Joy Division's Incredibly Dark Final Song
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Published 2024-02-12
Ian Curtis, frontman of Joy Division, suffered from epilepsy along with depression. His mental and physical issues ultimately led to his death on May 18th, 1980. His story has been told a million times over the years, which somehow hasn't made it any less tragic. Ian Curtis was the voice of Joy Division, also the heart and soul. But the incredible talents of Bernard Sumner, Peter Hook and Stephen Morris made the band iconic.
Joy Division's final two songs were recorded just four days before Ian's death. With hindsight, these two tracks are extremely bleak given the circumstances. But one of these songs in particular is straight up gut-wrenching and incredibly difficult to stomach.
CHAPTERS |
1. 1:15: "Unknown Pleasures"
2. 3:38: "Closer"
3. 5:35: The Final Song(s)
4. 9:20: Conclusion
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All Comments (19)
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I was there, did buy their very first single before the debut album was released. I saw them live in Antwerp back in 1980
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Joy Division are the greatest band ever
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Thanks for the video, Shawn. R.I.P Ian Curtis.
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i always considered Ceremony as JD's last and best song .
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I always thought 24 Hours was as bleak as it could get until I heard In A Lonely Place the first time. It is completely devastating, made even more so by the fact that at the time of the recording Ian himself had less than 96 hours left to live.
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What many who criticise Ian’s off key/rough vocal delivery, is how it perfectly fits within the confines of Joy Division and makes the sadness that bleeds through the music potent and believable. Unknown Pleasures is for me the best example of this but there’s plenty of non-album tracks (like this one) that deserve more recognition so thank you for this 🙏
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I wish I could have been around for the early Joy Division/Killing Joke gigs. Must have been incredible.
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The major problem people rarely mention is that Ian asked a few times as a request for the travel to America was he wanted to go by boat to which everyone laughed in his face. He was deathly afraid to get on any airplane not to mention a transatlantic flight considering his increasingly major epileptic fits. He knew %100 he would never be getting on that airplane. When they rehearsed these last two songs no one bothered to listen to the words which mapped out his suicide to the T. The band was just too excited to even imagine the tour not happening. So Ian’s request for a barge/ship to New York was an absolute ultimatum. Boat or no more Joy Division. Yes these last two tracks are haunting as hell.
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1979 at king George’s hall in Blackburn I saw joy division live. I also new order live there in the early 80,s
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I could be wrong but I believe that ceremony is the last song. In a lonely place was played more at rehearsal’s and demoed a few times more than ceremony
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You do a fantastic job with these videos. I can't wait to see what other content you put out!
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Because of your video about Siamese dream I became fell in love in the album
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Thanks for the video, Shawn. And appreciate how you pronounced Bernard's name. I was told that after John Peel first played the original New Order version on his BBC radio show, he said "I'm speechless." After a pause he added "That was stunning." (Maybe this is apocryphal... but I can imagine him saying this)
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That films so sad (goodfilm tho) ,I 've only watched it once ,The doors I've seen loads of times ,
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correct me if im wrong; from memory, in an interview with Hook I watched he said they practiced three times per week
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01:37 Great stuff, keep it up
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All them noughties bands block party ,The editors, ect owe joy d
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U2 is never and will never be as good as JD
