Anyway, I'll spare you my travel details getting from Sussex to Manchester, leaving at 5am and arriving after midday. I got to Manchester, walked around and found Exchange Square so I knew where it was later. Afterwards, I spent the afternoon in Macclesfield. I was wondering around trying to find places, should've printed off the 'where to go' guide on Joy Division Central, stupid me. I was lost and asked for directions to Barton St. So I arrived there and started walking down the road, 73, 71, 69, oh, I've walked past it. I turned around and a group of three people near the house [one of them might play for Macclesfield, he had the tracksuit] and they pointed it out. I didn't know what to say or think. I was standing outside the building where some of the best songs ever have been written and where Ian ended his life. It felt very bizarre. I was there only for a few minutes, I didn't want to creep out the people who live at 77, they probably have to put up with a lot of Joy Division nuts coming up every year standing outside their house. On my way to the crematorium, I saw South Park [not the tv program] and wondered if it was the park in Touching From A Distance where Ian is holding Natalie, and it was. I walked around in the park for about ten minutes, it was quite big. I soon headed to the crematorium. I bought flowers en route, I didn't have too much money, so they were only £3 and I also took the free card for messages with it. When I arrived, people were nice enough to give me directions, they knew why I was there wearing my Joy Division shirt. The stone had so many flowers on it already and there was already two people just standing nearby. I sat down by the tree opposite, listened to Atmosphere, Ceremony and In A Lonely Place. I wrote the card to the flowers, I slightly altered the lyrics [one word], so it read "How I wish you were here with us now". Four women approached the grave, I wasn't paying much attention until one of them said "I'm Ian's mother". I was like wow, I can't believe this is happening. There must've been about 6 or 7 others already at the stone by now. Ian's mother introduced the other women she was with - Ian's sister, Ian's aunt and I'm not sure on the fourth one but I think it was his cousin. They talked to everyone. One person asked if it was a problem being there, and Ian's mother said something like 'it's no problem' and were quite glad people are still remembering him. They said it was the second time they had arrived to the crematorium that day and they said it was busy the first time. I was lucky enough to talk to Ian's mum, she asked where most people came from, one couple who was there said Paris. I can't even remember what I said to her now. They left soon after before saying that some of them might be at Transmission, excluding Ian's mum though, but I didn't see them there. After visiting Macclesfield, I went to Transmission. I arrived early [18:30] so I got a good seat and no trees in my view. Some woman went around taking photos for manchesteronline.co.uk/busted, my picture is on the first page. They started with Transmission, She's Lost Control and Shadowplay. I hadn't seen the SLC video fully before because I downloaded a very poor quality of it ages ago. There was an audio interview from Ian Brown who basically said he bought the Warsaw EP and liked No Love Lost. Next was Apollo footage . Wired TV special - could barely here what they were saying. Interviews with Anthony Wilson, Bernard, Hooky and Steve during it too. More live videos from Here Are The Young Men, I spotted two typos that they did during the 'introductions' to the videos - Day Of OUR Lords and They Walked THE Line. There were more audio interviews, one guy from Doves and another from LCD Soundsystem. More videos, Love Will Tear Us Apart promo and Atmosphere to finish it. I remember that during the Sound Of Music video, Hooky and Bernard had swopped instruments and Benard was sitting down playing bass. During I Remember Nothing, Bernard was on some keyboard type thing altering with the sound, I didn't see who was doing the guitaring though, I didn't remember [no pun intended] Ian holding a guitar, Hooky had a bass and they didn't show Bernard until the end. Transmission lasted about 1hr 20 minutes, I thought it would've been longer but it was still worth it.
My 18/5/05 - I met some people who I didn't expect to meet
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Caught up with Hooky and he admitted remembering me from when we were in the same class at school in Salford in 1967. Coincidentally his own son now goes to the school that my son attends although he is 2 years younger.
Biznotic Love Trapezoid wrote: marc, those pics at manchesteronline are numbered...which number are you?
where are the pics?
First page http://www.manchesteronline.co.uk/entertainment/busted/thumbnails.html?busted\_id=2723516&startrow=1&maxrows=9 top middle, wearing glasses.
NObabe wrote: Hey Marc I just voted for you as a best looking bloke :D
I've just been mailing a couple of people offline about this. What would Curtis be thinking - people go to pay their respects and get voted on whether they're the best looking or not?!
Quality! As JG would say. 
Defo the best looking girl - 
- Phwoar!
Buffer Low wrote: Hey Marc, could you see any family resemblance in Ian's Mother and Sister?
I tried to do that, but couldn't see much resemblence. I didn't really see his sister's face that much though.
Radio Nine wrote: Thanks, Marc for a great summation of May 18.
You guys in the UK are so lucky!
You're welcome I thought I'd share the story with the members as it was so bizarre seeing Ian's family. Sure, you'd expect them to visit the memorial stone but not when I was there. :)
