A mural of former Joy Division frontman Ian Curtis on Port Street, Manchester, has been covered up with an advert for neighborhood rapper Aitch, inciting such a clamor that the rapper has promised to restore the original painting.
Aitch, a MC from Moston in north Manchester, said he had zero command over which boards were utilized to promote his new collection and couldn’t have ever endorsed such a demonstration of “disregard” against a “local hero”.
“It’s become visible that the notorious Ian Curtis wall painting on Port Street has been covered up with my collection craftsmanship. This is whenever I’ve first known about this, me and my group are sorting this out immediately. No chance would I need to disregard a nearby legend like Ian,” he tweeted. “I don’t simply pick areas for billboards,” he added.
Aitch’s reaction was invited by Peter Hook, Joy Division’s bassist, who had answered with consternation to the wall painting being covered up as “extremely miserable to see”.
“Much thanks to you @OfficialAitch great gesture,” he tweeted.
Andy Burnham, the city chairman of Greater Manchester, likewise complimented Aitch for fixing the mistake.
“It ought to never have worked out and he shouldn’t have been set here. Ian is a genuine symbol of our city. He should be completely reestablished and left in his place for time in memoriam. On account of everybody for showing how Ian affects us,” tweeted Burnham.
The monochrome painting by spray painting craftsman Akse P19 was made in October 2020 to honor World Mental Health Day. It portrays Curtis acting in Brussels in 1979, a year prior to he committed suicide.