THE true story of one of the most mythologised rock bands of the last 30 years is coming to Malvern Cinema next week.

Joy Division only played a few dozen gigs but also recorded two albums in its short lifespan before singer Ian Curtis, under tremedous personal and medical pressure, committed suicide.

Control (15), directed by noted rock photographer Anton Corbijn, tells the story of the young Manch-ester band whose music, despite their brief existence, has had a tremendous impact on succeeding artists.

The film has been widely acclaimed by critics, with high praise going to Sam Riley, who plays Ian Curtis, and Samantha Morton, playing his wife Deborah, on whose memoir Touching From A Distance the film is based.

Its screening at Malvern Cinema is appropriate, since one of Joy Division's last gigs took place at what was then Malvern Winter Gardens, of which the cinema is a part.

The concert took place on April 5, 1980, and was one of the last handful of performances before Curtis committed suicide the following month on the eve of a projected American tour.

Control is showing at Malvern Cinema for a week from Friday, Novem-ber 9 daily at 7.45pm with 4.30pm matinees on Satur-day, Sunday and Thursday.