Joy Division

Joy Division are a post-punk group from Salford, United Kingdom, active from 1978 to 1980. The classic line-up consists of Ian Curtis on vocals and occasional guitar, Bernard Sumner on guitar and keyboards, Peter Hook on bass guitar and backing vocals, and Stephen Morris on drums and percussion. The group begins in Salford in 1976, when Bernard Sumner and Peter Hook form a band with Terry Mason after being inspired by a Sex Pistols concert at the Manchester Lesser Free Trade Hall. Curtis joins after the band advertises for a singer.

Early names and formation

The group first uses the name Stiff Kittens, then changes to Warsaw before adopting Joy Division in late 1977 to avoid confusion with another punk group. The name refers to women used as sex slaves in Nazi concentration camps, as depicted in Ka-Tzetnik 135633’s novel The House of Dolls. The choice attracts criticism, and the band is also accused of neo-Nazism, which it denies. Sumner also uses the surname Albrecht for a period.

Terry Mason leaves before the first gig and becomes the group’s manager. He is replaced first by Tony Tabac, then by Steve Brotherdale, and finally by Stephen Morris, whose drumming style differs from the more aggressive approach typical of punk. Morris joins after responding to an advert in a music shop window, and Curtis already knows him from school.

Recordings and releases

Joy Division play their first gig under that name in January 1978 and then perform regularly in the north of England. Their early studio material is scrapped after synthesizers are added in the mix, but it later appears as a bootleg and then an official release. Their first vinyl appearance comes on the compilation Short Circuit, and their early EP An Ideal for Living appears from 1978 material. They also contribute to the compilation EP A Factory Sample, which helps establish the band’s atmospheric sound.

Their debut album, Unknown Pleasures, is recorded at Strawberry Studios in Stockport with producer Martin Hannett. The record is noted for Peter Hook’s melodic bass lines, heavily reverberated drums, Bernard Sumner’s angular guitar and Curtis’s baritone vocals. Its sleeve, designed by Peter Saville, uses a graph based on pulsar CP 1919 and becomes one of the best-known minimalist album covers. The album becomes an influential release in post-punk, and the band’s music is widely associated with the style’s darker, more introspective side.

In 1980, the group records Closer with Hannett again producing. After Curtis’s death, Love Will Tear Us Apart reaches the British singles chart, and Closer also charts highly in the UK. Their early work continues to draw attention, and Unknown Pleasures sells strongly over time.

Sound and influence

Joy Division are known for a dark, cavernous sound that makes use of synthesizers and electronics alongside conventional rock instruments. Their music is often described as austere, intense and influential, and they are considered one of the pioneering groups of the post-punk movement. John Peel plays an important role in their profile through repeated radio sessions and broadcasts, and the band’s first album becomes a reference point for many later acts.

Breakup and legacy

The group ends after Ian Curtis dies in May 1980. Curtis suffers from epilepsy, and his health worsens during the band’s 1980 touring schedule. The surviving members continue as New Order, later joined by Gillian Gilbert to expand the line-up on keyboards and second guitar. Joy Division’s work remains highly regarded, with songs such as “Atmosphere” and “Love Will Tear Us Apart” continuing to stand out in polls and retrospectives. The group is accepted into the UK Music Hall of Fame in 2005.