The lead singer and lyricist of Joy Division, who committed suicide in 1980, was born on this day in 1956, in Manchester, England. Posthumously, Ian Curtis’ dark lyrics, intense stage presence and utilitarian personal style—characterized by two-pocket shirts and an ever-present trench coat with upturned collar—have influenced numerous designers, most notably Raf Simons. Suffering from depression his entire life, Curtis hanged himself after watching Stroszek, Werner Herzog’s 1977 absurdist masterpiece that ends with a suicide. He would have been 56.