Ian Curtis, Bernard Sumner, Peter Hook, and Stephen Morris came together at a Sex Pistols in June 1976 to form the band we know today as Joy Division; one of the first bands to emerge on to the post-punk scene of the late 70s. Here I break down their 5 most
influential and ground-breaking tracks.
She’s Lost Control
This track, which relies on a chilling bassline from Peter Hook, tells the story of a young girl which Curtis became familiar with at his work at a job centre in Salford. She died of an epileptic fit in Curtis’ presence. This tragic story is told with incredible, yet explicit, lyricism.
Twenty Four Hours
Perhaps the darkest of Joy Division’s songs, in terms of the lyrics. The same bassline carries on throughout the track, increasing in speed to keep up with Morris’ impeccable drumming ability.
Interzone
The riff on this track is where the punk side of Bernard Sumner guitar shines through. Curtis’ vocal performance here is both enthralling and chilling. He sings in two different tones, almost creating a dialogue within himself; which creates all new levels of ambiguity to his message.
Transmission
It was the performance of this song on Tony Wilson’s So It Goes which threw Joy Division in to the limelight. Yet another haunting bassline from Hook starts the track off, which is then joined by a quick drum beat and an inspiring guitar riff. Curtis, as always, has the lyrical ability to match. This song effectively gave birth to the Joy Division we all know and love.
Love Will Tear Us Apart
Their most famous and most widely appreciated track, and probably the only one of their songs that you can get away with putting on at a party. This song has lived through decades of eras and movements and still holds its place as one of the greatest and most important songs of all time. Released in the same month as Curtis’ suicide, it is surrounded by some sort of dark irony that it seems like this track will live forever.