Because of the death of Ian Curtis and the nature of the band's last recordings, Joy Division's Closer is an album around which a stillness has settled. In truth, says Jonathan Wright as he talks to Peter Hook and Paul Morley, no band evolved so rapidly. All Joy Division portraits courtesy of Kevin Cummins
In an exclusive extract from the new book, FAC 461 Factory Records: The Complete Graphic Album, label co-founder Tony Wilson reflects on what made the look of Factory Records so outstanding and how the Happy Mondays managed to offend Genesis P. Orridge
Our favourite album tracks, deep cuts, rarities and b-sides as chosen by Alfred Soto, David Bennun, Julian Marszalek, Jude Rogers, John Doran, Yousif Nur, Aug Stone, Joe Kennedy, Andy Thomas, Ian Wade, Colm McAuliffe, Geoff Cowart, Ed Power, John Mullen, David McKenna, Pavel Godfrey and Adrian Lobb
As senior columnists and musicians complain that younger generations are no longer both musically and politically engaged, David Stubbs argues that rock and pop have never been the defiantly countercultural revolutionary corps that many claim
As legendary NME snapper Kevin Cummins exhibits photographs of his Mancunian muse in Yorkshire, we present a gallery of his photographs and hear the curious story of Ian Curtis' pink suit. Interviews by John Tatlock
Pop is all over Rainbow Milk, the Gordon Burn Prize-nominated debut novel by Paul Mendez. Here he tells Paul Flynn how a love of Marvin Gaye, Beyonce, Solange, Joy Division and Missy Elliott gave him a clearer understanding of his sexuality and racial identity
Radio DJ hero and now musician Mark Radcliffe tells Jude Rogers tales of being seduced by David Bowie and the gift of a cheese pie from Kate Bush in this week's Baker's Dozen, also featuring the likes of Bob Marley, Joy Division and Stevie Wonder