Editing Joy Division (section)

=== ''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}}