courtesy of Kevin CumminsMusic / NewsMusic / NewsAn unearthed photo shows Ian Curtis at a Christmas partyThe Joy Division singer worked at Macclesfield Unemployment Office when the pic was takenShareLink copied ✔️December 27, 2018December 27, 2018TextThom Waite A photo, unearthed in a Macclesfield Facebook group and subsequently shared by radio presenter Geoff Lloyd, shows Ian Curtis of Joy Division partying in a pretty unexpected setting: the staff Christmas party of Macclesfield Unemployment Office in the 1970s. “I'm in a Macclesfield group on Facebook, and someone put up a picture of his dad's work Christmas drinks from the 70s,” Lloyd explains. “He worked at Macclesfield Unemployment Office and Ian Curtis from Joy Division is one of the colleagues.” This is great! I'm in a Macclesfield group on Facebook, and someone put up a picture of his dad's work Christmas drinks from the 70s. He worked at Macclesfield Unemployment Office and Ian Curtis from Joy Division is one of the colleagues. pic.twitter.com/JbPGHsC7f1— Geoff Lloyd (@GeoffLloyd) December 25, 2018 Apparently, Curtis began working there in 1978, where his role was to help those with mental or physical disabilities with finding work. He certainly seems to have got on with the team, who are all huddled together in the picture. Expand your creative community and connect with 15,000 creatives from around the world.READ MOREWhy listening parties are everywhere right nowA night out with Feng, the ‘positive punk’ of UK UgDoppel-gäng gäng gäng: 7 times artists used body doublesWesley Joseph is the Marty Supreme of R&B (only nicer) How Turnstile are reinventing hardcore for the internet ageWill these be the biggest musical moments of 2026?Rising singer Liim is the crooning voice of New York CityFrench producer Malibu is an ambient antidote for the chronically online10 musicians to watch in 202610 great albums you may have missed in the last three monthsZukovstheworld on the UK Ug scene: ‘It’s modern pop music’The only tracks you need to hear from December 2025