
maniacal (as mentioned in the review). I had previously spent some time working with autistic and mentally-handicapped
children and I could not help but (subconciously perhaps) liken his movements to some of them. I know that some
of the audience, less used to the band perhaps, were amused and maybe even a little embarrassed. From what I remember
the main spotlight (white) was on him leaving the rest of the band in almost total darkness. |
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