 | | Joy Division (copyright: Martin O'Neill) |
O’Neill was a junior photographer on a local paper when he went to see Joy Division play to an audience of 10-to-16 year-olds. His editor wasn’t interested in the photos so they remained unseen and unpublished for over 20 years. He’s finally exhibiting them at Hale Library (as it’s the closest public space to the original site of the youth club). We caught up with him to ask him about his memories. How did you come to be at the gig? | "Bob Jefferson, who was promoting the gigs, had bought them out of their contract, so they could join Factory. They played the gig as a thank you!" | | Martin O'Neill on how Joy Division came to play Bowdon Vale Youth Club |
"I was at the gig because it was one of a series that was held at Bowdon Vale Youth Club. I'd previously photographed The Freshies and The Fast Cars at the club. I tried to get these pictures in the local newspaper… but to no avail!" Were you a fan of Joy Division? "I wouldn't say I was a fan of Joy Division at that stage, although I'd heard of them and knew they were important, which is why I shot so much film at their gig as opposed to the other gigs." Why were the band playing there?
 | | Martin O'Neill in 1979 |
"The reason they were bizarrely playing a youth club was because Bob Jefferson, who was promoting the gigs, had bought them out of their first contract, so they could join Factory. He owned Streets Ahead records in Altrincham. They played the gig as a thank you!" It must have been a strange show, Joy Division playing to ten year olds, what was it like? "I don't have many memories of the actual gig, though it's weird looking at all the young faces. Listening to the bootleg of the gig, it all sounds very exciting, and I do remember being quite shocked when Ian Curtis started dancing!" Why are you holding the exhibition now?
 | | Joy Division (copyright: Martin O'Neill) |
"The reason I'm holding the exhibition is to mark the 25th anniversary of the death of lead singer Ian Curtis." You're hoping to track down some of the people who were in the audience. Why? "I wanted to track down other audience members just to build up more of an idea of the gig. One guy, for example, remembers storming the stage at the end and coming away with a drumstick, while another girl remembers fainting with excitement and having to be carried away!" | 
