What a Joke!!

After 5 years from reading the Mick Middles's book "From Joy Division to New Order" I was again in the mood to get back into the imagery of JD & NO in Manchester in the late 70's early 80's. I was pretty thrilled that the book was still relevant and it still told the tale in a matter of fact fashion and still thrilled. Then I got to the climactic events, Ian being under so much pressure because of the US tour that was to start. His episodes becoming more visible and the depression. On page 146 the writer and the bands manger, Rob going shopping together. Rob shopping for outfits for the band and Mick for his wedding. Well the idiot writes: "One week later, on Saturday night on March 17 1980 .... ... Ian Curtis, torn between two lives, two loves, between whisky and medication, would hang himself.." Powerful lines and I was a little chocked up. Then it hit me!! March?? The writer had the stupid month wrong; this was a week before his wedding. This was one of the most important dates in musical history and he had it wrong! It was May 17th not March. Needless to say, I am on a trip and I was looking forward to reading the book again and I cant get myself past that page and have not read anything more... So much for eye witnesses and experts who were there in that magical time and saw it all happen before their own very eyes. Wonder what else is incorrect in this book.

Koorosh

Wasn't it the 18th of May.

Cheers Jon

Lots of people around Manchester and "the scene" at that time have nothing but bad things to say about Mick Middles

I seen a "documentary" one night that claimed to have proof of exactly how Ayrton Senna died and why. To say the facts were no such thing would be an understatement, but they didn't even spell his fucking name right....."Aryton Senna" it kept saying. I mean , come ON.

And what about Mr Pegg's crap at the hall of fame about remixing, that's fucking trevor Horn he's thinking of. NO didn't farm out their songs for a mix, they just hijacked producers to work with them on it, there's a difference. Wasn't the first actual real New Order remix BM88? BLT was a coproduction with that drum-plodding freak pettibone sub culture was a re-recording with a producer (was that one Robie I can't remember).

Steve Campbell wrote: Wasn't the first actual real New Order remix BM88?

No. Surely The Beach is their first re-mix. A proper cut 'n' paste job.

I think oldmonkey has a bit to say about the reliability of Middles' writing! Jonny Marr called him a parasite.

I quite like the book though, if only because not many such books are out there.

Paul Morley should devote a full book to Factory. I quite liked bits of 'Nothing'.

Not Paul Morely

Dave Fox wrote:

Steve Campbell wrote: Wasn't the first actual real New Order remix BM88?

No. Surely The Beach is their first re-mix. A proper cut 'n' paste job.

OK, fair point (not all that proper a job tho, there's a HUGE mis-slive in the middle of it, how you manage that at 15 i/s I dunno :)

But anyway, the comment made was about them trailblazing the modern style of remixing (band make good song, give to DJ, he makes his own crap track with it, and so on, or shit rock band desperately seek cook by getting some dance guy to mix their shit luddite music). That's a scene NO came to relatively lately really, I'd say.

You know what I mean but, there's so many things they DO deserve credit for, let's not start spoiling it with things they don't.

There's little point in picking up on each individual mistake in each Joy Division book, it would be quicker, for example, to rewrite 'Dreams Never End' book by Claude Flowers(?) than correct it. I've just got a copy from ebay and am pissing myself laughing at every page!! Mind you, getting wrong the date Curtis topped himself :rip: is a little.... careless , is that the word?