If Ian hadn't killed himself, where would JD/NO be today?

If Ian never killed himself, where do you think the band would be today? Would they be even bigger and more popular, or would they have died off in the 80's?

Originally posted by Happy as a Clam I'll state the obvious...we wouldn't have ever had New Order...

But we'd still have Joy Division, and looking at the quick progress they were making into electronic music, that would be a preferable alternative.

Originally posted by 5 8 6 If Ian never killed himself, where do you think the band would be today? Would they be even bigger and more popular, or would they have died off in the 80's?

The only thing I get remotely curious about what if scenarios is Ian solo. How would he fit in with the other solo works ( and before anyone starts bleating on about how they would'nt have split, this is an hypothetical question is'nt it ? ) That said I'm only remotely curious, someone else can throw some theories into the ring, if they want that is

He'd probably have spent too much time with the likes of Genesis P......

Well now the old curiosity has been piqued, Gen P. I sometimes wonder if Ian migh've gone the Mark E route, y'know different media, though possibly not a Michael Clarke ballet

Can't see Ian as the wordy curmudgeon. His wars were with himself, not with everyone else.

who can tell.

JoyDivision were 4 very highly creative and talented people. i dont think anyone should underestimate any part of the group(steve is the coolest anyhow ).

theywould have done something special, and it wouldnt be the commercially orienated shit that the likes of u2 turn out every 3 years.

i seriously think people underestimate steve. anyone with "warsaw" will know he was the only one with a shred of techinal ability back then, and look how he developed (and contributed) to all jou div AND new order songs over the years, plus, hes the only one who has held that look together for well on 25 years now. no peter kay belly for our steve.

so whoever slagged off steve

Who is right, who can tell And who gives a damn right now ?

Nah, I'm losin this thread, curiosity very remote now. Not realy a fan of what if's, still I thought I'd be polite and give it a go, gettin Mark E and Gen P a mention is not without merit though.

They would never of had a UK no.1 single,thats for sure!

Originally posted by Clockwork C who can tell.JoyDivision were 4 very highly creative and talented people. i dont think anyone should underestimate any part of the group(steve is the coolest anyhow ).theywould have done something special, and it wouldnt be the commercially orienated shit that the likes of u2 turn out every 3 years.i seriously think people underestimate steve. anyone with "warsaw" will know he was the only one with a shred of techinal ability back then, and look how he developed (and contributed) to all jou div AND new order songs over the years, plus, hes the only one who has held that look together for well on 25 years now. no peter kay belly for our steve.so whoever slagged off steve

Agreed! Even though I've never seen him in person, his drumming on Taras is outstanding, he looks near death during Temptation, but still goes out strongly.

If Ian had survived, JD would have released a masterpiece of an album around 1981-1982 featuring Ceremony and In A Lonely Place the way Ian intended. They wouldn't be able to follow up, Ian would quit the business over health problems/interpersonal issues. The three piece would carry on for a few albums, Barney would go solo by 86, and that would be the end by 1990. I guess we'll never know.

They would have evolved into a less commercial version of New Order... maybe in a 'Cabaret Voltaire' or 'Front 242' style!! But probably would never have made Technique... :( But they'd have been shit hot cutting edge music!

how many of these threads are we going to get this month