NOISE
Joy Division: From Punk Revelation to Tragedy
Joy Division's story began at the Sex Pistols' 1976 gig in Manchester, where Peter Hook and Bernard Sumner were inspired to form the band with Ian Curtis. Over two revolutionary albums, 'Unknown Pleasures' and 'Closer', producer Martin Hannett shaped post-punk's sound. It ended tragically on 18 May 1980, when Curtis died by suicide at 23, the night before the band's first US tour.
RTBF's retrospective frames Joy Division through the Sex Pistols' 1976 Lesser Free Trade Hall gig, where Peter Hook and Bernard Sumner realised rock could finally be theirs. Joined by Ian Curtis—a JobCentre employee reading Burroughs and Nietzsche—they reshaped post-punk's landscape under producer Martin Hannett across 'Unknown Pleasures' and 'Closer'.
The piece culminates in Curtis's death on 18 May 1980, at age 23, the night before the band's first American tour. Iggy Pop's "The Idiot" was still playing on his turntable—a haunting final image that speaks to the cultural forces shaping their brief, brilliant existence.
Summary by NewOrderOnline. Full article remains with the original publisher.
