Joy Division slam sale of Ian Curtis kitchen table
Rockers JOY DIVISION have criticised the "distasteful" sale of a table from the kitchen where the band's tragic singer IAN CURTIS hanged himself in 1980.
The wooden table is going under the hammer on eBay.com, but the sale has attracted criticism due to the item's macabre history as it came from the room where Curtis committed suicide at a house in Macclesfield.
The star's former bandmates Bernard Sumner and Stephen Morris have now released a statement slamming the auction on behalf of Curtis' widow, Deborah, and his daughter, Natalie.
The band tells NME, "Joy Division original members Bernard Sumner and Stephen Morris would like to lend their voice of support to Deborah and Natalie Curtis, who have been caused great distress over media reporting of the sale of the table originally owned by the family, and currently being auctioned on eBay.
"Deborah and Natalie would like to point out that the sale of this table has nothing whatsoever to do with them. The table was sold along with the house in 1980 and Natalie has never signed any authentication document. Furthermore, they consider the sale of a personal family item, and the subsequent media reporting, to be distasteful and upsetting."
The man selling the table, Tel Harrop, has apologised for causing distress to Curtis' family, but insists he can't change the table's history.
He says, "I can't turn the table on the table story. I'm upset the way it's gone but I didn't put it on for the money, I just did it for good intentions. I want the sale to end now because it's all got out of hand."
The lot had attracted a bid of £8,100 as WENN went to press.
