Joy Division saw the light after a Sex Pistols concert was held at the Free Trade Hall (Manchester). Peter Hook, Bernard Sumner and Terry Mason attended this gig, as well as Ian Curtis, whom they met there.
After a few days, Peter Hook (bass), Bernard Sumner (guitar) and Terry Mason (drums) decided to put an add in order to find other people wanting to create a band. Ian Curtis simply answered to them and became the band’s singer.
They called their band Warsaw, derived from the song Warszawa (Warsaw in Polish) from David Bowie’s Low album.
On the night prior to give their first concert, Terry Mason left Warsaw (became its manager). Tony Tabac replaced him. But after about one month, he also left (he was outmoded and unreliable). Finding a drummer was not that easy; Warsaw dithered with drummers. Steve Botherdale followed, stayed for one month too, then left Warsaw too (because both Peter Hook and Bernard Sumner didn’t like his personality).
Finally in August 1977, Steve Morris joined in, so the line-up was complete.
Their first song to be recorded (live at the Electric Circus) was At A Later Date (on Short Circuit 10"), on October 2nd 1977.
December saw the recording of the An Ideal For Living EP (Pennine Sound Studios, Oldham) (which was released later under the name Joy Division).
In November 1977, Warsaw Pakt (of London) had released their first album. Warsaw decided to change their name, as they didn't want to be mistaken for Warsaw Pakt. In January 1978, they changed their name into Joy Division.
In April 1978, they met Rob Gretton at the Stiff Records test/Chiswick Challenge at Rafters (Manchester). He liked their performance and introduced Joy Division to Tony Wilson, a well-known presenter on Granada TV.
From May 1st to 4th, Joy Division recorded material for their debut-album (Arrow Studios, Manchester), which was finally never released, as one of the producers (John Anderson) put synths on the final mix, and Ian Curtis didn’t like it at all. Soon after Rob Gretton took over as manager.
In June, Joy Division played together with several other local bands on the opening of Tony Wilson's club The Factory (Manchester). Peter Saville designed the poster for the concert (as well as quite everything to be released by Joy Division later on). Around that time, Tony Wilson and Alan Erasmus started up the Factory Records label and signed Joy Division in October. The music press started to take notice of the band.
On September 20, the band appeared on the Granada Reports program (Granada TV) and performed Shadowplay. On October 11, they recorded (Cargo Studios, Rochdale) two songs for the A Factory Sample compilation EP. On December 27, they played their first concert in London, at the Hope And Anchor in Islington.
On January 31 1979, DJ John Peel did a session with the band (BBC studio, Maida Vale, London), broadcasted on February 14. On March 4, they played support for The Cure at the Marquee (London).
In April 1979, they recorded Unknown Pleasures (Strawberry Studios, Stockport) with producer Martin Hannett, who became the fifth member of Joy Division, and was released in June. In three years, it sold 100 000 copies.
On July 20, the band made its second TV appearance, on the What's on? program (Granada TV), and performed She's Lost Control. At Scala Cinema (London), Factory organized Fac 9 on September 13, a showing of a Joy Division film No City Fun. Two days later, Joy Division made their last major television appearance on the Something Else program (BBC 2). Ian Curtis made a great impression on the audience with his obsessive robotic movements during Transmission and She's Lost Control. On October 27 and 28 1979, they were taped on video during their concerts at the Apollo Theatre (Manchester), later released on Here Are The Young Men.
In November, Joy Division were offered a one-million-dollars contract for distribution in America and participation in a series of videos, but the band never answered their offer. They neither did when the offer was reproposed in May 1980 with more favourable terms for Joy Division! On 26th, they recorded (BBC Studios, Maida Vale, London) their second Peel session. The show was broadcasted on December 10th. The weird thing is that Love Will Tear Us Apart wasn’t available anywhere, except live at Joy Division concerts, and it became the best know not-recorded song in Britain.
In March 1980, Sordide Sentimental released the Licht Und Blindheit 7" (w/ Atmosphere and Dead Souls), a limited edition of 1578 numbered copies, produced by Martin Hannett. Both songs were recorded (Cargo Studios, Rochdale) in October 1979. Closer (Britannia Row Studios, Islington, London) and Love Will Tear Us Apart (Pennine Sound Studios, Oldham) were recorded in March.
On May 2nd, the band played in Birmingham what would be their last concert. This concert was taped as it should have been used for a video project, which was never released finally. This concert can be heard on Still though.
Joy Division were supposed to leave on May 19 for their forthcoming American tour. But Ian Curtis ended his life on May 18. He was hanging is his kitchen when Deborah (his wife) found him. He left Deborah and little baby Natalie behind him. Deborah got re-married in 1982 and had another child, Wesley.
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