Biography
The British rock band Joy Division existed a little more than 3 years, but gained the status of a cult, becoming a bright and original representative of the postpark culture. The original sound of the group did not fit into any existing trends, differing in monotonous rhythm and deep texts that depressiveness. Young decadents from the Manchester "Division of Joy" for almost funeral melodiousness and vocal inconsistencies are considered pioneers of the Gothic rock.The history of creation and composition
The starting point in the biography of Joy Division was the SEX Pistols concert, held in Manchester in 1976. No more than 40 people were present on the speech, but the powerful impression of the new music made young guys from industrial regions seriously think about creating their own group. Bernarda Samnera, Peter Huku and Terry Mason was at that time for 20 years, they were friends from school times.
The guys with enthusiasm took up the rehearsals, Samner became a guitarist, and Hook began to master the bass guitar. The guys lacked the drummer and soloist, and had to place an ad about the set in the group. The drummer was chosen for a long time and painfully until Steve Morris came to the team. But the frontman Joy Division Ian Kurtis appeared in the composition of times and forever, becoming a vocalist and the author of all texts. Ian also attended the SEX Pistols sign concert, but then was not yet familiar with future comrades.
Started, with a wide music horizon, Kurtis became a mentor for members of the group, advising them to read modern religious novels and listen to progressive music. From the beginning of 1977, the guy began to write lyrics, and the group began holding rehearsals in a local pub, preparing for the first speech, which took place in May.
By the time the team had no name yet. Having decided to name "Warsaw", the guys did simultaneously referring to the tragedy of World War II and to David Bowie, whose composition was inspired.
An important point in the history of the Group's creation becomes the choice of the final name, which is taken from the book of Echiel Dinur "House of Dolls". The novel tells about the fate of the Jewish girl, forced concubine in the Nazi Bordend, who worn the name Joy Division. From January 1978, it was called a hypnotically a gloomy punk group from Manchester, who served as a source of inspiration for the Gothic subculture.
Music
The first studio demo musicians recorded in 1977, but the songs did not enter any album and later they were not overwritten. These compositions did not resemble the style of Joy Division, how they know now. A loud, striking walls of the punk sound of bass and drums interrupted vocal parties and, according to Peter Hook, was like a car disaster.In December of the same year, the Group releases the first mini-album "An Ideal for Living", from which the musicians start the road to their own style. The guys leave the chaos and scream, thinking through harmony, rhythm and composition. In the song "No Love Lost" quoted "House of dolls" - that novel that gave a group of a gloomy ironic name.
The plate had to be released on its own funds, and the guys retired the layout of the cover independently, packaged discs and sent them to reviewers. Unfortunately, the quality of the recording turned out to be unimportant that upset the novice musicians. In addition, the group did not find concert sites for speeches, so practically did not appear in public.
The first success was random: setting up the sound in one of the clubs, the guys began to play the song "Transmission" and unexpectedly attracted the attention of all those in the hall. Then it became clear that the musicians go in the right direction and find their own sound, causing a living response.
In 1978, Joy Division appears the manager of Rob Gretton, who noticed a young group while performing at the Rafters Club. Rob engaged in reproving the first mini album, seeking the purity of sound.
In the autumn of the 1978th TV presenter Tony Wilson, who had a recording of fresh alternative teams on the air, invited Manchester guys to the transfer. Those played the song "Shadowplay", and Ian Kurtis introduced the audience in the Translessa vocal and strange convulsive television traffic. Tony Wilson just at that time opened their own club The Factory in Manchester, at the opening of which Joy Division.
Giving the opportunity to promising musicians to gain high-quality sound, Wilson opens recording studio and Factory Records, a contract with which Joy Division signed in October 1978.
From this time, the group acquires solid soil under the legs and the possibility of entering a wide audience. At the end of the year, their first solo concert is successfully held in the London Club, and before that, the musicians held a month in the tour in the city of England. The team still does not have an album, because the producer attempts to intervene in the entry and impose on the track of the keyboard the keyboard met the fierce rebuff of Kurtis.
As a result, the full debut plate Joy Division comes out in June 1979 on the Labell Tony Wilson, although by the time the possibility of cooperation with the group competes other recording studios.
The first album "Unknown Pleasures" is included in the list of the best plates, but at the time of the exit did not use in great demand. Without hitting any chart, the release was still approvingly met with critics. The realistic and piercing poetry of Ian Kurtis was complemented by the spatial, atmospheric sound of the tools, and the music of a completely new genre was obtained at the exit, not like anything heard before. Here "New Dawn Fades", "Insight" and "I Remember Nothing" sounds here.
The popularity of the team grows, and the intensity of concerts is expected. Musicians perform in large halls and festivals. In the fall, the group performs songs "She's Lost Control" and Transmission "on the BBC channel. Joy Division has few clips, and the official video on the hit "Love Will Tear US Apart" can be calculated with the stretch.
In the summer of 1980, the group's discography is replenished with the album "Closer", which became the second and last. Prior to that, the limited single "Licht Und Blindheit 7" was released, which includes the song "Dead Souls". Single "Love Will Tear US Apart" came out in the summer and became the latest original Joy Division material.
Decay of the Joy Division group
In early 1980, the group reached the peak of popularity. The growing interest in the team was supported by the proposals of profitable contracts, from which the musicians refused. However, success, glory and hype did not inspire Ian Kurtis, but, on the contrary, led to depression. In the photo, the musician invariably looks tired and deeply immersed in itself
Curtis has always had health problems, suffering from epilepsy. During the concert activity of the exacerbation of the disease and seizures, they frequent and sometimes took place right on stage. In addition, the guy's family life occurred a crisis caused by misunderstanding and mutual treason.
As a result, leaving a suicide note, 23-year-old Ian hanged himself in his house on May 18, 1980. Before that, the young man has already attempted to commit suicide. He never saw the release of his best album and a single who became a global hit.
The participants of the group decided not to give up the music and after the death of Kurtis founded the team called New Order. Musicians fully updated the repertoire and agreed not to include Joy Division songs.
To this day, the group of Ian Kurtis remains a cult representative of his era, documenting and art films are removed about it, and cavities are still writing to the hits.
Discography
- 1978 - An Ideal for Living
- 1979 - Unknown Pleasures
- 1980 - Closer.
- 1981 - Still.
Clips
- 1980 - "Love Will Tear US Apart"
- 1988 - "ATMOSPHERE"