Joy Division (band)
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Joy Division were an english band, composed of Ian Curtis (vocals), Peter Hook (bass), Stephen Morris (drums) and Bernard Albrecht (AKA Sumner, guitar).
They emerged from the punk movement around 1976, and became in less than 3 years time, the ultimate new-wave group, even in the eye of fellow-bands like U2, Echo And The Bunnymen or The Cure.
Joy Division's music is at the same time, dark and limpid, oppressing and liberating, dramatic and stimulating, in a word, it is filled with life. In the beginning ot the 80's, new-wave bands were not only trying to make money but to express what they lived and felt.
During the Anarchy in the UK tour, the Sex Pistols played in Manchester on June 4. In the audience that night were three young guys living around Manchester : school mates Peter Hook and [[Bernard Albrecht]], plus Ian Curtis. A few days later, Peter and Bernard decided to start up a band, with Peter on bass and Bernard on guitar; they got Terry Mason as a drummer, but still needed a singer. To get one, they placed an ad in the Virgin record shop in Manchester. Ian answered it and became the singer of the band, called at the time the Stiff Kittens. He would also write the lyrics.
They rehearsed a lot during a few months, and wrote their first songs, in direct inheritance of punk. In May of 1977 the band's name was changed to Warsaw (linked to Bowie's "Warszawa") and Terry was replaced on drums by Tony Tabac. Just a month later, Tony left and Steve Brotherdale was hired as new drummer. It was at the same time that Paul Morley of the NME and DJ Rob Gretton discovered the band and perceived its huge potential. Warsaw recorded a demo tape including five songs in the Pennine Sound Studios in July, but Steve quit the group a few days later. Finally Stephen Morris joined the band. In October, they played at the Electric Circus, which was due to close down, along with The Fall and The Buzzcocks. Some songs were recorded by Virgin as a testimony of the mancunian punk scene.
In December, they recorded four songs, which were to appear later as "An Ideal For Living". In January of 1978 the band changed its name to Joy Division to avoid any confusion with another group. They rehearsed intensely and wrote new songs. On April 14, they played along with 16 bands in a contest : Tony Wilson, who worked for Granada TV, and Rob Gretton were greatly impressed by their performance.
song lyrics include;
"I've been waiting for a guide to come and take me by the hand, Could these sensations make me feel the pleasures of a normal man? ..." (Disorder)
"Corrupted from memory, No longer the power, It's creeping up slowly, That last fatal hour. ..." (Candidate)
"Guess your dreams always end. They do not rise up just descend, But I do not care anymore, I've lost the will to want more, I'm not afraid not at all, I watch them all as they fall, But I remember when we were young. ..." (Insight)
"A change of speed, a change of style. A change of scene, with no regrets, A chance to watch, admire the distance, Still occupied, though you forget. Different colours, different shades, Over each mistakes were made. I took the blame. Directionless so plain to see, A loaded gun won't set you free. So you say. We'll share a drink and step outside, An angry voice and one who cried, 'We'll give you everything and more, The strain's too much, cannot take much more.' I've walked on water, run through fire, Can't seem to feel it anymore. It was me, waiting for me, Hoping for something more, Me, seeing me this time, Hoping for something else." (New Dawn Fades)
"You take my place in the showdown, I'll observe with a pitiful eye, I'd humbly ask for forgiveness, A request well beyond you and I. ... An abyss that laughs at creation, A circus complete with all fools, Foundations that lasted the ages, Then ripped apart at their roots. Beyond all this good is the terror, The grip of a mercenary hand, When savagery turns all good reason, There's no turning back, no last stand. ... Existence well what does it matter? I exist on the best terms I can. The past is now part of my future, The present is well out of hand. ..." (Heart and Soul)
"I did everything, everything I wanted to, I let them use you for their own ends, ..." (Shadowplay).
"What did you see there? I saw all knowledge destroyed. I travelled far and wide through many different times. ... What did you see there? The blood of Christ on their skins, I travelled far and wide through many different times. I travelled far and wide and unknown martyrs died, What did you see there? I saw the one sided trials, What did you see there? I saw the tears as they cried, ..." (Wilderness)
"Down the dark streets, the houses looked the same, Getting darker now, faces look the same, And I walked round and round.
...
Had to think again, Trying to find a clue, trying to find a way to get out! ..." (Interzone)
"Get weak all the time, may just pass the time, Me in my own world, and you there beside, The gaps are enormous, we stare from each side, We were strangers for way too long. Violent, more violent, his hand cracks the chair, Moves on reaction, then slumps in despair, Trapped in a cage and surrendered to soon, Me in my own world, the one that you knew, For way too long. ..." (I Remember Nothing)
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