FORTY years ago this week, Bury witnessed an infamous gig by a band who have gone on to be one of the most influential and acclaimed British groups of all time.

Formed in 1976, after Salford schoolfriends Bernard Sumner and Peter Hook had seen a Sex Pistols concert at Manchester Free Trade Hall, Joy Division became one of the pioneers of the post-punk movement, signing to Anthony Wilson’s Factory Records and releasing two classic albums in 1979’s Unknown Pleasures and 1980’s Closer.

Much of the band’s startling appeal was based around frontman Ian Curtis’ voice, dance style and songwriting, which was typically filled with imagery of desolation, emptiness, and alienation.

By the time Joy Division arrived in Bury for a show at the town’s Derby Hall (now better known as The Met), there were serious concerns about Curtis’ health. He had begun suffering epileptic seizures in late 1978, and throughout 1979 and 1980, Curtis’s condition gradually worsened amid the pressure of performances and touring.

On April 6, 1980, Curtis attempted suicide and was hospitalised, after which he went to Wilson’s cottage in Charlesworth to recuperate. It had been decided the singer would not perform at the Bury gig and arrangements were made for Alan Hempsall, frontman of fellow Factory Records band Crispy Ambulance, to stand in.

Two days later, around 400 people had filled a space only meant to hold 200 and rumours were that Curtis was too ill to perform. It made for a tense atmosphere which got worse when Hempsall appeared on stage in place of Curtis.

Incredibly, given his health, Joy Division’s manager Rob Gretton had persuaded Curtis to come to the gig and eventually he stepped onstage to perform Decades and The Eternal. Witnesses say that at this point a few pint glasses were thrown as the gig descended into mayhem.

“Right up to an hour before the gig, we were not sure if it would go ahead, as news had filtered through during the day that Ian had been in hospital again. We thought it might get cancelled, but kept our fingers crossed,” promoter Peter Godkin told fan site Joy Division Central.

“In addition we were only supposed to have 400 people in the hall, yet the final count put the number at nearly 600, as a lot of people somehow got in by the emergency exit, despite our best efforts.”

Following the violence at the end of the gig the police were called and a number of statements were taken, with Wilson heard to say: “They certainly don’t know how to enjoy themselves up here in Bury”.

“As a result we were closed down for a month by the Derby Halls Trustees, and after that ended up with a number of restrictions. It never really was the same again after that night”.

Tragically, just over a month after the Bury gig, Curtis would commit suicide at his house in Macclesfield. He was just 23 and was due to fly to America the following day for Joy Division’s first US tour.

The Met is asking people who were at the Joy Division gig to send their memories - go to themet.org.uk for more information.