Closer | The Story of Joy Division

They may have only released two full-length albuns, but Joy Division completely changed music. Without them there's no U2, Radiohead or the majority of 80's pop.

I heard about Joy Division but sadly didn’t discover their music til I was in my 40s. Now I’m obsessed with them. They have so many good songs but my favorite is Disorder.

When Ian Curtis took his own life in 1980, i was an eight year old girl in the GDR. Seven years later i heard a Joy Division song on the Radio for the first time. My heart was racing and i ran to the recorder and i was able to record two or three Songs of the a - side of Closer. A week later the b- side of the Album was played in the GDR youth channel DT64. Since then i've fallen Ian Curtis, his voice, his music. Shortly after the wall fell, i realized that i can now buy all the music in the world that i like. The first LP's were from Joy Divisionen. I have epilepsy. I only found out that Ian Curtis was an epiletic when the film "Control" came in the cinemas. I feel a deep connection to him...

Can you imagine what the third album would have sounded like if Ian had survived with the last two songs that he wrote Ceremony and In A Lonely Place being on the album. I find it very therapeutic listening to Joy Divisions music and it helped me get over a very dark period in my life! And for that I say thank you for saving me!

I’m 76 and grew up with classic 60s rock But also 70s/80s, I didn’t know about Joy Division until I saw new order live, even then I didn’t know who they were at first I got free tickets because I worked at a concert venue in Santa Barbara. But I danced a lot and still love them. Ian is so exactly like someone I know that works as my caretaker, looks like him and acts like him. Ian is so haunting , likewise, the whole situation. Ian has this quality that you want to reach out and mother him. Wish I could have, wish I could have helped. Someone should have helped him that could see through it. Perhaps people tried and it just didn’t work somehow. I can relate because I had my first seizure last week. If you start researching I would start with the book “shaking all over. “About seizures related to music and spirituality

I didn’t get into Joy Division until my early 40s after I saw the movie Control. I was so captivated by the band I named my son Ian. I took him to a signing when he was an infant where he met Peter Hook. As we approached the table Peter said ‘I had nothing to do with that baby!’ 😂 Now Ian can play Peters’ basslines. To this day, no band can touch Joy Division and Ian Curtis’ genius. I wish he had lived to see the impact he had on so many people.

Big shout out to Martin Hannett what a great sound engineer,he really helped produce a sound like in new territory that no one else had touched on and for Joy Division it worked ,two of the greatest albums ever.

discovered joy division 2 year ago, after hearing my dad talk about them all my life. Now i’ve got every record (some original pressing) posters all over my bedroom walls and i’ve seen new order and hooky and the light live. my absolute favourite band

They had such a tremendous impact even now. Ian Curtis gifted the world with a healing concept. Pain and suffering can be transformed into incredible art. Art they couldn't save him, but would save many others. And from that a whole culture and unbelievable musical landscape was born. Thank you Ian Curtis!

Those eyes. That stare. That dance. That voice. Love love & more love from USA

It´s beyond sad and heartbreaking what happened to Ian and that no one really could reach him and help him out. J.D. sure changed modern music and N.O. carried on and took it even further but I can´t stop to think about the direction music would take if Ian was still alive...

i have love will tear us apart tattooed across my chest. to say it’s my favorite song is an understatement

Thanks for this history of Joy Division. Ian was such an amazing talent, he’s up there with John Keats. We are thankful for what you brought to us Ian, for what you left with us.

Love love love joy division. the power in there basslines && postpunk style always sat well with me. But then once you look into the legacy. It just hits you more, these were ordinary blokes who worshipped music && were waaay ahead of there time. Then there transition into new order just blows your mind. deff will always be a one of the best of the best

I've spent life under a rock. I've heard tons of different bands and genres since the 80s and never heard of Joy Division until I joined my current band in March. Our founder started out on bass because of Joy Division and speaks very highly of them.

A great video but I would say that there is a good way to end this. The band carried his memory and legacy into New Order. And that's why they became the groundbreaking band the were. Ian loved Kraftwerk. They even played Trans Europe Express at some of their gigs before they appeared on stage. Thank you for the video. Much love from Sunderland, UK.

Fuck yeah! Joy Division is for sure a band that are lager than life. Their songs are still in me and some of them will take root in my grandchildren too.

This was a very well made documentary. I actually had a tear in my eye. Love Joy Division

💌Thank you for this brotha. I'll never get tired of 🎧 about joy division💔

A great listen about one of my favourite bands growing up in a dull and dreary late 1970's early 1980's Manchester. So many Manchester bands followed New Order who paved the way for the likes of The Smiths, Happy Mondays, The Fall, James, The Stone Roses to name but a few. I'd say some of the Liverpool bands were also inspired like Echo and the Bunneymen, The Farm, The La's, China Crisis and Frankie Goes to Hollywood again to name but a few. What a legacy that man Curtis has !.