Entertainment
Aitch reveals he was ‘fuming’ after Joy Division’s Ian Curtis mural was replaced with his album poster-Robert Oliver-Entertainment – Metro
The rapper insists he is working to resolve the issue.
Aitch has addressed the incident in Manchester’s NQ (Pictures: MEN Media/Jo Hale/Redferns/@vikc23)
Aitch has admitted that he was ‘fuming’ after a mural of Joy Division singer Ian Curtis was painted over to advertise the Manchester rapper’s latest album.
Last week, an advert for Aitch’s recent album was painted over the mural, which has become a signature feature of Manchester’s Northern Quarter.
The incident drew intense criticism from local residents and social media users, who claimed that it was disrespectful to a local legend.
But ever since then, Aitch has insisted that he had nothing to do with the decision to paint over the late pioneering frontman, who died in 1980.
And now he has revealed that he is ‘fuming’ after receiving significant backlash for something he claims he had no involvement in.
‘I was fuming for Ian, and his people and what that mural stands for, and then I was fuming for myself, because I was having such a good week,’ he explained.
The mural of Ian Curtis in Manchester’s NQ (Picture: Google Street View SWNS)
Speaking to the BBC, he said: ‘I was like, “the album is coming out in a couple of days, I can’t wait… and then next minute, I was the most hated person in Manchester for about 40 minutes”.
‘But it was out of my control and there was nothing I could do, apart from put a stop to it and get it fixed.’
He hoped that resolving the issue would calm things down: ‘Obviously [I’ve tried to fix the issue], so I think everyone is my friend again now.’
Ian Curtis and Bernard Sumner of Joy Division (Picture: Rob Verhorst/Redferns)
Aitch, whose single Baby (with Ashanti) reached number two in the UK Singles Chart earlier this year, tried to rectify the issue as soon as he was aware of it.
In a statement posted to Twitter, Aitch said: ‘It’s come to light that the iconic Ian Curtis mural on Port Street has been painted over with my album artwork.
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‘This is the first time I’ve heard of this, me and my team are getting this fixed pronto. No way on earth would I want to disrespect a local hero like Ian.’
The mural was designed by artist Akse P19, who is said to be working with Manchester Council to have the mural reinstated.
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