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Why is his middle name commonly spelled as Amschel, when it is actually Anschel? The inscriptions on his children's graves spell it in Hebrew as אנשיל.
'''Joy Division''' was a [[post punk]] band formed in [[1977]] in [[Manchester, England]]. The band dissolved in May of [[1980]] after the [[suicide]] of its lead singer [[Ian Curtis]]. The remaining members reformed as [[New Order]] a couple of months later.
Many of the children have Mayer in their names, so it doesn't seem logical that this is a given name. Could it be the family name in Hebrew, to which the Rothschild name was appended?
==History==
=== 1976 ===
Inspired by a [[Sex Pistols]] gig at the [[Manchester Lesser Free Trade Hall]] on [[July 20]], [[1976]], [[Guitar|guitarist]] [[Bernard Sumner]] (also listed on labels as "Bernard Dicken", "Bernard Albrecht" and "Bernard Albrecht-Dicken") and [[Bass guitar|bassist]] [[Peter Hook]] formed a band with friend [[Terry Mason]], who attempted to play drums but didn't last long in the band.
They placed an advertisement in a Manchester record store, and recruited [[singer]] [[Ian Curtis]], who also attended the Sex Pistols gig with his wife Deborah and already knew Bernard, Peter, and Terry from previous gigs.
=== 1977 ===
Though not much of a punk drummer, [[Tony Tabac]] joined the group in early 1977. They began practicing on a regular basis but did not have a name. Just before their first gig (Electric Circus [[29 May]] [[1977]]), supporting [[The Buzzcocks]] and [[penetration (band)|Penetration]], the band decided on the name Warsaw, though they had already appeared on the bill as the Stiff Kittens, a name suggested by [[Pete Shelley]] of the Buzzcocks and Richard Boon. After this gig, they immediately dropped it in favor of Warsaw.
Five weeks and half a dozen gigs later, Tony Tabac was replaced by punk drummer [[Steve Brotherdale]] from another band called Panik. They recorded [[The Warsaw Demo]] on [[18 July]] [[1977]], consisting of five crude punk songs.
After the demo, Brotherdale was fired after being asked to fix a flat tire while on the [[motorway]]; the remaining band members drove off without him. Brotherdale tried to get Ian Curtis to join Panik but Curtis refused. [[Stephen Morris]], who responded to an ad in a music store window, was hired as a replacement, he was hired thanks to the fact that Curtis remembered him from his school days as Morris attended the same school two years below Curtis. Unlike the previous drummers, Morris clicked well with the other three. His [[metronome]]-like drumming owed more to [[krautrock]] than the aggressive bombast typical of many punk drummers. In late 1977, Warsaw renamed themselves Joy Division to avoid confusion with [[London]] [[punk rock|punk]] band [[Warsaw Pakt]]. It was also around this time that their music began to mature. Sessions recorded in December of 1977 sound considerably different from [[The Warsaw Demo]].
=== 1978 ===
The group played their first gig as Joy Division on [[25 January]] [[1978]]. They then played regularly in the north of [[England]] throughout early [[1978]], and recorded enough material for a debut album. However, after the studio engineer added [[synthesizer]]s to several tracks, the band scrapped it. It would be released as a [[bootleg]] in [[1982]] and then officially 10 years later.
Joy Division's debut on vinyl was on a compilation in the summer of 1978 called ''Short Circuit''. Though listed as Joy Division, it was actually a track from the Warsaw days recorded live on [[2 October]] [[1977]]. In June 1978 their December 1977 sessions were released as a 7" [[EP]] under the title ''[[An Ideal for Living]]''. In late 1978, ''An Ideal for Living'' was remastered and re-released as a 12".
On [[20 September]] [[1978]], they performed on the TV show Granada Reports and in December 1978, they appeared on the compilation EP ''A Factory Sample'', contributing two tracks recorded a couple months earlier. This EP sold out within a couple months and was the first release to document the haunting and atmospheric sound that Joy Division had been developing since that past summer.
=== 1979 ===
Early 1979 saw Joy Division gain more publicity. Ian Curtis appeared on the front cover of the New Musical Express. Joy Division recorded a [[radio session]] in January (aired on [[BBC Radio 1]] on [[14 February]] by the respected indie [[DJ]] [[John Peel]]). On [[4 March]], they supported the Cure at the [[Marquee Club]], a major venue in London.
In April 1979, the band began recording their landmark debut [[album]] ''[[Unknown Pleasures]]''. The record was far bleaker and darker than most contemporary rock music, featuring Hook's bass as the lead melodic instrument, drums soaked in icy [[reverb]], Albrecht's jagged guitar and Curtis' [[baritone]] vocal style. Whereas [[punk rock]] had been [[extrovert]]ed and aggressive, Joy Division were more [[introvert]]ed and personal. The album cover, designed by [[Peter Saville]] based on a graph of 100 consecutive pulses from the [[pulsar]] [[CP 1919]], is regarded a classic of minimalist sleeve design. ''Unknown Pleasures'' was released in June while Joy Division were recording five songs for [[Piccadilly Radio]].
They performed on Granada TV again in July, made their first and last nationwide TV appearance in September on BBC2, supported the Buzzcocks in a 24-venue UK tour during October and November, and performed again on John Peel's BBC radio show in December.
While ''Unknown Pleasures'' sold well and received good reviews from the music press, all was not well. Curtis suffered from [[epilepsy]]. On stage he would often have [[tonic-clonic seizure]]s that resulted in unconsciousness and convulsions, or [[absence seizure]]s that would cause brief trancelike pauses. Even after disposing of their lightshow, Curtis would still have these problems and the band decided to rest over the Christmas holiday.
=== 1980 ===
In January [[1980]], Joy Division set out on a European tour. Several dates were cancelled though due to Curtis' deteriorating health.
With [[Martin Hannett]], who also produced ''Unknown Pleasures'', the band began recording their second album ''[[Closer (album)|Closer]]'' at the end of the European tour in March. They released their most famous song "[[Love Will Tear Us Apart]]" (voted the number 1 single of all time by the ''[[New Musical Express]]'' in a [[2003]] poll), in April. Despite receiving brilliant reviews, the single failed to move beyond the independent charts.
On [[April 8]] the band played a gig at the [[Derby Hall (Bury)|Derby Hall]] in [[Bury]]. Curtis sang only a few songs, the rest being sung by Alan Hempstall of support band [[Crispy Ambulance]]. The audience reacted badly to this, and the gig disintegrated into a riot in which Hook fought with angry onlookers.
Following a one off gig in early May, the band took two weeks' rest before their first American tour was scheduled to start. At the time, Curtis' relationship with his wife [[Deborah Curtis]] was collapsing due to his infidelity with a Belgian woman, Annick Honoré, who he had met on tour. Alone in his Macclesfield home, on [[17 May]] [[1980]], Ian watched a movie called ''[[Stroszek]]'' about an artist who commits [[suicide]]. On [[18 May]] [[1980]], Ian Curtis was discovered by his wife Deborah in their kitchen, hanging by his neck, the victim of suicide. He had reportedly been listening to [[The Idiot (album)|''The Idiot'']], [[Iggy Pop]]'s debut solo album.
=== Aftermath ===
The band had long decided that if any one of them left or was unable to perform for any reason, they would end the band. In the summer of 1980, a reissued "Love Will Tear Us Apart" hit number 13 on the British singles chart, their biggest commercial success to date. In July 1980, ''Closer'' was finally released to overwhelmingly positive reviews and also charted, peaking at number 6 on the British album chart. Sales of ''Unknown Pleasures'' were also robust.
At first glance Ian Curtis' suicide appears to be exclusively the product of his own [[clinical depression|depression]] and ill health. Deborah Curtis' book ''Touching from a Distance'' gives the impression that Ian always wanted to die young. Ian Curtis has been an inspiration for numerous musicians including [[Kurt Cobain]], [[Billy Corgan]], and [[Trent Reznor]] (who, as [[Nine Inch Nails]], covered "Dead Souls" for ''[[The Crow]]'' [[soundtrack]]).
The surviving members formed the electronic band [[New Order]], often cited as one of the leading [[synth pop]], [[techno music|techno]] and [[dance music]] groups of their era.
==Influence on "Goth" subculture==
Joy Division were described as "[[gothic]]" by their management in 1979, comparing them with the pop music of the day. Some consider them to be precursors of the [[Goth]] genre. Despite the fact that Joy Division did not dress in what would today be considered a Goth style, this genre was nascent in the period of Joy Division's career, and had not at that point become so closely associated with any image. Other than the gothic description, the band and its highly original sound were categorized alongside numerous other bands of eclectic styles under the umbrella of [[post punk]] and [[New Wave music|new wave]].
==Origins of the name==
The name [[Joy Division (World War II)|Joy Division]] is a reference to the groups of women in [[Nazi]] [[concentration camp]]s who were used as [[prostitute]]s, as described in [[Ka-Tzetnik 135633]]'s <!-- not "Karol Cetinsky"! --> [[1955]] book ''The House of Dolls.''
Because of this and other issues, such as Bernard Sumner's adoption of the surname [[Bernard Albrecht|Albrecht]], their previously being known as [[Warsaw]] and, later, [[New Order]]'s choice of name (another reflection of Nazi German history), the band were dogged by accusations of neo-Nazism, which they strenuously denied.
==Line up==
*[[Ian Curtis]]- vocals, guitar
*[[Stephen Morris]]- drums
*[[Peter Hook]]- bass
*[[Bernard Sumner]]- guitar, synthesizer
==Discography==
===Singles/EPs===
* ''[[An Ideal for Living]]'': ''Warsaw''/''No Love Lost''//''Leaders Of Men''/''Failures'' (Jun. 1978, 7" EP, [[Enigma Records]] PSS 139, 1,000 copies; Sep. or Oct. 1978, 12" EP, [[Anonymous Records]] ANON 1, 1,200 copies)
* ''Transmission''/''Novelty'' (Oct. 1979, 7", [[Factory Records]] FAC 13; Dec. 1980, 12", Factory FAC 13.12)
* [http://www.iancurtis.org/records/lichtundblindheit.html ''Licht und Blindheit'']: ''Atmosphere''/''Dead Souls'' (Mar. 1980, 7", Sordide Sentimental SS 33022, 1,578 copies)
* [http://www.iancurtis.org/records/komakino.html ''Komakino'']//''Incubation''/''As You Said'' (Apr. 1980, 7" [[flexi disk]], Factory FAC 28, 10,000 British copies, unknown number of American copies w/ ''The Other Sound'' fanzine)
* ''[[Love Will Tear Us Apart]]''//''These Days''/''Love Will Tear Us Apart'' version (Apr. 1980, 7", Factory FAC 23; Jun. 1980, 12", Factory FAC 23.12)
* ''Atmosphere''/''She's Lost Control'' (Aug. 1980, 12", Factory US FACUS 2)
* ''The Peel Sessions'' broadcast for [[February 14|Feb. 14]] [[1979]]: ''Exercise One''/''Insight''//''She's Lost Control''/''Transmission'' (Nov. 1986, 12" EP, [[Strange Fruit (record label)|Strange Fruit]] SFPS 013)
* ''The Peel Sessions'' broadcast for [[December 10|Dec. 10th]] [[1979]]: ''Love Will Tear Us Apart''/''24 Hours''//''Colony''/''Sound Of Music'' (Sep. 1987, 12" EP, Strange Fruit SFPS 033)
* ''Atmosphere''/''The Only Mistake'' (Jun. 1988, 7", Factory FAC 213-7)
* ''Atmosphere''/''The Only Mistake''/''Sound Of Music'' (Jun. 1988, 12", Factory FAC 213)
* ''Atmosphere''/''Transmission (live)''/''Love Will Tear Us Apart'' (Jun. 1988, CD, Factory FACD 213)
* ''Video 5 8 6'' by New Order/''As You Said'' (Jul. 1997, 12", Touch TONE 7.1)
===Albums===
*''[[Unknown Pleasures]]'' (LP, Factory FACT 10, June 1979)
*''[[Closer (album)|Closer]]'' (LP, Factory FACT 25, July 1980)
*''[[Still (Joy Division album)|Still]]'' (rare tracks, outtakes and live) (2×LP, Factory FACT 40, October 1981)
*''[[Substance (Joy Division album)|Substance]], Joy Division 1977–1980'' (compilation) (CD, Factory FACD 250, June 1988)
*''The Peel Sessions'' (LP, Strange Fruit SFRLP 211, 1990)
*''Permanent'' (compilation, 1995)
*''[[Heart and Soul|Heart & Soul]]'' (4 CD complete works, 1997)
*''Preston Warehouse 28 February 1980'' (live)
*''Les Bains Douches 18 December 1979'' (live)
===Video===
*''Here Are The Young Men'' (VHS, Ikon FACT 37V; Beta, Ikon FACT 37B, August 1982)
===Compilation appearances===
*''Short Circuit: Live At The Electric Circus'' (10" LP, Virgin VCL 5003, June 1978) — "At a Later Date"
*''A Factory Sample'' (2×7", Factory FAC 2, January 1979) — "Digital", "Glass"
*''Earcom 2: Contradiction'' (12"EP, Fast Product FAST 9B, October 1979) — "Autosuggestion", "From Safety To Where ...?"
There are also a tremendous number of bootleg recordings, both live and studio.
Reference: [http://www.gerpotze.com/joydivision/hatym.htm]
==Trivia==
* The name change to '''''Warsaw''''' was purportedly inspired by the [[David Bowie]] track ''Warszawa'', found on his 1977 album ''Low''.
* [[Game designer|Video game designer]] [[Hideo Kojima]] named a black market store in his game ''[[Snatcher]]'' "Joy Division" in tribute to the band. However, it was changed to "Plato's Cavern" for the English release to avoid potential legal issues.
* The title of another Kojima game, ''[[Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance]]'', is a nod to Joy Division's ''Substance''.
* ''Warsaw'' track was featured on [[2004 in video gaming|2004's]] ''[[Tony Hawk's Underground 2]]'' [[video game]].
==See also==
*[[post punk]]
*[[goth]]/[[gothic rock]]
*[[New Wave music|new wave]]
== External links and references ==
* [http://www.IanCurtis.org Joy Division Fans Club]
* [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0075276/ Stroszek]
* [http://www.joydiv.com Joy Division Central]
* [http://www.incubation.ch Most detailed Joy Division discography and articles]
* ''[[24 Hour Party People]]'' (film, 2002)
* Ka-Tzetnik 135633 (pseudonym of [[Yehiel DeNur|DeNur, Yehiel]]). ''The House of Dolls''. 1955. Trans. from the [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]] by Moshe M. Kohn. New York: Simon and Schuster.
* Curtis, Deborah. ''Touching from a distance: Ian Curtis and Joy Division.'' London: Faber, 1995 (2nd ed. 2001, 3rd ed. 2005). ISBN 0-571-17445-0
* Ott, Chris. ''Unknown Pleasures.'' (33⅓ series) New York: Continuum, 2004. ISBN 0-8264-1549-0
[[Category:British musical groups]]
[[Category:Post punk]]
[[Category:Goth]]
[[Category:Factory Records artists]]
[[Category:New Order]]
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