Bernard: "I Remember Nothing"

I was reading Confusion book last week and Bernard insisted on the thing that it was him who cut his hand and then Gillian joined the band on stage in Eric's Liverpool and played half set with Joy Division. I don't think so. I agree that it was Ian who cut his hand in the dressing room. Gillian wouldn't be able to play even the easiest JD's tabs. What do you think?

Go with the legend. It isn't the first time that exact story has been told.

why all the gillian hate?

gillian rulz.

Whatever. Either way, Barney probably doesn't remember most things from one day to the next anymore, so who knows.. Hahahaha (Oh, like I have room to talk.) But, it's adorable, nonetheless.

Yes, why the Gillian hate? Because she's a woman? If so, that's pretty fucked up. She is much more capable than people think. Listen to The Other Two's "Tasty Fish". Its fucking great. Ok, its certainly no Electronic (none of the side bands live up to Electronic, sorry.) But it's still great. She knows her shit and isn't stupid.

Hate...?

Why would Gillian know Joy Division songs at that time anyway?

It really is hard to known how much input Gillian had with the band, thou I'm sure she had at least some influence in the 80s. But I doubt few consider her a musical genus in her multi-instramental playing ability. Musician-ship was never really a big deal in New order anyway.

And Bernard seems uncomfortable with the past, always offers a vague memory or says he does not remember. Semi-bullshit way of dealing with things, just doesn't want to remember things, or straighten stuff out.

0_o wrote: Hate...?

Why would Gillian know Joy Division songs at that time anyway?

It really is hard to known how much input Gillian had with the band, thou I'm sure she had at least some influence in the 80s. But I doubt few consider her a musical genus in her multi-instramental playing ability. Musician-ship was never really a big deal in New order anyway.

And Bernard seems uncomfortable with the past, always offers a vague memory or says he does not remember. Semi-bullshit way of dealing with things, just doesn't want to remember things, or straighten stuff out.

Well, she doesn't seem to be a musical genius, but that doesn't mean she isn't still capable of coming up with great music. Though, I think and it well seems the real musical and technological genius was mostly Barney and Steve. I think the proof stands on its own with that one. And just as conversely, also doesn't mean Barney and Steve aren't capable of doing some crap music. (though, even the "crap" is great, too. heh) Ok, personally I've never really heard a truly shitty song of Barney's with any NO or collab. Even the Raise the Pressure stuff. *hides* And no, I'm not some psycho Barney fan. So, shush the feck up.

Now Steve and Gill's latest NIN remix is kinda fucked up.

I believe the story was first told on the New Order Story. It is generally agreed that she wasn't much good at the time.

As I remember it she and Steve were already going out at the time, so she was there and did know the songs.

They joke that she killed Ian to get into the band. lol As the band often state they wanted someone who couldn't play as a "replacement" so they could mold them to fit in and they knew she couldn't play. LOL again.

Gillian certainly learned and developed quickly and her contributions are often downplayed.

There is an interesting article in one of the Sound on Sound magazines where it is described how she just went away and came back with the synth lines for True Faith and 1963 in a day or so with no fuss.

Personally I feel her contributions to New Order are noticeable in their absence. Where are all the beautiful synth lines on the last two albums?

Tarbox23 wrote: why all the gillian hate?

gillian rulz.

Hate?

No, mate. I am just saying that she was an amateur guitarist in a punk girl group those days. How could she play songs like Shadowplay, Disorder or She's Lost Control for instance? I prefer the version that it was Ian who cut his hand and couldn't play guitar during I remember nothing anyway.

I believe I read somewhere that in the beginning Bernard used to tape numbers on the keyboard so Gillian knew what notes to play in what order. I would imagine that with time and practice she improved just as Bernard and Hooky did. Neither of them knew what they were doing in the beginning either. Geez, some people say they still don't. lol

btw, Meatballs, I like the remix of "God Given".....:)

Liz wrote: I believe I read somewhere that in the beginning Bernard used to tape numbers on the keyboard so Gillian knew what notes to play in what order.

That's true!

Yeah I first heard about this on the 'New Order Story'. Struck me as a tad far-fetched. Incidentally there's no mention in 'An Ideal for Living' which is choc-a-bloc with info.

An Ideal For Living is choc full of inaccuracy and speculation. Not reliable info.

Gillian could master the one note needed on I Remember Nothing. Even then she was tons better than Ian on guitar, who really was from the Richey Edwards school of strum technique!

Tim wrote: An Ideal For Living is choc full of inaccuracy and speculation. Not reliable info.

Gillian could master the one note needed on I Remember Nothing. Even then she was tons better than Ian on guitar, who really was from the Richey Edwards school of strum technique!

But you agree that she wouldn't be able to play the rest of the set, don't you? I think that Ian cut his hand before the encore (I Remember Nothing, I suppose)and then Gillian came on from the audience.

If the cast of Control coudl learn a bunch of JD songs in two weeks and play them fairly well, I am sure that Gillian could have at least ably improvised her way thru a few JD songs.

It sorta gets me that people don't give Gillian credit.....the beautiful synth melodies on True Faith, Regret, TPK, BLT, Thieves Like Us.........those have sorely been missing on the last two albums due to her absence.

She is a pretty good guitarist as well.

By some of the comments on youtube i've read, people underestimate her musical ability for sure.

Retards.

I guess a lot is due to the fact that she seems to take a backseat and she doesn't have the "Look at me!" mentality. Because she is quiet, she is often overlooked. As others have stated, you can definitely hear how the music has changed in her absence.

Speaking of stories from the past, I wonder if it is true that Hooky used to pass gas so the smell would go in Gillian's face? I read that in David Nolan's book, I think. Or am I hallucinating again?

I am really starting to believe that a lot of people underestimate Gillians considerable Keyboard playing and guitar playing skills and the considerable amount of melody and awesome keyboard parts thats she brought to New Order simply because she is a woman.

Yes, she is a woman, and yes she is quiet...but her skills speak for themselves.

Listen to all of the melodies and counter melodies she plays on True Faith......she wrote those herself. The subtle differences between the keyboard parts and melodies on the first, second, and third verses...the chorus parts...which are quite honestly hard to play......She brought a lot to that song, and many others.

On top of that...

I know a lot of female musicians who really look up to Gillian and admire her....

And she always looked so classy when playing onstage with New Order. :) She was quiet....but she let her talent speak for itself. :)

NOOLigan wrote:

Personally I feel her contributions to New Order are noticeable in their absence. Where are all the beautiful synth lines on the last two albums?

Also, what about the 3 Electronic albums? The synths seem much blander to me from "Soviet" to "Twisted Tenderness", seems to missing some new orderly element, Electronic synths seems much more run of the mill, maybe Gillian is the missing element.

Even though Joy Division songs are simple, and she knew the songs from watching the band, it seems very hard to believe she could jump in and play Bernard's guitar parts on the spot. In contrast, Ian's guitar parts were extremely simple.

0_o wrote:

NOOLigan wrote:

Personally I feel her contributions to New Order are noticeable in their absence. Where are all the beautiful synth lines on the last two albums?

Also, what about the 3 Electronic albums? The synths seem much blander to me from "Soviet" to "Twisted Tenderness", seems to missing some new orderly element, Electronic synths seems much more run of the mill, maybe Gillian is the missing element.

Even though Joy Division songs are simple, and she knew the songs from watching the band, it seems very hard to believe she could jump in and play Bernard's guitar parts on the spot. In contrast, Ian's guitar parts were extremely simple.

I will wait for the old timers' answer tomorrow to see if we have a change of landscape

Zachery Starkey wrote: If the cast of Control coudl learn a bunch of JD songs in two weeks and play them fairly well, I am sure that Gillian could have at least ably improvised her way thru a few JD songs.

It sorta gets me that people don't give Gillian credit.....the beautiful synth melodies on True Faith, Regret, TPK, BLT, Thieves Like Us.........those have sorely been missing on the last two albums due to her absence.

She is a pretty good guitarist as well.

Don't forget Vanishing Point and Dream Attack.

robert duggan wrote:

Zachery Starkey wrote: If the cast of Control coudl learn a bunch of JD songs in two weeks and play them fairly well, I am sure that Gillian could have at least ably improvised her way thru a few JD songs.

It sorta gets me that people don't give Gillian credit.....the beautiful synth melodies on True Faith, Regret, TPK, BLT, Thieves Like Us.........those have sorely been missing on the last two albums due to her absence.

She is a pretty good guitarist as well.

Don't forget Vanishing Point and Dream Attack.

or RUDOLF HESS

ROCKET MICK wrote:

robert duggan wrote:

Zachery Starkey wrote: If the cast of Control coudl learn a bunch of JD songs in two weeks and play them fairly well, I am sure that Gillian could have at least ably improvised her way thru a few JD songs.

It sorta gets me that people don't give Gillian credit.....the beautiful synth melodies on True Faith, Regret, TPK, BLT, Thieves Like Us.........those have sorely been missing on the last two albums due to her absence.

She is a pretty good guitarist as well.

Don't forget Vanishing Point and Dream Attack.

or RUDOLF HESS

Never heard of him. Who is he?

NOOLigan wrote:

ROCKET MICK wrote:

robert duggan wrote:

Zachery Starkey wrote: If the cast of Control coudl learn a bunch of JD songs in two weeks and play them fairly well, I am sure that Gillian could have at least ably improvised her way thru a few JD songs.

It sorta gets me that people don't give Gillian credit.....the beautiful synth melodies on True Faith, Regret, TPK, BLT, Thieves Like Us.........those have sorely been missing on the last two albums due to her absence.

She is a pretty good guitarist as well.

Don't forget Vanishing Point and Dream Attack.

or RUDOLF HESS

Never heard of him. Who is he?

Joy Division's manager in Germany