Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

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JOY DIVISION/ NEW ORDER

UK techno band that began as Warsaw '77 (taking that name from track on David Bowie's Low '77). Their leaden, eerie music was infl. by Bowie, Velvet Underground. Vocalist Ian Curtis (b '57, Macclesfield; d 17 May '80) was a gaunt, isolated focal point; with Bernard Sumner (Bernard Dicken, aka Albrecht; b 4 Jan. '56) on guitar and vocals, bassist Peter Hook (b 13 Feb. '56), drummer Stephen Morris (b 28 Nov. '57), Joy Division were the mainstay of Manchester's Factory Records, formed by TV journalist Tony Wilson, whose short-lived series had given Sex Pistols their TV debut. Unknown Pleasures '79 was a chilling and effective debut LP in the aftermath of punk rock; single 'Transmission', championed by disc jockey John Peel, highlighted hypnotic rhythms and saw them at centre of a cult following (Peel Sessions issued '86 as 12]im[ single); during recording of second LP Curtis committed suicide. 'Love Will Tear Us Apart' was a no. 13 UK hit '80, later covered by Paul Young, P. J. Proby; Closer was Curtis's memorial while Heart And Soul '97 was posthumous four-CD compilation.

An unhealthy cult grew up around Curtis; the trio recruited keyboardist Gillian Gilbert (b 27 Jan. '61) to form New Order, attracting more hostile press for alleged Nazi- derived connotations ('joy division' was a military brothel, 'new order' Hitler's plan for the world). The new band's first LP was Movement '81. 'Blue Monday' was the best-selling 12]im[ single in UK chart history (entered chart three times '83--4); that and 'Confusion' '83 were made in NYC with Arthur Baker. Power, Corruption And Lies '83 maintained image with Hook's threatening bass and Sumner's distant vocals; similar Low Life '85 incl. hit 'Shellshock'; followed by Brotherhood '86. They became a cult in dance clubs in Europe and the USA; two-CD compilations New Order/Substance '87 and Joy Division/Substance 1977--80 were on Qwest in USA, followed by Technique '89 and Republic '93. Hook and guitarist David Potts formed duo Monaco, whose album Music For Pleasure '97 on Polydor revived the three-minute pop single, incl. hit single 'What Do You Want From Me?'