Joy Division

Profile:
British punk/post-punk/new wave band formed in 1976 in Salford, Greater Manchester. They were incorrectly named Stiff Kittens (2) on the flyer for their first gig alongside Buzzcocks and Penetration but announced themselves as Warsaw (3) at the start of their first performance. Throughout 1977 they continued under this name up to the recording of the first EP but changed their name to Joy Division at the start of 1978, before releasing their first 7" EP "An Ideal For Living". Shortly after the suicide of Ian Curtis on May 18, 1980 – following troubles with grand mal seizures (a form of epilepsy), depression, and other contributing personal factors happening in his life – the band was renamed New Order, following a pact between all four members made long before Curtis's death that should any member leave, the remaining members would change the name of the group.
Ian Curtis (vocal, occasional guitar), Bernard Sumner (guitar, keyboards), Peter "Hooky" Hook (bass guitar, backing vocals), and Stephen Morris (drums, percussion).
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Artist

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Albums

FACT 10 Unknown Pleasures — Joy Division Joy Division Unknown Pleasures (Album) Factory FACT 10 UK 1979 Sell This Version
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FACT XXV MC Closer — Joy Division Joy Division Closer (Album) Factory, Factory FACT XXV MC Italy 1980 Sell This Version
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FACT 40 Still — Joy Division Joy Division Still (Album) Factory FACT 40 UK 1981 Sell This Version
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SFRCD111 Peel Sessions — Joy Division Joy Division Peel Sessions (Comp) Strange Fruit SFRCD111 UK 1990 Sell This Version
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MSIF-3662, FACD 2.60 Preston 28 February 1980 — Joy Division Joy Division Preston 28 February 1980 (Album) NMC Music MSIF-3662, FACD 2.60 Japan 1999 Sell This Version
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FACD 2.61 Les Bains Douches 18 December 1979 — Joy Division Joy Division Les Bains Douches 18 December 1979 (Album) NMC Music FACD 2.61 UK 2001 Sell This Version
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none Live At Factory Manchester & The Moonlight Club West Hampstead — Joy Division Joy Division Live At Factory Manchester & The Moonlight Club West Hampstead Warner Bros. Records none UK 2007 Sell This Version
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none Live At High Wycombe — Joy Division Joy Division Live At High Wycombe(CDr, Promo) Warner Bros. Records none UK 2007 Sell This Version
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none Live @ ULU — Joy Division Joy Division Live @ ULU (Album) Warner Bros. Records none UK 2007 Sell This Version
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Singles & EPs

ANON1 An Ideal For Living — Joy Division Joy Division An Ideal For Living (EP) Enigma ANON1 UK 1978 Sell This Version
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FAC 13, Fac 13 Transmission — Joy Division Joy Division Transmission (Single) Factory, Factory FAC 13, Fac 13 UK 1979 Sell This Version
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SS 33002 Licht Und Blindheit — Joy Division Joy Division Licht Und Blindheit(7", Ltd, Num) Sordide Sentimental SS 33002 France 1980 Sell This Version
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FAC 28 Komakino — Joy Division Joy Division Komakino (Single) Factory FAC 28 UK 1980 Sell This Version
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FACUS 2/UK, Facus 2 Atmosphere — Joy Division Joy Division Atmosphere (Single) Factory, Factory (US) FACUS 2/UK, Facus 2 UK 1980 Sell This Version
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FAC 23 Love Will Tear Us Apart — Joy Division Joy Division Love Will Tear Us Apart (Single, Maxi) Factory FAC 23 UK 1980 Sell This Version
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SFPS013 The Peel Sessions — Joy Division Joy Division The Peel Sessions (EP) Strange Fruit SFPS013 Canada 1986 Sell This Version
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SFPS033 The Peel Sessions — Joy Division Joy Division The Peel Sessions (EP) Strange Fruit SFPS033 UK 1987 Sell This Version
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none Atmosphere — Joy Division Joy Division Atmosphere (Single, Maxi) Factory none UK 1988 Sell This Version
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none She's Lost Control — Joy Division Joy Division She's Lost Control(7", Promo) Warner Bros. Records, Rhino Records (2) none US 2007 Sell This Version
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FAC.33 Ceremony / In A Lonely Place — Joy Division New Order / Joy Division New Order / Joy Division - Ceremony / In A Lonely Place(12", RSD, Ltd) Rhino Records (2) FAC.33 UK 2011 Sell This Version
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CLO2483 Love Will Tear Us Apart — Joy Division Joy Division Love Will Tear Us Apart Cleopatra CLO2483 US 2021 Sell This Version
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Compilations

Fact250, 462436 1 Substance — Joy Division Joy Division Substance (Comp) Factory Fact250, 462436 1 Australia 1988 Sell This Version
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COCY-9329->32 1977 - 1980 — Joy Division Joy Division 1977 - 1980(Box, Comp + CD, Album + CD, Album + CD, Album + CD) Factory COCY-9329->32 Japan 1991 Sell This Version
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DCI-3098 Joy Division / New Order Collection — Joy Division Joy Division / New Order Joy Division / New Order - Joy Division / New Order Collection(CD, Comp, Promo) Polydor K.K. DCI-3098 Japan 1993 Sell This Version
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828624.2, 828 624-2 Permanent: Joy Division 1995 — Joy Division Joy Division Permanent: Joy Division 1995 (Comp) London Records, London Records 828624.2, 828 624-2 Taiwan 1995 Sell This Version

Add Review

JayCob20

JayCob20

November 30, 2021
The most brilliant band out of England hands down! Ian Curtis' lyrics carried a confessional style that nevertheless felt universal and existential, striking at a despair that transcended race, gender, politics, etc. His deep, manic voice sang over Bernard Sumner's distorted, atmospheric and angular guitar while Peter Hook and Stephen Morris provided a doomy and propulsive drum and bass that was as danceable as it was dark. Truly affecting music. No other band comes close.
easterbunneh

easterbunneh

June 9, 2020
does anyone know what was the first copy of Unknown Pleasures on cd that contained the door photo that existed in the original LP press?
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gsheputis

gsheputis

May 18, 2020
Hard to believe it's been 40 years since Ian's suicide - watched the documentary from 2007 today, then listened to both albums - what else but to say that they were absolutely one of the best bands of all time...…….
maxal

maxal

May 9, 2020
Interesting what wire100 writes about Ian Curtis below.

Having watched live performances of Joy Division on TV and the documentaries / movies showing Ian Curtis manically dancing - and considering his medication - you could plainly see Ian was in another world; certainly to the audience, but also to his band 'mates'.

Bearing this in mind it can be distressing to watch some of the performances. He is screaming his songs out, his eyes are wild, he is salivating, his movements are jolted, stiff and expressly PENT UP.

You sort of think: it is soooooo odd he is performing his ailments this way so publicly on stage and everybody else is dancing the night away (kind of unaware?) It's extraordinary - I thought: This guy clearly needs (better) help.

Ian Curtis' artistic legacy is undeniable, a true testament that through pain, great art can result, but the price is unthinkable. It's very sad.
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JfjGkgKj

JfjGkgKj

September 27, 2019
It’s all hype yaaaaaaaaaaaa don’t believe the hype yaaaaa !
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domskilamonski

domskilamonski

January 19, 2019
edited over 4 years ago
No other band came close,most influential band since '79!the last vagabonds in contemporary music.
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granorob1

granorob1

January 4, 2019
Back in the late 70's/early 80's the term "new wave" was used in a general sense for any modern, non-mainstream rock that wasn't punk. In that sense JD was a new wave band, as were bands like Talking Heads, U2, and most of the acts that showed up in something like "Urgh: A Music War." As time went on, "new wave," like "alternative" and "indie" became such a broad term that it was almost meaningless. Put it this way: if you called something "new wave" in 80 or 81 most people knew what you were talking about. By 84 or 85 that was no longer the case.

And can we put a stake through the heart of the word "genre"? It's the most overused term in all of pop music; I absolutely hate when you recommend a band or artist to someone and their first question is "What genre is it?" The correct answer is "Who cares?" The only thing that the word is good for is to make internet searches easier. Otherwise, it's totally vacuous.

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domskilamonski

domskilamonski

December 25, 2018
Love the admiration of the commenters here..... those negatives too,as that is the chemical for cult-ivation of a true iconic band that left the biggest imprint of music.forever grateful towards the band-itts !
Ruben14

Ruben14

August 28, 2018
One of the most influential bands of all time, Post-Punk never die!
sklerici

sklerici

April 25, 2018

I read all the reviews, and this seems much more a forum. I got something to say. When JD started they were absolutely a new wave band (they were part of the new musical scene emerged NOT after, but WITH the punk explosion). There's no one reason to consider JD out from this genre. I sayd genre and not style: new wave is full of different styles. What we call post punk saw JD as one of the "absolute beginners". But please don't forget Public Image Limited. I use to say Rotten invented punk and Lydon invented new wave (really enough for just one Johnny); perhaps this is not historically correct but i'm sure if the irish antichrist was dead after Metal Box we'd have tought at him as a genius, if not a saint (ah-ah!)
In Italy we called this music DARK, long before gothic or darkwave or post-punk or whatever. For some reasons i find it appropriated. 
Time destroyes, death conserves. And so, back in 1981, Psychedelic Furs were considered from a lot of people the most interesting thing. It seems they (and Echo & the Bunnymen too) could build the bridge to put togheter the best sixties art music and dark (or post punk or new wave or..). Time destroyed PF reputation but at the meantime Unknown Pleasure and Closer got about 150 reissues while i'm writing. Sure Ian Curtis would has never believed it. JD knew the quality of their music, but in 1980 they had no one only reason to think they could be remembered in the future just a little bit more than a cult status band.
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