Ian Curtis died by suicide at 23, just one day before Joy Division’s first U.S. tour. The surviving bandmates tell the story of their rise and how they formed New Order.
Trailer for “Joy Division”
You Can’t Make This Sh!t Up
- Ian Curtis sometimes had epileptic seizures onstage. Fans thought his violent shaking was just part of his wild dance moves.
- Joy Division took its name from a 1955 novel about Nazi concentration camps. The term referred to women forced into sexual slavery for Nazi soldiers.
Watch “Joy Division”
You can stream “Joy Division” on Prime Video and Tubi.
Ratings:
- My Rating: 93/100
- IMDb Rating: 7.7/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Ratings: 92/100 (Users); 100/100 (Critics)
Director’s Note: Grant Gee directed this 2007 documentary. He’s also known for “Meeting People Is Easy” (1998), which follows Radiohead during their “OK Computer” tour.
Release Date: 2007
Other Unique Stuff
- Joy Division’s famous “Unknown Pleasures” album cover—the white squiggly lines on black—came from radio signals emitted by a pulsar called CP 1919. It’s now one of rock’s most iconic images.
- The band’s biggest hit, “Love Will Tear Us Apart,” came out weeks after Ian Curtis died. Its title was later engraved on his gravestone.
- The cover of “Closer” featured a photograph of a tomb in Genoa, Italy. The band picked the image before Curtis died, but the album came out two months after his death.
Wrap Up:
“Joy Division” is worth watching for the firsthand stories from the people who helped create the Manchester music scene. It’s amazing how four young musicians made just two albums and left a mark that still shapes rock and electronic music.
Thanks for reading!
Heather Fenty, Guest Writer, Daily Doc