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On this day, 3 October 1979, Manchester Punk Rock legends The Buzzcocks were due to play Cardiff’s Sophia Gardens.
Most notable about the event was that, in support were another soon to be iconic Manchester combo, Joy Division.
What would have been the band’s first (and only) visit to Cardiff, the disappointment was palpable for fans who would later come to embrace the work of Ian Curtis and the band that would later morph into New Order.
From the Joy Division website - “The South Wales Echo were still advertising tickets for sale on Thursday 1st November, but in Friday 2nd's edition there was a "CANCELLED" sign stamped across the advert.
Mark Anderson didn't see the paper ... he tells us "I turned up not knowing of the cancellation and was told by box office staff that it was cancelled due to poor ticket sales. I do not know if this is correct but am relating what I was informed at the time".
The cancellation may have been a relief to Joy Division as Ian had suffered a lengthy seizure at the Bournemouth concert the night before and this would have provided a much needed break.”
