By Annie Filer

Joy Division
English rock band based in Manchester
Album: Unknown Pleasures, total length 39:24
Genres: Post-punk
Released: June 15, 1979
Label: Factory Records
Producer: Martin Hannet

Joy Division, originally called Warsaw, was formed in 1976 by Bernard Sumner and Peter Hook after they had attended a Sex Pistols show. They recruited Stephen Morris and Ian Curtis. Not only did these four have great energy and success, they became the forefathers of what would become the rise of the melancholy alternative/new wave movement of the 1980s. Joy Division developed a unique sound and style of Music that moved far beyond their punk roots; they are now considered the pioneers of the post-punk movement – THE early gothic rock band.

After Ian Curtis’s death in 1980, the band released their second and final album, Closer, two months later. The single “Love Will Tear Us Apart” became the band’s highest charting release. Although Joy Division lasted less than four years, their influence and impact on the music industry is massive and can be seen through the years in these bands: Bauhaus, Siouxsie and the Banshees, U2, The Cure, Radiohead, Nine Inch Nails, Interpol, and more.

Listening to Unknown Pleasures today does transport you to another time. It is as relevant today as it was then. This album reminds me WHY I love this genre. It’s rough, moody, dark and quite frankly, if you can figure out the words sign-able…the phrases stick with you and pop up when you need them. It makes me happy. If you are new to this post-punk movement, please listen to all of Joy Division – you won’t regret it. Appreciate this band for the beautiful raw energy that they have and the influence that they have made on the music industry. To me, I love to dance….I can dance to this (or at least sway to it)!

Interesting Factoid:

Singer Ian Curtis would dance with his arms above his head, swaying and lurching to the beat of the music. Some said he looked as if he was having epileptic fits while on stage. Sadly, he did have epilepsy, and some people have reported that he did have seizures on stage. Suffering from depression, Curtis committed suicide the night before the band was to leave for their first American tour. Curits was 23.

Anyone who danced to this album (or other music of this genre) actually did dance like this – arms in the air swaying and moving with the music. An odd tribute to one of the men from Joy Division, not only did they change music industry, but they made it okay for us to dance alone, together or just sway to the music or even just nod our heads. Thank you, Ian Curtis.

Bernard Sumner – guitarist
Peter Hook – bassist
Stephen Morris – drummer
Ian Curtis – singer

Track Listing

Side One
Disorder
Day of the Lords
Candidate
Insight
New Dawn Fades

Side Two
She’s Lost Control
Shadow Play
Wilderness
Interzone
I Remember Nothing