History Music / JoyDivision

As Joy Division, they recorded an EP, which was basically UsefulNotes/{{Punk}} with literary lyrics. This and playing around Manchester, brought the group to the attention of Tony Wilson, and they joined his record label Creator/FactoryRecords. After a month in the studio with producer Martin Hannett, who completely changed their sound, their debut album ''Music/UnknownPleasures'' was released in 1979. In between touring, their second album ''Music/{{Closer}}'' was released in 1980. Both were critically acclaimed.

** So that's why Jello Biafra said in the beginning of the Music/DeadKennedys track 'Nazi Punks Fuck Off' "Nazi Punks Fuck Off overproduced by Martin Hannett take 4."

* WorstAid: Allegedly a contributing factor in Curtis' demise. Sumner has stated, that he thinks the inadequate treatment given to Curtis for his epilepsy, led to his suicide. Plus the scenes of Ian being dragged back stage, while having a fit in ''24 Hour Party People'' aren't far from the truth.

As Joy Division, they recorded an EP, which was basically UsefulNotes/{{Punk}} with literary lyrics. This and playing around Manchester, brought the group to the attention of Creator/TonyWilson, and they joined his record label Creator/FactoryRecords. After a month in the studio with producer Creator/MartinHannett, who completely changed their sound, their debut album ''Music/UnknownPleasures'' was released in 1979. In between touring, their second album ''Music/{{Closer}}'' was released in 1980. Both were critically acclaimed.

* UpdatedRerelease: In the early '90s, the cover art for ''Substance'' was reworked on the European editions. For the 2015 reissue, a couple extra tracks were added: "As You Said" and an alternate version of "Love Will Tear Us Apart" from the single B-side were added, collecting all of the band's non album tracks.
* WorstAid: Allegedly a contributing factor in Curtis' demise. Sumner has stated that he thinks the inadequate treatment given to Curtis for his epilepsy led to his suicide. Plus the scenes of Ian being dragged back stage while having a fit in ''24 Hour Party People'' aren't far from the truth.

However, the relentless touring had a negative effect on the band. Vocalist Ian Curtis was an epileptic, who sometimes suffered seizures during concerts, leading to their cancellation. His lack of sleep and alcohol abuse only added to his severe depression, and he committed suicide on 18 May 1980 (supposedly after watching ''Film/{{Stroszek}}'' on TV and listening to Music/IggyPop's ''Music/TheIdiot'').

The band are portrayed by actors in the movies ''Film/TwentyFourHourPartyPeople'' and ''Film/{{Control}}''. The former is a biopic of Factory Records' head Tony Wilson, with Joy Division playing a major role in the first part of the film. The latter is a biopic of Ian Curtis himself, directed by photographer Creator/AntonCorbijn, who took a lot of the band's pictures during their early years.

* 1978 - ''An Ideal For Living''

* 1981 - ''Still'' [[note]]First half an odds and ends compilation, the second half a live recording.[[/note]]

!! Non-album Singles:

* TheBandMinusTheFace: Music/NewOrder. [[AvertedTrope Averted]] thanks to the band's success, although literally true as in New Order, Gillian was on the keyboards not vocals.

[[caption-width-right:350:Joy Division in the late-'70s. From left to right: [[Music/NewOrder Bernard Sumner]], Ian Curtis, [[Music/NewOrder Stephen Morris]] and [[Music/NewOrder Peter Hook]].]]

'''Joy Division''' was formed after guitarist Bernard Sumner and bassist Peter Hook attended a Music/SexPistols concert in Manchester on 4 June 1976, and were inspired to form a band. The additions of vocalist Ian Curtis and drummer Stephen Morris completed the line-up. Initially named ''Warsaw'' (under which name they recorded an unreleased album, later bootlegged), the band changed its name to Joy Division in late 1977, which got them in trouble at first because of its fascist overtones.

As Joy Division, they recorded an EP which was basically UsefulNotes/{{Punk}} with literary lyrics. This and playing around Manchester brought the group to the attention of Creator/TonyWilson, and they joined his record label Creator/FactoryRecords. After a month in the studio with producer Creator/MartinHannett, who completely changed their sound, their debut album ''Music/UnknownPleasures'' was released in 1979. In between touring, their second album ''Music/{{Closer}}'' was released in 1980. Both were critically acclaimed.

However, the relentless touring had a negative effect on the band. Vocalist Ian Curtis was an epileptic who sometimes suffered seizures during concerts, leading to their cancellation. His lack of sleep and alcohol abuse only added to his severe depression, and he committed suicide on 18 May 1980 (supposedly after watching ''Film/{{Stroszek}}'' on TV and listening to Music/IggyPop's ''Music/TheIdiot'').

* TalentDouble: Averted by the actors in ''Control''; they played the songs themselves, helped by there being plenty of ThreeChordsAndTheTruth songs. Creator/SamRiley (who portrayed Curtis) having been the lead singer of a rock band once beforehand may have helped also.

A well-known [[UsefulNotes/{{Britain}} English]] PostPunk band.

As Joy Division, they recorded an EP which was basically UsefulNotes/{{punk}} with literary lyrics. This and playing around Manchester brought the group to the attention of Creator/TonyWilson, and they joined his record label Creator/FactoryRecords. After a month in the studio with producer Creator/MartinHannett, who completely changed their sound, their debut album ''Music/UnknownPleasures'' was released in 1979. In between touring, their second album ''Music/{{Closer}}'' was released in 1980. Both were critically acclaimed.

!!!Principal Members (Founding members in '''bold'''):

!!!Studio and Live Discography:

!!!Non-album singles:

!!!'''''Dead Tropes''''':

* DeadArtistsAreBetter: There are way more Music/NewOrder albums, but look which band got a page first on this wiki... mostly because it'd be silly to discuss New Order without Joy Division. That's like discussing Music/FooFighters without mentioning Music/{{Nirvana}}.

* DenOfIniquity: Each studio-album-proper had a song describing one: "Day of the Lords" on ''Music/UnknownPleasures'', and "Atrocity Exhibition" on ''Music/{{Closer}}'' (a ShoutOut to Creator/JGBallard).

* EchoingAcoustics: Martin Hannett had a trademark reverb-heavy production style.

** It's possible that after the initial controversy the name "Joy Division" inspired, Sumner, Hook, and/or Morris were [[{{Troll}} trolling]] people by deliberately choosing a fascist-sounding name.
* SingingVoiceDissonance: Ian's singing was baritone and American-accented, whereas his normal speaking voice was higher and [[OopNorth Northern English]].

* UpdatedRerelease: In the early '90s, the cover art for ''Substance'' was reworked on the European editions. For the 2015 reissue, a couple extra tracks were added: "As You Said" and an alternate version of "Love Will Tear Us Apart" from the single B-side were added, collecting all of the band's non-album tracks.

** Adequate treatment would have entailed Ian refraining from live performance. He must have felt obligated to continue, regardless of whether he'd been explicitly pressured. For the still-developing band, not touring was not an option.

** ''Control'' endorses this view as well, showing both Curtis being given ''phenobarbital'' for his epilepsy, which even by the 1970's was considered a less-then-ideal treatment option.

* YourCheatingHeart: One of issues that drover Ian to suicide was his affair with Annik Honoré

* ShortLivedBigImpact: Only released two albums in their lifetime but virtually every band since namecheck them as an influence.

* ShortLivedBigImpact: Only released two albums in their lifetime but are name-checked by virtually every indie band as an influence.

* PuttingOnTheReich: The cover for ''An Ideal for Living'' featured a Hitler Youth drummer.

!!Principal Members (Founding members in '''bold'''):

!!Studio and Live Discography:

!!Non-album singles:

!!'''''Love will trope us apart''''':

'''Joy Division''' was formed after guitarist Bernard Sumner and bassist Peter Hook attended a Music/SexPistols concert in Manchester on 4 June 1976, and were inspired to form a band. The additions of vocalist Ian Curtis and drummer Stephen Morris completed the line-up. Initially named ''Warsaw'' (under which name they recorded an unreleased album, later bootlegged,) the band changed its name to Joy Division in late 1977, which got them in trouble at first because of its fascist overtones.

However, the relentless touring had a negative effect on the band. Vocalist Ian Curtis was an epileptic who sometimes suffered seizures during concerts, leading to their cancellation. His lack of sleep and alcohol abuse only added to his severe depression, and he committed suicide on 18 May 1980 (supposedly after watching ''Film/{{Stroszek}}'' on TV and listening to Music/IggyPop's ''Music/TheIdiot''.)

Since they had a made a pact to change their name if anyone left, the rest of the band members renamed themselves Music/NewOrder, alongside Morris' girlfriend (now wife,) keyboardist and guitarist Gillian Gilbert.

** Hannett's heroin addiction is often cited as either [[ArtisticStimulation crucial to his signature sound]], or [[ImmuneToDrugs mysteriously irrelevant]]. Joy Division's legend nurtures profuse [[EpilepticTrees theories]]: Among the more popular is that epilepsy somehow kindled Ian Curtis' song-writing prowess (in this instance, the Trope Name might seem apropos: Until you give it a bit more thought, and realize it's irrelevant.)

* DeadArtistsAreBetter: There are way more Music/NewOrder albums, but look which band got a page first on this wiki...
** Well, mostly because it'd be silly to discuss New Order without Joy Division. That's like discussing Music/FooFighters without mentioning Music/{{Nirvana}}.

* DenOfIniquity: Each studio-album-proper had a song describing one: "Day of the Lords" on ''Music/UnknownPleasures'', and "Atrocity Exhibition" on ''Music/{{Closer}}'' (a ShoutOut to Creator/JGBallard.)

* PunkRock: In their earliest days (back when they were still called Warsaw,) they counted as this.

* ThoseWackyNazis: An ''Ideal for Living'''s artwork, deliberately intended to create controversy over whether the band was a Nazi band, which they weren't (this is referenced in 24 Hour Party People as well.) Also, ''Warsaw'', one of the songs from this EP, is about Rudolf Hess.

* 1978 - ''An Ideal for Living''

* AllPartOfTheShow: Curtis' onstage seizures were mistaken for his frenetic dancing style at first.

* CloudCuckooLander: Producer Martin Hannett. Various legends state that Hannett forced drummer Stephen Morris to take apart his drumkit and re-assemble it with toilet parts, made Morris continue recording for an hour after the rest of the band finished a song, set up his drumkit on the studio's first-floor roof, and once went on a hill to record "silence" for an extended period of time.

** Hannett's heroin addiction is often cited as either [[ArtisticStimulation crucial to his signature sound]], or [[ImmuneToDrugs mysteriously irrelevant]]. Joy Division's legend nurtures profuse [[EpilepticTrees theories]]: Among the more popular is that epilepsy somehow kindled Ian Curtis' songwriting prowess (in this instance, the Trope Name might seem apropos: Until you give it a bit more thought, and realize it's irrelevant.)
*** Even before he started seriously using heroin in the early '80s, Hannett was known to [[EruditeStoner indulge in large quantities of hash]], though his stoned behavior was pretty much identical to his sober behavior.

[[caption-width-right:350:Joy Division in the late-70's. From left to right: [[Music/NewOrder Bernard Sumner]], Ian Curtis, [[Music/NewOrder Stephen Morris]] and [[Music/NewOrder Peter Hook]].]]

A well-known English PostPunk band.

'''Joy Division''' was formed after guitarist Bernard Sumner and bassist Peter Hook attended a Music/SexPistols concert in Manchester on 4 June 1976, and were inspired to form a band. The additions of vocalist Ian Curtis and drummer Stephen Morris completed the line-up. Initially named Warsaw (under which name they recorded an unreleased album, later bootlegged), the band changed its name to Joy Division in late 1977, which got them in trouble at first because of its fascist overtones.

As Joy Division, they recorded an EP which was basically punk with literary lyrics. This and playing around Manchester brought the group to the attention of Tony Wilson, and they joined his record label Factory Records. After a month in the studio with producer Martin Hannett, who completely changed their sound, their debut album ''Music/UnknownPleasures'' was released in 1979. In between touring, their second album ''Music/{{Closer}}'' was released in 1980. Both were critically acclaimed.

However, the relentless touring had a negative effect on the band. Vocalist Ian Curtis was an epileptic who sometimes suffered seizures during concerts, leading to their cancellation. His lack of sleep and alcohol abuse only added to his severe depression, and he committed suicide on 18 May 1980 (supposedly after watching ''Film/{{Stroszek}}'' on the TV and listening to Music/IggyPop's ''Music/TheIdiot'').

Since they had a made a pact to change their name if anyone left, the rest of the band members renamed themselves Music/NewOrder, alongside Morris' girlfriend (now wife), keyboardist and guitarist Gillian Gilbert.

* 1978 - ''An Ideal For Living''

* 1981 - ''Still'' [[note]]First half an odds and ends compilation, the second half a live recording[[/note]]

* TheBandMinusTheFace: Music/NewOrder. [[AvertedTrope Averted]] thanks to the band's success, although literally true as in New Order Gillian was on the keyboards not vocals.
* CloudCuckooLander: Producer Martin Hannett. Various legends state that Hannett forced drummer Stephen Morris to take apart his drumkit and reassemble it with toilet parts, made Morris continue recording for an hour after the rest of the band finished a song, set up his drumkit on the studio's first-floor roof, and once went on a hill to record "silence" for an extended period of time.
** So that's why Jello Biafra said in the beginning of the Music/DeadKennedys track 'Nazi Punks Fuck Off' "Nazi Punks Fuck Off overproduced by Martin Hannett take 4".
** Hannett's heroin addiction is often cited as either [[ArtisticStimulation crucial to his signature sound]], or [[ImmuneToDrugs mysteriously irrelevant]]. Joy Division's legend nurtures profuse [[EpilepticTrees theories]]: among the more popular is that epilepsy somehow kindled Ian Curtis' songwriting prowess (in this instance, the Trope Name might seem apropos: until you give it a bit more thought, and realize it's irrelevant).

* CoverVersion: "Sister Ray" by Music/VelvetUnderground, on ''Still''.
* DarkerAndEdgier - Martin Hannett turned a thudding punk band into something remarkable, with the same songs.

* DenOfIniquity: Each studio-album-proper had a song describing one: "Day of the Lords" on ''Music/UnknownPleasures'', and "Atrocity Exhibition" on ''Music/{{Closer}}'' (a ShoutOut to J.G. Ballard).

* FollowTheLeader: Music/TheKillers, {{Music/Editors}} and {{Music/Interpol}} spring to mind.
* FakeOutFadeOut: "Isolation"

-->'''Digital'''

-->'''Dead Souls'''
-->Calling me...calling me...

-->They keep calling me
* IntentionallyAwkwardTitle: The band's name comes from the prostitution wing of a Nazi concentration camp from the 1955 novel ''The House of Dolls''.
* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: If ''24 Hour Party People'' and ''Control'' are any indication, the band's manager Rob Gretton seemed to have been one of these. He had an abrasive, aggressive personality, but also had his bands'/record labels' best interests at heart.

* LastNoteNightmare: "Disorder", and to a lesser extent, "Isolation"
* LettingTheAirOutOfTheBand: At the end of "Candidate" and "A Means to an End"; also used to chilling effect in "The Eternal".
* LyricalDissonance: "Isolation" is quite a bouncy synth-pop tune really, as is "Love Will Tear Us Apart."
* MadnessMantra:

** "Calling me...calling me..."
* MohsScaleOfLyricalHardness: usually 6-7, sometimes up to an 8. Their songs pretty much all had lyrics that were... less than happy, but the level varied somewhat. However, a general lack of profanity or EXPLICIT references to sex or violence (not to mention the poetic nature of the lyrics) keeps them from reaching the highest end of the scale.
* MohsScaleOfRockAndMetalHardness: averaged around 3-5, with some that drop down to a 2 and a few that arguably go up to a 6.
* OopNorth: Influenced by the crumbling Manchester of the 1970s.

* PunkRock: in their earliest days (back when they were still called Warsaw), they counted as this.
* RefrainFromAssuming: No, the song is not called "Remember When We Were Young"; it's called "Insight".
* RunningGag: the band name "New Order" has a fascist subtext, also, though the band claims this was unintentional.

* StepUpToTheMicrophone: Peter Hook sings lead on "Interzone".
* TalentDouble: Averted by the actors in ''Control''; they played the songs themselves, helped by there being plenty of ThreeChordsAndTheTruth songs. Sam Riley (who portrayed Curtis) having been the lead singer of a rock band once beforehand may have helped also.
* ThoseWackyNazis: An Ideal for Living's artwork, deliberately intended to create controversy over whether the band was a Nazi band, which they weren't (this is referenced in 24 Hour Party People as well). Also, 'Warsaw', one of the songs from this EP, is about Rudolf Hess.
* VocalEvolution: Compare Ian's voice on the "Ideal For Living" EP to when the band starting recording with Martin Hannett. Ian's voice lowers dramatically.

** ''Control'' endorses this view as well, showing both Curtis being given ''phenobarbital'' for his epilepsy, which even by the 1970s was considered a less-then-ideal treatment option.

The band are portrayed by actors in the movies ''Film/TwentyFourHourPartyPeople'' and ''Film/{{Control}}''. The former is a biopic of Factory Records' head Tony Wilson, with Joy Division playing a major role in the first part of the film. The latter is a biopic of Ian Curtis himself.

Since they had a made a pact to change their name if anyone left, the rest of the band members renamed themselves NewOrder, alongside Morris' girlfriend (now wife), keyboardist and guitarist Gillian Gilbert.

* '''Ian Curtis''' - lead vocals, guitar, melodica (1976–80, died 1980)
* '''[[Music/NewOrder Peter Hook]]''' - bass, backing and lead vocals, guitar (1976–80)
* '''[[Music/NewOrder Stephen Morris]]''' - drums, percussion (1976–80)
* '''[[Music/NewOrder Bernard Sumner]]''' - guitar, keyboard, synthesizer, bass (1976–80)

However, the relentless touring was having a negative effect on the band. Vocalist Ian Curtis was an epileptic who sometimes suffered seizures during concerts, leading to their cancellation. His lack of sleep and alcohol abuse only added to his severe depression, and he committed suicide on 18 May 1980 (supposedly after watching ''Film/{{Stroszek}}'' on the TV and listening to Music/IggyPop's ''Music/TheIdiot'').

The band are portrayed by actors in the movies ''[[Film/TwentyFourHourPartyPeople 24 Hour Party People]]'' and ''Film/{{Control}}''. The former is a biopic of Factory Records' head Tony Wilson, with Joy Division playing a major role in the first part of the film. The latter is a biopic of Ian Curtis himself.

* '''Ian Curtis''' - lead vocals, guitar, melodica (1976-1980, died 1980)
* '''[[Music/NewOrder Peter Hook]]''' - bass, backing and lead vocals, guitar (1976-1980)
* '''[[Music/NewOrder Stephen Morris]]''' - drums, percussion (1976-1980)
* '''[[Music/NewOrder Bernard Sumner]]''' - guitar, keyboard, synthesizer, bass (1976-1980)

!!Love will trope us apart:

Joy Division was formed after guitarist Bernard Sumner and bassist Peter Hook attended a Music/SexPistols concert in Manchester on 4 June 1976, and were inspired to form a band. The additions of vocalist Ian Curtis and drummer Stephen Morris completed the line-up. Initially named Warsaw (under which name they recorded an unreleased album, later bootlegged), the band changed its name to Joy Division in late 1977, which got them in trouble at first because of its fascist overtones.