Editing Joy Division (section)

== History ==
=== Formation ===
On 4 June 1976,<ref>{{citation |url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/whats-on/music-nightlife-news/sex-pistols-free-trade-manchester-11423565 |title=Four Manchester bands we owe to the Sex Pistols' Lesser Free Trade Hall gig 40 years ago |date=3 June 2016 |publisher=[[Manchester Evening News]] |access-date=4 June 2020}}</ref> childhood friends [[Bernard Sumner]] and [[Peter Hook]] separately attended a [[Sex Pistols]] show at the [[Free Trade Hall|Manchester Lesser Free Trade Hall]]. Both were inspired by the Pistols' performance. Sumner said that he felt the Pistols "destroyed the myth of being a pop star, of a musician being some kind of god that you had to worship".<ref name="Mojo 1994">{{cite magazine |last=Savage |first=Jon |author-link=Jon Savage |date=July 1994 |title=Joy Division: Someone Take These Dreams Away |magazine=[[Mojo (magazine)|Mojo]]}}</ref> The following day Hook borrowed £35 from his mother to buy a bass guitar.<ref name="Barrett">{{cite web|title=Joy Division |last=Barrett |first=Christopher |date=25 August 2007 |website=[[Music Week]] |url=http://www.musicweek.com/story.asp?storyCode=1031301&sectioncode=2 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120104025745/http://www.musicweek.com/story.asp?storyCode=1031301&sectioncode=2 |archive-date=4 January 2012 }}</ref> They formed a band with Terry Mason, who had also attended the gig; Sumner bought a guitar, and Mason a drum kit. After their schoolfriend Martin Gresty declined an invitation to join as vocalist after getting a job at a factory,{{sfn|Ogg|2006|p=571}} the band placed an advertisement for a vocalist in the Manchester [[Virgin Records]] shop. [[Ian Curtis]], who knew them from attending earlier gigs at the [[Electric Circus, Manchester|Electric Circus]] music venue, responded and was hired without audition.<ref name="Mojo 1994"/> Sumner said that he "knew he was all right to get on with and that's what we based the whole group on. If we liked someone, they were in."{{sfn|Curtis|1995|p=42}}

[[Buzzcocks]] manager [[Richard Boon]] and frontman [[Pete Shelley]] have both been credited with suggesting the band name "Stiff Kittens", but the band settled on "Warsaw" shortly before their first gig, a reference to [[David Bowie]]'s song "[[Warszawa (song)|Warszawa]]".{{sfn|West|1984|pp=9–10}}{{sfn|Curtis|1995|pp=43–44}}{{sfn|Gimarc|2005|p=68}} Warsaw debuted on 29 May 1977 at the Electric Circus, supporting the Buzzcocks, [[Penetration (band)|Penetration]] and [[John Cooper Clarke]].{{sfn|Gimarc|2005|p=68}} Tony Tabac played drums that night after joining the band two days earlier.{{sfn|Gimarc|2005|p=68}}{{sfn|Curtis|1995|p=44}} Reviews in the ''[[NME]]'' by [[Paul Morley]] and in ''[[Sounds (magazine)|Sounds]]'' by Ian Wood brought them immediate national exposure.{{sfn|Johnson|1984|p=13}}{{sfn|West|1984|p=10}} Mason became the band's manager and Tabac was replaced on drums in June 1977 by Steve Brotherdale, who also played in the punk band the Panik.{{sfn|Gimarc|2005|p=73}} Brotherdale tried to get Curtis to leave the band and join the Panik, and even had Curtis audition.{{sfn|Curtis|1995|p=48}}{{sfn|Ogg|2006|p=572}} On 18 July 1977,<ref>{{cite book | last1 = Hook | first1 = Peter | author-link1 = Peter Hook | title = Unknown Pleasures | publisher = Simon & Schuster | year = 2012 | pages = 92 | isbn = 978-1-4711-4833-0}}</ref> Warsaw recorded five demo tracks at Pennine Sound Studios, [[Oldham]].{{sfn|Ott|2004|p=10}} Uneasy with Brotherdale's aggressive personality, the band fired him soon after the sessions. Driving home from the studio, they pulled over and asked Brotherdale to check on a flat tyre; when he got out of the car, they drove off.{{sfn|Curtis|1995|p=49}}

In August 1977, Warsaw placed an advertisement in a music shop window seeking a replacement drummer. [[Stephen Morris (musician)|Stephen Morris]], who had attended the same school as Curtis, was the sole respondent. Deborah Curtis, Ian's wife, stated that Morris "fitted perfectly" with the band, and that with his addition Warsaw became a "complete 'family{{'"}}.{{sfn|Curtis|1995|p=50}} To avoid confusion with the London punk band Warsaw Pakt, the band renamed themselves Joy Division in early 1978, borrowing the name from the [[German military brothels in World War II|sexual slavery]] wing of a Nazi concentration camp mentioned in the 1955 novel ''[[House of Dolls]]''.{{sfn|Ogg|2006|p=572}}{{sfn|Reynolds|2005|p=111}} On 14 December, the group recorded their debut [[Extended play|EP]], ''[[An Ideal for Living]]'', at Pennine Sound Studio and played their final gig as Warsaw on New Year's Eve at the Swinging Apple in Liverpool.{{sfn|Johnson|1984|p=17}} Billed as Warsaw to ensure an audience, the band played their first gig as Joy Division on 25 January 1978 at Pip's Disco's ''Roxy room''<ref name="dailypost/14726116">{{cite news |last1=Whelan |first1=Zara |title=Legendary DJ Dave Booth on why the Hacienda was the worst mistake he ever made |url=https://www.dailypost.co.uk/whats-on/music-nightlife-news/legendary-dj-dave-booth-hacienda-14726116 |access-date=13 April 2025 |work=dailypost.co.uk North Wales Live |date=4 June 2018 |language=en}}</ref> in Manchester.{{sfn|Johnson|1984|p=19}}

=== Early releases ===
Joy Division were approached by [[RCA Records]] to record a cover of [[Nolan Porter|Nolan "N.F." Porter]]'s "Keep on Keepin' On" at a Manchester recording studio. The band spent late March and April 1978 writing and rehearsing material.{{sfn|Ott|2004|p=33}} During the Stiff/Chiswick Challenge concert at Manchester's [[Rafters (nightclub)|Rafters]] club on 14 April, they caught the attention of TV music presenter [[Tony Wilson]] and manager [[Rob Gretton]]. Curtis berated Wilson for not putting the group on his [[Granada Television]] show ''[[So It Goes (TV series)|So It Goes]]''; Wilson responded that Joy Division would be the next band he would showcase on TV.{{sfn|Curtis|1995|p=61}} Gretton, the venue's resident DJ, was so impressed by the band's performance that he convinced them to take him on as their manager.<ref name="Barrett"/> Gretton, whose "dogged determination" was later credited for much of the band's public success, contributed the business skills to provide Joy Division with a better foundation for creativity.{{sfn|Johnson|1984|p=24}}{{sfn|West|1984|p=14}} Joy Division spent the first week of May 1978 recording at Manchester's Arrow Studios. The band were unhappy with the Grapevine Records head John Anderson's insistence on adding synthesiser into the mix to soften the sound, and asked to be dropped from the contract with RCA.{{sfn|Ott|2004|p=42}}{{sfn|Gimarc|2005|p=135}}

Joy Division made their recorded debut in June 1978 when the band self-released ''[[An Ideal for Living]]'', and two weeks later their track "At a Later Date" was featured on the compilation album ''[[Short Circuit: Live at the Electric Circus]]'' (which had been recorded live in October 1977).{{sfn|Gimarc|2005|pp=141, 143}}{{sfn|Curtis|1995|pp=51–52, 140}} In the ''[[Melody Maker]]'' review, Chris Brazier said that it "has the familiar rough-hewn nature of home-produced records, but they're no mere drone-vendors—there are a lot of good ideas here, and they could be a very interesting band by now, seven months on".<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Brazier |first=Chris |date=24 June 1978 |title=''An Ideal for Living'' review |magazine=[[Melody Maker]]}}</ref> The packaging of ''An Ideal for Living''—which featured a drawing of a [[Hitler Youth]] member on the cover—coupled with the nature of the band's name fuelled speculation about their political affiliations.{{sfn|Curtis|1995|p=54}} While Hook and Sumner later said they were intrigued by [[fascism]] at the time, Morris believed that the group's dalliance with Nazi imagery came from a desire to keep memories of the sacrifices of their parents and grandparents during [[World War II]] alive. He argued that accusations of [[Neo-Nazism|neo-Nazi]] sympathies merely provoked the band "to keep on doing it, because that's the kind of people we are".{{sfn|Reynolds|2005|p=111}}

On 20 September 1978,<ref>{{cite book | last1 = Hook | first1 = Peter | author-link1 = Peter Hook | title = Unknown Pleasures | publisher = Simon & Schuster | year = 2012 | pages = 129 | isbn = 978-1-4711-4833-0}}</ref> Joy Division made their television debut performing "[[Shadowplay (song)|Shadowplay]]" on ''So It Goes'', with an introduction by Wilson.{{sfn|Curtis|1995|p=202}} In October,<ref name="Cook"/> Joy Division contributed two tracks recorded with producer [[Martin Hannett]] to the compilation double-7" EP ''[[A Factory Sample]]'', the first release by Tony Wilson's record label, [[Factory Records]]. In the ''NME'' review of the EP, Paul Morley praised the band as "the missing link" between [[Elvis Presley]] and [[Siouxsie and the Banshees]].<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Morley |first=Paul |title= Modern Life in the UK: Factory Gets it Right |date=31 March 1979 |magazine=NME}}</ref> Joy Division joined Factory's roster, after buying themselves out of the RCA deal.<ref>Factory Records did not have record contracts, so Joy Division (and later New Order) were never actually signed to the label.</ref>{{sfn|Gimarc|2005|p=158}} Gretton was made a label partner to represent the interests of the band.<ref name="Shadowplayers">{{cite AV media |year=2006 |title=Shadowplayers |medium=DVD |publisher=LTM}}</ref> On 27 December, during the drive home from a gig at the [[Hope and Anchor, Islington|Hope and Anchor]] in London, Curtis had his first recognised severe [[epileptic seizure]] and was hospitalised.{{sfn|Curtis|1995|p=69}} Meanwhile, Joy Division's career progressed, and Curtis appeared on the 13 January 1979 cover of ''NME''. That month the band recorded their session for [[BBC Radio 1]] DJ [[John Peel]]. According to Deborah Curtis, "Sandwiched in between these two important landmarks was the realisation that Ian's illness was something we would have to learn to accommodate".{{sfn|Curtis|1995|p=71}}

=== ''Unknown Pleasures'' and breakthrough ===
Joy Division's debut album, ''[[Unknown Pleasures]]'', was recorded at [[Strawberry Studios]], [[Stockport]], in April 1979.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/the-weird-science-behind-joy-division-s-unknown-pleasures-cover-20150220|title=The Science Behind Joy Division's 'Unknown Pleasures' Cover|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=28 April 2017}}</ref> Producer [[Martin Hannett]] significantly altered their live sound, a fact that greatly displeased the band at the time; however, in 2006, Hook said that in retrospect Hannett had done a good job and "created the Joy Division sound".<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Wilkinson |first=Roy |year=2006 |title=Ode to Joy |magazine=Mojo}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://classicalbumsundays.com/joy-division-unknown/|title=Album of the Month: Joy Division "Unknown Pleasures" {{!}} Classic Album Sundays|website=classicalbumsundays.com|date=26 April 2012 |language=en-US|access-date=2017-07-17}}</ref> The album cover was designed by [[Peter Saville (graphic designer)|Peter Saville]], who went on to provide artwork for future Joy Division and New Order releases.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/the-weird-science-behind-joy-division-s-unknown-pleasures-cover-20150220|title=The Science Behind Joy Division's 'Unknown Pleasures' Cover|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=2017-07-17}}</ref>

''Unknown Pleasures'' was released in June and sold through its initial pressing of 10,000 copies. Wilson said the success turned the indie label into a true business and a "revolutionary force" that operated outside of the major record label system.<ref name="Shadowplayers" /> Reviewing the album for ''Melody Maker'', writer [[Jon Savage]] described the album as an "opaque manifesto" and declared it "one of the best, white, English, debut LPs of the year".<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Savage|first=Jon|title=Joy Division: "Unknown Pleasures"|magazine=Melody Maker|date=21 July 1979|url=http://www.new-order.net/terminal1.demon.co.uk/JoyMM7-79album.htm|access-date=25 August 2016}}</ref>

Joy Division performed on Granada TV again on 20 July 1979, and made their only nationwide TV appearance on 15 September on [[BBC Two|BBC2]]'s ''[[Something Else (UK TV series)|Something Else]]''. They supported the Buzzcocks in a 24-venue UK tour that began that October, which allowed the band to quit their regular jobs.<ref name="Mojo 1994"/> The non-album single "[[Transmission (song)|Transmission]]" was released in November. Joy Division's burgeoning success drew a devoted following who were stereotyped as "intense young men dressed in grey overcoats".{{sfn|Reynolds|2005|p=115}}

=== ''Closer'' and Curtis's health problems ===
Joy Division toured Europe in January 1980. Although the schedule was demanding, Curtis experienced only two grand mal seizures, both in the final two months of the tour.{{sfn|Curtis|1995|p=107}} That March, the band recorded their second album, ''[[Closer (Joy Division album)|Closer]],'' with Hannett at London's [[Britannia Row Studios]].<ref name="Raftery">{{cite magazine |last=Raftery |first=Brian |date=May 2005 |title=He's Lost Control |magazine=[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]}}</ref> That month they released the "[[Atmosphere (Joy Division song)|Licht und Blindheit]]" single, with "Atmosphere" as the A-side and "Dead Souls" as the B-side, on the French independent label [[Sordide Sentimental]].{{sfn|Gimarc|2005|p=307}}

A lack of sleep and long hours destabilised Curtis's epilepsy, and his seizures became almost uncontrollable.{{sfn|Curtis|1995|p=113}} He often had seizures during performances, which some audience members believed were part of the performance. The seizures left him feeling ashamed and depressed, and the band became increasingly worried about Curtis's condition.{{sfn|Curtis|1995|p=114}} On 7 April 1980, Curtis attempted suicide by overdosing on his anti-seizure medication, [[Phenobarbital|phenobarbitone]].<ref name="Mojo 1994"/> The following evening, Joy Division were scheduled to play a gig at the [[Derby Hall, Bury|Derby Hall]] in [[Bury, Greater Manchester|Bury]].{{sfn|Curtis|1995|p=117}} Curtis was too ill to perform, so at Gretton's insistence the band played a combined set with Alan Hempsall of [[Crispy Ambulance]] and Simon Topping of [[A Certain Ratio]] singing on the first few songs. When Topping came back towards the end of the set, some audience members threw bottles at the stage. Curtis's ill health led to the cancellation of several other gigs that April. Joy Division's final live performance was held at the [[University of Birmingham]]'s High Hall on 2 May, and included their only performance of "[[Ceremony (New Order song)|Ceremony]]", one of the last songs written by Curtis.<ref name="Morley, Thrills">{{cite magazine |last1=Morley |first1=Paul |author-link1=Paul Morley |last2=Thrills |first2=Adrian |date=14 June 1980 |title=Don't Walk Away in Silence |magazine=NME}}</ref>
{{quote box
| quote = "Basically, we want to play and enjoy what we like playing. I think that when we stop doing that, I think, well, that will be time to pack it in. That will be the end."
| source = Ian Curtis, ''[[BBC Radio Lancashire|Radio Lancashire]]'' interview, 1979.{{sfn|Curtis|1995|p=139}}
| width = 30em
}}

Hannett's production has been widely praised.<ref name="k">Klien, Joshua. "[http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/11624-unknown-pleasurescloserstill/ Joy Division: Unknown Pleasures] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004220630/http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/11624-unknown-pleasurescloserstill/ |date=4 October 2013 }}". pitchfork.com. 29 October 2007. Retrieved 5 July 2015.</ref> However, as with ''Unknown Pleasures'', both Hook and Sumner were unhappy with the production. Hook said that when he heard the final mix of "[[Atrocity Exhibition (Joy Division song)|Atrocity Exhibition]]" he was disappointed that the abrasiveness had been toned down. He wrote; "I was like, head in hands, 'Oh fucking hell, it's happening again ... Martin had fucking melted the guitar with his [[Marshall Time Modulator|Marshall Time Waster]]. Made it sound like someone strangling a cat and, to my mind, absolutely killed the song. I was so annoyed with him and went in and gave him a piece of my mind but he just turned round and told me to fuck off."{{sfn|Hook|2013|p=42}}

=== Curtis's suicide and aftermath ===
Joy Division were scheduled to commence their first US/Canada tour in May 1980.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.joydiv.org/cancel.htm |title=Joy Division cancelled US / Canada tour 1980 |website=Joy Division: Concerts|access-date=22 November 2019}}</ref> Curtis had expressed enthusiasm about the tour,{{sfn|Reynolds|2005|p=117}} but his relationship with his wife, Deborah, was under strain; Deborah was excluded from the band's inner circle and objected to Curtis being close to Belgian journalist and music promoter [[Annik Honoré]], whom he met on tour in Europe in 1979. He was also anxious about how American audiences would react to his epilepsy.{{sfn|Reynolds|2005|p=117}}

The evening before the band were due to depart for America, Curtis returned to his [[Macclesfield]] home to talk to Deborah. He asked her to drop an impending divorce suit, and asked her to leave him alone in the house until he caught a train to Manchester the following morning.{{sfn|Curtis|1995|pp=131–132}} Early on 18 May 1980, having spent the night watching the [[Werner Herzog]] film ''[[Stroszek]]'' and listening to [[Iggy Pop]]'s 1977 album ''[[The Idiot (album)|The Idiot]]'', Curtis hanged himself in his kitchen. Deborah discovered his body later that day when she returned.{{sfn|Curtis|1995|p=132}}

The suicide shocked the band and their management. In 2005, Wilson said: "I think all of us made the mistake of not thinking his suicide was going to happen&nbsp;... We all completely underestimated the danger. We didn't take it seriously. That's how stupid we were."<ref name="Raftery" /> [[Music critic]] [[Simon Reynolds]] said Curtis's suicide "made for instant myth".{{sfn|Reynolds|2005|p=118}} Jon Savage's obituary said that "now no one will remember what his work with Joy Division was like when he was alive; it will be perceived as tragic rather than courageous".<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Savage |first=Jon |date=14 June 1980 |title=From Safety to Where? |magazine=Melody Maker}}</ref> In June 1980, Joy Division's single "[[Love Will Tear Us Apart]]" was released, which hit number thirteen on the [[UK Singles Chart]].{{sfn|Curtis|1995|p=138}} In July 1980, ''Closer'' was released, and peaked at number six on the [[UK Albums Chart]].<ref name="Mojo 1994" /> ''NME'' reviewer [[Charles Shaar Murray]] wrote, "''Closer'' is as magnificent a memorial (for 'Joy Division' as much as for Ian Curtis) as any post-[[Elvis Presley|Presley]] popular musician could have."<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Murrary |first=Charles Shaar |date=19 July 1980 |title=Closer to the Edge |magazine=NME}}</ref>

Morris said that even without Curtis's death, it is unlikely that Joy Division would have endured.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/entertainment/articles/2010-12/17/gq-music-stephen-morris-joy-division-interview|title=An Ideal for Reliving|first=Lee|last=Gale|magazine=[[GQ]]|date=29 March 2012|access-date=19 August 2016}}</ref> The members had made a pact long before Curtis's death that, should any member leave, the remaining members would change the band name.<ref name="Morley, Thrills" /> The band re-formed as [[New Order (band)|New Order]], with Sumner on vocals; they later recruited Morris's girlfriend [[Gillian Gilbert]] as keyboardist and second guitarist. Gilbert had befriended the band and played guitar at a Joy Division performance when Curtis had been unable to play.<ref>{{cite book|last=Rambali|first=Paul|title=A Rare Glimpse into a Private World|publisher=The Face|date=July 1983|page=30}}</ref>

New Order's debut single, "Ceremony" (1981), was formed from the last two songs written with Curtis.{{sfn|Ott|2004|p=112}} New Order struggled in their early years to escape the shadow of Joy Division, but went on to achieve far greater commercial success with a different, more upbeat and dance-oriented sound.<ref name="Ankeny" />

Various Joy Division outtakes and live material have been released. ''[[Still (Joy Division album)|Still]]'', featuring live tracks and rare recordings, was issued in 1981. Factory issued the ''[[Substance (Joy Division album)|Substance]]'' compilation in 1988, including several out-of-print singles.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/substance-mw0000200321 |title=''Substance'' review |last=Raggett |first=Ned |website=AllMusic |access-date=20 July 2013}}</ref> ''[[Permanent (Joy Division album)|Permanent]]'' was released in 1995 by [[London Records]], which had acquired the Joy Division catalogue after Factory's 1992 bankruptcy. The comprehensive box set ''[[Heart and Soul (Joy Division album)|Heart and Soul]]'' was released in 1997.