On This Day 03/11/1979 Joy Division - The gig that never was !

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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.”

On This Day - 18th May 1980: The 40th Anniversary of the death of Ian Curtis.

18th May 1980 is the 40th Anniversary of the death of Ian Curtis.  

Curtis was the lead singer and lyricist of the post-punk band Joy Division and recorded two albums with the group: Unknown Pleasures and Closer.

The band unfortunately never played Cardiff despite two recorded attempts detailed below and South Wales fans never got to see Curtis and his iconic band.

17th November 1978: Cardiff University CANCELLED

Joy Division were meant to support The Rezillos and the Undertones on this date of their joint Tour.

However after the Rezillos had a bust up at the gig at the Odeon Theatre, Canterbury 14th Nov 1978 they cancelled nearly all of the rest of the to - including all the dates Joy Division were to have played.

3rd November 1979: Sophia Gardens, Cardiff (cancelled)

.This concert was cancelled. 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".

It is more likely that the concert was cancelled because Ian had suffered a lengthy seizure at the Bournemouth  concert the night before.

Books that call the venue "Sofia" are incorrect.