Discussion
Am a bit late with this one! 2020 was the 40th anniversary of Joy Divisions Ian Curtis taking his own life. This was a time when epilepsy was a little known condition, and it amazes me he went on this long as a performer when this lifestyle is largely detrimental to this condition.
I only properly discovered Joy Division about 8 years ago, the only really familiar song being "Love will tear us apart".
Now have the only 2 studio albums they recorded, namely "Unknown Pleasures" and "Closer", and the later compilation "Substance". It is only when you hear these songs you realize how troubled this young man was. To get a better detailed picture of his songs, I also bought the book "So this is Permanence" which has images of the scraps of paper he wrote his sad yet poetic words. I believe Ian is much better understood now than any time he was when alive.. sadly.
I only properly discovered Joy Division about 8 years ago, the only really familiar song being "Love will tear us apart".
Now have the only 2 studio albums they recorded, namely "Unknown Pleasures" and "Closer", and the later compilation "Substance". It is only when you hear these songs you realize how troubled this young man was. To get a better detailed picture of his songs, I also bought the book "So this is Permanence" which has images of the scraps of paper he wrote his sad yet poetic words. I believe Ian is much better understood now than any time he was when alive.. sadly.
[quote=El stovey]
Same. Interesting that in the interview some of the remaining band members seem to dislike it and prefer closer.
I think the problem the band had with the album was how it was mixed, produced and recorded. Most of the band-members preferred a more Live" sound akin to their stage performances.
"Transmission" performance on Something Else - Ian danced that almost violent and energetic way with staring eyes, to mask his epilepsy illness.
Same. Interesting that in the interview some of the remaining band members seem to dislike it and prefer closer.
I think the problem the band had with the album was how it was mixed, produced and recorded. Most of the band-members preferred a more Live" sound akin to their stage performances.
"Transmission" performance on Something Else - Ian danced that almost violent and energetic way with staring eyes, to mask his epilepsy illness.
Here's "Atmosphere"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1EdUjlawLJM
Had to add this before this thread fades away.......
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1EdUjlawLJM
Had to add this before this thread fades away.......
bigandclever said:
I’m assuming none of us could afford to buy this 
https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/25996/lot/138/?ut...
Ian's Vox Phantom Guitar - Beautiful thing! I don't play but it would look great up on the wall of my lounge!https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/25996/lot/138/?ut...
[quote=jakesmith]
He developed epilepsy later on, didn’t have it as a child. They used to get hold of and take any prescription meds they could get no matter what they were for.
His life was extremely bleak and he doesn’t come across as remotely likeable.
One former band member was dumped out of the band by being asked to check for a flat tyre on their van, they pulled over, he got out for a look and they drove off leaving him there! Generous. [end quote]
Not sure that's exactly fair. Epilepsy, or more so, the treating of it wasn't very good back then, and I think he was bi-polar, so sometimes he was ok and other times he wasn't.. Depression, stress, the anxiety of letting his fellow bandmates down must have been insufferable, as was clear by him taking his own life on the eve of their US Tour.
There was a story when he kicked off in a violent epileptic fit in the back of their van when returning from a gig, and in this moment of confusion they restrained him as best as they could. We shouldn't forget, these were guys in their very early 20's, living in a desolute place with an even more desperate at times Ian Curtis. He left us with a troubled yet precious legacy..
He developed epilepsy later on, didn’t have it as a child. They used to get hold of and take any prescription meds they could get no matter what they were for.
His life was extremely bleak and he doesn’t come across as remotely likeable.
One former band member was dumped out of the band by being asked to check for a flat tyre on their van, they pulled over, he got out for a look and they drove off leaving him there! Generous. [end quote]
Not sure that's exactly fair. Epilepsy, or more so, the treating of it wasn't very good back then, and I think he was bi-polar, so sometimes he was ok and other times he wasn't.. Depression, stress, the anxiety of letting his fellow bandmates down must have been insufferable, as was clear by him taking his own life on the eve of their US Tour.
There was a story when he kicked off in a violent epileptic fit in the back of their van when returning from a gig, and in this moment of confusion they restrained him as best as they could. We shouldn't forget, these were guys in their very early 20's, living in a desolute place with an even more desperate at times Ian Curtis. He left us with a troubled yet precious legacy..
Here is "Decades", unofficial video but very good nevertheless.. Glad to see the thread still going...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2mKRjPHUNg
Corrected: See following post!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2mKRjPHUNg
Corrected: See following post!
Edited by rjfp1962 on Monday 26th October 11:36
TwigtheWonderkid said:
Am I the only one who felt a bit disappointed by New Order. Yes, they did some ok stuff, but imho, unlike Joy Division, they were nothing special
I have only got the double CD "Singles" of New Order and there is quite a few here that I don't like very much.In fairness though, Joy Division were a very different band to New Order - Just taking Ian's lyrics away for one, and the band going off in new directions..
I do like this though. "Temptation"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxDv_RTdLQo
bigandclever said:
Broadly, Hooky thought his bass was getting less and less part of the sound. The rest of them thought he was living in the past.
And then, later: a proper fallout over royalties; the sale of the Hacienda rights; Bad Lieutenant; The Light; ‘t
tto’; miming accusations; and Johnny Marr
Hooky's bass was a key part of the Joy Division sound, and was the driver to so many of their songs - I loved it!And then, later: a proper fallout over royalties; the sale of the Hacienda rights; Bad Lieutenant; The Light; ‘t
tto’; miming accusations; and Johnny Marr With New Order going down the path of keyboards, synth and new techniques, I guess the bass guitar became redundant...
And royalties/money - The biggest argument in a band......! or one of them..!
R.I.P Ian Curtis on what would have been his 65th birthday.....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhCLalLXHP4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CbeNRHtpgOk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PtvIr2oiaE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhCLalLXHP4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CbeNRHtpgOk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PtvIr2oiaE
MiseryStreak said:
It’s a good question though, I’d never thought of the second meaning of the word and the poignancy of that and the tomb on the cover following Curtis’ suicide.
I think I read somewhere that the rest of the band just thought Ian's lyrics were just "poetry" and not from far deeper place...!Just found this on BBC News website - "Joy Division: Photographer Kevin Cummins on photographing the post-punk icons"
Ian's daughter Natalie asking Kevin specifically, if he'd taken any pictures of her dad smiling...
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-5901...
Ian's daughter Natalie asking Kevin specifically, if he'd taken any pictures of her dad smiling...
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-5901...
Aitch vows to get Ian Curtis mural in Manchester fixed pronto.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-6...
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-6...
Gassing Station | Music | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff