Iconic Joy Division photos turn 40 years old

Today marks the 40th anniversary of the iconic Joy Division bridge photo. On January 6th, 1979 legendary photographer Kevin Cummins, who was working for NME at the time, captured two iconic shots of Joy Division using his last roll of film at the Epping Walk Bridge. Cummins thought the bleak snow covered bridge would make for an interesting but very "un-rock and roll image" -- at that point most rock shots were close ups. After taking the bridge photo, Cummins realized that the NME might not want to use his bridge shot, so he also took a couple up close photos of Ian Curtis smoking that the magazine could use instead. The rest is history - two iconic photos of a incredible and everlasting band.

Read Dave Haslam's interesting piece about the photo shoot here.

It’s 40 years ago today since Joy Division graced the Epping Walk Bridge in Hulme, Manchester.

Photographed by Kevin Cummins. pic.twitter.com/FKATQ6isE2

— Joy Division (@joydivision) January 6, 2019

Tomorrow, 6 January, is the 40th anniversary of my @joydivision photo session in the snow. I've written a piece about it for tomorrow's @ManCity v @OfficialRUFC matchday magazine & how Rotherham United unwittingly played a part in my shooting it pic.twitter.com/izd6FkySNz

— Kevin Cummins (@KCMANC) January 5, 2019

Here's a rarely published alternate 'upright' shot I took of @joydivision on the Epping Walk Bridge in Hulme Jan 79 pic.twitter.com/HNfOJz5RHM

— Kevin Cummins (@KCMANC) March 8, 2016

Here's the Epping Walk Bridge in the snow - without Joy Division standing on it (2010) pic.twitter.com/FjcNbgFvnN

— Kevin Cummins (@KCMANC) June 10, 2013

Kevin Cummins and Natalie Curtis discuss those legendary photos on the 'Joy Division bridge' in Hulme.
Excerpt from Iconic : @KCMANC pic.twitter.com/txGtqXRnTy

— Joy Division/New Order (@JDNOPICS) January 6, 2019

Published January 6th, 2019