Warsaw

Bernard Sumner and Peter Hook began forming a band after seeing the Sex Pistols in Manchester. Ian Curtis soon joined as vocalist, while Terry Mason was originally involved on drums before moving into a managerial role.

The group was briefly advertised as Stiff Kittens, a name suggested from outside the band and never really embraced by the members. They needed a name for early bookings but quickly moved away from it.

The band adopted the name Warsaw, inspired by David Bowie's Warszawa from the album Low. Warsaw played their first concert at the Electric Circus in Manchester on 29 May 1977, supporting Buzzcocks, Penetration and John Cooper Clarke. Tony Tabac played drums at the show after joining only shortly beforehand.

Tony Tabac left after a short spell with the band and was replaced by Steve Brotherdale. This period captured Warsaw at their rawest and most punk-influenced.

Warsaw recorded early demo material at Pennine Sound Studios in Oldham. The recordings included songs such as The Drawback, Leaders of Men and Novelty, showing a rougher version of what would later become Joy Division.

Steve Brotherdale was replaced and Stephen Morris joined on drums after answering an advertisement. His arrival completed the classic line-up of Ian Curtis, Bernard Sumner, Peter Hook and Stephen Morris.

With Stephen Morris in place, Warsaw's sound began moving away from basic punk toward something darker, colder and more distinctive. The band's identity was still forming, but the ingredients of Joy Division were now in place.

The band recorded the four tracks that would become An Ideal for Living at Pennine Sound Studios: Warsaw, No Love Lost, Leaders of Men and Failures. The material was still recorded during the Warsaw period, even though it would be released after the name change.

Warsaw played one of their final shows under that name at the Swinging Apple in Liverpool. By this point, the band were preparing to move on from the Warsaw identity.

To avoid confusion with the London punk band Warsaw Pakt, Warsaw changed their name to Joy Division. The new name marked the beginning of the group's lasting identity.

The band played their first concert as Joy Division at Pip's Disco in Manchester. Warsaw was over as a working band name, but the songs and recordings from that period remained part of the group's foundation.

An Ideal for Living was released on the band's own Enigma label. Although credited to Joy Division, the EP preserved the Warsaw-era sound and included the song Warsaw as its opening track.

The name Warsaw became attached to bootlegs and archive releases collecting the band's early recordings. For many fans, Warsaw came to represent the rough, pre-Factory version of Joy Division.

An Ideal for Living was reissued for Record Store Day in a remastered edition, bringing the Warsaw-era material back into official circulation with updated artwork.