I saw this album listed in Rolling Stones' 'Top 100 Albums of the Eighties' & went to buy it. First time I ever listened to an artist because of [1] something they said [2] something they did [3] something that was said about them - or a similar condition; rather than anything to do with their work. I like it when that happens, I've found great artists that way: Miles Davis, John Cage, Bjork, Anne Clark...
Peter Hook is playing Australia in April, performing Closer in its entirety with a hired band. I've considered not going as I don't want to be disappointed... especially at $88... but damn.. I want to see if he can pull this track off. It's haunted me for 30 years. Did anyone see his shows earlier this year in England etc doing Unknown Pleasures? Any good?
I've heard some of his shows of bootleg recording. He's pretty good. Kinda questionable vocals, especially for Ian's works, but he does a great job instrumental-wise with every song.
@PostcardKittenMeow Yep, that is weird, didn't know that. Have since found a few live youtube clips of the UP shows, and it looks pretty good... but Hook doesn't seem to play a lot of bass in that, either. Weirder and weirder.
Mental illness is horrible, you can't put a plaster cast on your mind and heal it....I feel so sorry for people who have this. I have witnessed bipolar at first hand and you feel helpless to do anything.
So I have two young children now and I used to sing "This is the way step inside" to my oldest as I would help her get dressed after baths and stuff. She now sings that to her younger brother while helping him.
ps colin greenwood of radiohead is hugely influenced by joy division. he is one of the most creative and amazing bass players ever. rip forever ian curtis.
the first time i took mdma i listened to this band. as cliched and stupid as you may think, it changed my life forever. joy division is a moment in music that nobody can touch
@TheZeldaLover1 they didnt you tit. closer is the last album before ian curtis killed himself. i'm assuming you're talking about love will tear us apart? still a good song, not as dark as this in structure but just as 'deep'
@samnapier123 no im talking about the "Joy Division" to "New Order" transition im talking about any songs im just saying how could such a serious band go and do dance music
@TheZeldaLover1 No kidding. The avant-garde era's of Joy Division, Bauhaus and Public Image Ltd. kick the shit out of their punk disco (new wave) garbage!
@TheZeldaLover1 I really do not know. I remember a T shit back in the 80s that stated "Before there was New Order, there was JOY DIVISION" Some of early new order songs were good, (Especially "HIM") but i really dont know, perhaps is was kinda a sellout?
@Subadai111 well the reason why New Order sold out was because f the influence from Factory records becaue Joy Division was Rob's band and Rob just let them do what they want because he liked it but the thing was is that Joy Division was still kind of small even though they had 1 album and another in the making but Rob left after Ian died and New Order was owned by factory so they could influence their style and make them popular so tht factory would get alot of money
@TheZeldaLover1 Hi Zelda, i wasn't assuming that New Order sold out. I was perhaps thinking that it was a way of making cash. I'm impressed on you knowledge. I still like alot of New Order. i kinda think Swans took up the old flame. Where are you from? lemme guess, your mother. hee hee. :)
@TheZeldaLover1 I commend you. There are not many people who take the time and energy to pursue a passion that has seemed to be non existent. Should i assume you are an atheist as I am? Buddhist? Agnostic?
@Subadai111 im on the edge if atheism and prodestant but yesh i love joy division ive seen control like 6 times in the same week and it would be wonderful if we invent time travel and i could go back to manchester england in early 1980 and see joy division play ceremony
@TheZeldaLover1 "The Edge of Atheism" sounds like an old soap opera, "The edge of night" just joking. Well, living america and i was present at that time. I "could" have been there. but alas we still need to be present, in the present. Have you seen the movie "Waking Life"?
@blackfloyd23 "Splintered in her head" was "Charlotte Sometimes" b-side. "One hundred years" was "The hanging garden" b-side. Here is what Smith said about it : "'Splintered in Her Head,' was pieced together : The drums were put down, then we sat and thought about what to put on top. Simon tried bass parts until bass and drums meshed, then I tried some guitar over that.... we are primarily concentrating on the atmosphere we want to create-and then, of course, Lol usually thinks of a title."
Peter Hook, Bernard Sumner, and Stephen Morris all listened to this and thought, "Yeah, Ian seems like a fine, clear-minded, normal individual who has zero chance of killing himself!"
That is bullshit. Of course they could've helped him. Perhaps put him into a mental hospital? Daniel Johnston went through a whole bunch of shit in his life too, yet nowadays he's doing just fine.
@NintendoSegaSonyGuy you don't put people into mental hospital if you actually think you can help them . anyway, it doesn't make any sense to discuss about something we barely know anything about
I am around 20, having a man who sings songs like Digital, Isolation, 24 Hours, Passover, Disorder ect. ect. and I don't see that something goes fucking wrong in my marriage? I don't get scared of what goes on in his mind? I don't get it... Maybe blind, maybe scared of the truth. Who knows?
Did the rest of the Band really think this is "just" art?
Oh, I don't blame Deborah as much. Have you read her book? She was very victimized by Ian all throughout his career. At some point she wasn't allowed to go to shows anymore. Ian barely acknowledged her existence. She was very much alone to raise their child Natalie by herself. I'm sure it got especially hard when you think about his having an affair.
Deborah actually did know how hard it was on him, but since he shut specifically her out...
@NintendoSegaSonyGuy I don't blame anyone. I am 40 now, and people around 20 are like kids to me - with 20 most people don't know what they want and life is often chaos. So there is no room for blaming anyone.
I read her book, also "The life of Ian Curtis". I think there should be another movie - a "Conrtol reloaded". The movie is to one-sided.
@NintendoSegaSonyGuy Control is based on Debbies book. And of course she is telling HER side of the story. In the book Life of Ian Curtis is a lot about the film. If you know this book you know the chapters. I agree with the authors.
No, they came to their conclusions because they actually knew Ian and he didn't tell them anything was wrong. He wasn't some "tragic poet" to them- he was just a regular guy. I think it's incredibly smug for any group of outsiders to chastize the suicide victims friends for "not doing something".
@leeharveyosmosis Yeah, I mean think of The Cure for example. Going by the lyrics on albums like Pornography and Disintegration, you'd think Robert Smith was horribly depressed and nihilistic, but he's not really like that in real life. Besides, some people just find it a little easier to be sad than happy, but some live through and others don't. But yeah, not every suicidal person is upfront about being suicidal to the point of talking about it.
@NintendoSegaSonyGuy Some people just have a natural melancholy, like me. There's a difference between that and being suicidal. Maybe they were used to it & just didn't conceive the possibility that he would go that far.
@NintendoSegaSonyGuy I'm not saying you're wrong, but look at the interviews and specially to the documentary about JD. Ian's personality was totally oposse to his songs. He only became depressive after being diagnosted and specially because of the drugs he was taking because of his epilepsy, which made him totally bipolar.
Interesting how the maracas on a song like this don't sound like pleasant shakers at all, but rather sound like a coiled rattlesnake poised right next to you!
Definitely one of their sexier songs. What a phenomenal band, I caught them just after they peaked, in the U.S. I was of course dancing to New Order and started looking deeper..... my friends were eating shrooms in the early 80's and listening to JD now I know why.
exceptional!
2tonsolid 2 hours ago
World War III will not be played with armies, but with psychiatrists and invisible diseases
this is the way step inside
decoreh 1 week ago
If somebody read the book then the intro will sound logic.
pano1955 2 weeks ago
Reminds me of Throbbing Gristle and The Residents.....
Brollyhero93TOP10 2 weeks ago 2
One of their best tracks.
We step inside. Again and again.
V.O.I.D.MK20
VOIDMK20 3 weeks ago
I always loved the drum track of this song. I have not a damn clue how they made the guitar sound so fucked up, but it fits to the theme perfectly.
MrUncreated 1 month ago
I saw this album listed in Rolling Stones' 'Top 100 Albums of the Eighties' & went to buy it. First time I ever listened to an artist because of [1] something they said [2] something they did [3] something that was said about them - or a similar condition; rather than anything to do with their work. I like it when that happens, I've found great artists that way: Miles Davis, John Cage, Bjork, Anne Clark...
studmeow 1 month ago
None New Order album achieves the intensity of Closer (1980)!
lyonslaforet 2 months ago
Peter Hook is playing Australia in April, performing Closer in its entirety with a hired band. I've considered not going as I don't want to be disappointed... especially at $88... but damn.. I want to see if he can pull this track off. It's haunted me for 30 years. Did anyone see his shows earlier this year in England etc doing Unknown Pleasures? Any good?
ChicksDigBeige 2 months ago
@ChicksDigBeige
I've heard some of his shows of bootleg recording. He's pretty good. Kinda questionable vocals, especially for Ian's works, but he does a great job instrumental-wise with every song.
NintendoSegaSonyGuy 2 months ago
@ChicksDigBeige
Saw them last october ,fucking best show ever especially for JD fans don't miss your chance you won't be disappointed
orionmapa 1 month ago
@orionmapa Cool, thanks.
ChicksDigBeige 1 month ago
@ChicksDigBeige Couple of friends saw the UP tour and said it was great BTW Barney plays the bass on this not Hooky, weird but true.
PostcardKittenMeow 1 month ago
@PostcardKittenMeow Yep, that is weird, didn't know that. Have since found a few live youtube clips of the UP shows, and it looks pretty good... but Hook doesn't seem to play a lot of bass in that, either. Weirder and weirder.
ChicksDigBeige 1 month ago
Is this the 2007 remaster?
Kagrido 2 months ago
@Kagrido Sounds just like the original 1980 mix off my old CD to me.
ChicksDigBeige 2 months ago
chidas canciones, :)
treborleee 2 months ago
does this song remind anyone of vertigo by U2?
tpopindaddies 2 months ago
@tpopindaddies Other way around :)
drivervw 2 months ago
Space Time ....................nothing more
albertchandler2 3 months ago
Mental illness is horrible, you can't put a plaster cast on your mind and heal it....I feel so sorry for people who have this. I have witnessed bipolar at first hand and you feel helpless to do anything.
Crochetify 3 months ago
So I have two young children now and I used to sing "This is the way step inside" to my oldest as I would help her get dressed after baths and stuff. She now sings that to her younger brother while helping him.
dwossum 3 months ago 8
JG Ballard And Joy Division, genius!
Remington61189 3 months ago 2
Sinister= humanity
winniesrage 4 months ago
The opening of this song is explosive. It's primitive, stark and elegant.
MiaoPurrington 4 months ago in playlist More videos from jarksjold 4
drums almost remind me of Komakino
toastedtesticles 5 months ago
drums ♥
ovotestes 5 months ago
Its all about that cheeky rim shot. So hypnotic.
evolutiontheory 5 months ago in playlist joy 2
Its all about that cheeky rim shot. So hypnotic.
evolutiontheory 5 months ago in playlist joy
ps colin greenwood of radiohead is hugely influenced by joy division. he is one of the most creative and amazing bass players ever. rip forever ian curtis.
ateaseification 5 months ago 4
the first time i took mdma i listened to this band. as cliched and stupid as you may think, it changed my life forever. joy division is a moment in music that nobody can touch
ateaseification 5 months ago 4
This song is... PERFECT!
LynahLi 6 months ago
how the hell did they go from these amazingly deep songs to dance music
TheZeldaLover1 6 months ago
@TheZeldaLover1 they didnt you tit. closer is the last album before ian curtis killed himself. i'm assuming you're talking about love will tear us apart? still a good song, not as dark as this in structure but just as 'deep'
samnapier123 6 months ago
@samnapier123 no im talking about the "Joy Division" to "New Order" transition im talking about any songs im just saying how could such a serious band go and do dance music
TheZeldaLover1 6 months ago
@TheZeldaLover1 No kidding. The avant-garde era's of Joy Division, Bauhaus and Public Image Ltd. kick the shit out of their punk disco (new wave) garbage!
JimmyDFFDBorneo 5 months ago
@TheZeldaLover1 I really do not know. I remember a T shit back in the 80s that stated "Before there was New Order, there was JOY DIVISION" Some of early new order songs were good, (Especially "HIM") but i really dont know, perhaps is was kinda a sellout?
Subadai111 4 months ago
@Subadai111 well the reason why New Order sold out was because f the influence from Factory records becaue Joy Division was Rob's band and Rob just let them do what they want because he liked it but the thing was is that Joy Division was still kind of small even though they had 1 album and another in the making but Rob left after Ian died and New Order was owned by factory so they could influence their style and make them popular so tht factory would get alot of money
TheZeldaLover1 4 months ago
@TheZeldaLover1 Hi Zelda, i wasn't assuming that New Order sold out. I was perhaps thinking that it was a way of making cash. I'm impressed on you knowledge. I still like alot of New Order. i kinda think Swans took up the old flame. Where are you from? lemme guess, your mother. hee hee. :)
Subadai111 4 months ago
@Subadai111 the united states ive just watched alot of documentaries and read alot online
TheZeldaLover1 4 months ago
@TheZeldaLover1 I commend you. There are not many people who take the time and energy to pursue a passion that has seemed to be non existent. Should i assume you are an atheist as I am? Buddhist? Agnostic?
Subadai111 4 months ago
@Subadai111 im on the edge if atheism and prodestant but yesh i love joy division ive seen control like 6 times in the same week and it would be wonderful if we invent time travel and i could go back to manchester england in early 1980 and see joy division play ceremony
TheZeldaLover1 4 months ago
@TheZeldaLover1 "The Edge of Atheism" sounds like an old soap opera, "The edge of night" just joking. Well, living america and i was present at that time. I "could" have been there. but alas we still need to be present, in the present. Have you seen the movie "Waking Life"?
Subadai111 4 months ago
@Subadai111 LOL, and no i havent seen tht movie
TheZeldaLover1 4 months ago
Those heavy echo/chorused guitars make me think of some of Nirvana's "In Utero" ones.
1978 Electro Harmonix EchoFlanger pedal as well maybe?
pableision 6 months ago
@pableision I heard in an interview that Stephen Morris ran his synth drums through a fuzz pedal
360Freakoutkid 6 months ago
The way of drumming is like the beginning of Pornography of The Cure
CREATURES59 6 months ago 4
It sounds like Lol Tolhurst was deeply inspired by this song for the drums on The Cure - Splintered in Her Head (b-side to The Hanging Garden)
blackfloyd23 7 months ago
@blackfloyd23 "Splintered in her head" was "Charlotte Sometimes" b-side. "One hundred years" was "The hanging garden" b-side. Here is what Smith said about it : "'Splintered in Her Head,' was pieced together : The drums were put down, then we sat and thought about what to put on top. Simon tried bass parts until bass and drums meshed, then I tried some guitar over that.... we are primarily concentrating on the atmosphere we want to create-and then, of course, Lol usually thinks of a title."
Widthatnut 5 months ago
The entire gothic rock movement was a failed attempt at replicating Joy Division.
JimmyDFFDBorneo 7 months ago 5
@JimmyDFFDBorneo I agree to an extent.
Shadowsofheartagram 6 months ago
ummmm... the drums? sounds more like a drum loop to me lol
same beat through the whole song -__-
turbomaximus1966 7 months ago
the drums where recorded in the toilet
igiveyoubassio 7 months ago
this is better than sex
gjac15 9 months ago 13
@gjac15 your doing it wrong
kyral210 1 month ago
the drums are fantastic. R.I.P Ian.
realmyth83 9 months ago
Peter Hook, Bernard Sumner, and Stephen Morris all listened to this and thought, "Yeah, Ian seems like a fine, clear-minded, normal individual who has zero chance of killing himself!"
Worst "friends" ever?
NintendoSegaSonyGuy 9 months ago 32
@NintendoSegaSonyGuy even if they knew what was happening, it doesn't mean they could've done anything to help him
mMbowierulzMm 3 months ago
@mMbowierulzMm
That is bullshit. Of course they could've helped him. Perhaps put him into a mental hospital? Daniel Johnston went through a whole bunch of shit in his life too, yet nowadays he's doing just fine.
NintendoSegaSonyGuy 3 months ago
@NintendoSegaSonyGuy you don't put people into mental hospital if you actually think you can help them . anyway, it doesn't make any sense to discuss about something we barely know anything about
mMbowierulzMm 3 months ago
@mMbowierulzMm
What does that mean? Mental hospitals are worthless facilities that only serve as other kinds of prisons? Bullshit.
We know plenty about Ian's life. Read Deborah Curtis' book "Touching From a Distance", dude.
NintendoSegaSonyGuy 3 months ago
@NintendoSegaSonyGuy The same goes to his wife.
I am around 20, having a man who sings songs like Digital, Isolation, 24 Hours, Passover, Disorder ect. ect. and I don't see that something goes fucking wrong in my marriage? I don't get scared of what goes on in his mind? I don't get it... Maybe blind, maybe scared of the truth. Who knows?
Did the rest of the Band really think this is "just" art?
forbes923 3 months ago
@forbes923
Oh, I don't blame Deborah as much. Have you read her book? She was very victimized by Ian all throughout his career. At some point she wasn't allowed to go to shows anymore. Ian barely acknowledged her existence. She was very much alone to raise their child Natalie by herself. I'm sure it got especially hard when you think about his having an affair.
Deborah actually did know how hard it was on him, but since he shut specifically her out...
NintendoSegaSonyGuy 3 months ago
@NintendoSegaSonyGuy I don't blame anyone. I am 40 now, and people around 20 are like kids to me - with 20 most people don't know what they want and life is often chaos. So there is no room for blaming anyone.
I read her book, also "The life of Ian Curtis". I think there should be another movie - a "Conrtol reloaded". The movie is to one-sided.
forbes923 3 months ago
@forbes923
The movie is too one-sided? How do you mean?
NintendoSegaSonyGuy 3 months ago
@NintendoSegaSonyGuy Control is based on Debbies book. And of course she is telling HER side of the story. In the book Life of Ian Curtis is a lot about the film. If you know this book you know the chapters. I agree with the authors.
forbes923 2 months ago
@NintendoSegaSonyGuy There is too much Hollywood in Control. Just look at the Bury Concert. It did not happen that way.
Control was made for cinema, not for the history books.
forbes923 2 months ago
@NintendoSegaSonyGuy
what the fuck?
ViceCityDJ 2 months ago
@NintendoSegaSonyGuy Despite his song lyrics, he kept up an appearance of being "normal". They're not to blame for what happened.
ExiledStardust 2 months ago in playlist YouTube Mix for Joy Division
@NintendoSegaSonyGuy
No, they came to their conclusions because they actually knew Ian and he didn't tell them anything was wrong. He wasn't some "tragic poet" to them- he was just a regular guy. I think it's incredibly smug for any group of outsiders to chastize the suicide victims friends for "not doing something".
leeharveyosmosis 1 month ago 14
@leeharveyosmosis
He wasn't even a regular to them; he had epilepsy.
I would've done something. Hell, I have done something for someone like that before.
NintendoSegaSonyGuy 1 month ago
@leeharveyosmosis Yeah, I mean think of The Cure for example. Going by the lyrics on albums like Pornography and Disintegration, you'd think Robert Smith was horribly depressed and nihilistic, but he's not really like that in real life. Besides, some people just find it a little easier to be sad than happy, but some live through and others don't. But yeah, not every suicidal person is upfront about being suicidal to the point of talking about it.
MetroidFan621 1 month ago
@NintendoSegaSonyGuy nah, thats just death imitating art
nigrobat 1 month ago
@NintendoSegaSonyGuy Some people just have a natural melancholy, like me. There's a difference between that and being suicidal. Maybe they were used to it & just didn't conceive the possibility that he would go that far.
studmeow 1 month ago
@NintendoSegaSonyGuy I'm not saying you're wrong, but look at the interviews and specially to the documentary about JD. Ian's personality was totally oposse to his songs. He only became depressive after being diagnosted and specially because of the drugs he was taking because of his epilepsy, which made him totally bipolar.
baseballfuries08 1 month ago
Interesting how the maracas on a song like this don't sound like pleasant shakers at all, but rather sound like a coiled rattlesnake poised right next to you!
Bobjb999 10 months ago 7
This album was pretty much his suicide note in music form. Very depressing, the whole album makes you feel the way he does.
maxjordan90 10 months ago 2
Best opening track of any album ever?
ReluctantlyAwake 10 months ago 21
@ReluctantlyAwake
"Disorder"? "Sunday Morning"? "Ceremony"?
NintendoSegaSonyGuy 3 months ago
@ReluctantlyAwake but then it goes on with best second track ever,etcetera.
cosmicrider287 2 months ago
@ReluctantlyAwake This or Speak To Me/Breathe in Dark Side of the Moon.
ToodGime 2 months ago
@ReluctantlyAwake Nope. I prefer Disorder.
xDeadMisfitsx 2 months ago
This is the way, step inside......
Bendrix27 11 months ago 3
classic
Helptheherd 11 months ago
Atrocity Exhibition = JG Ballard fragmentary novel....JD rules!!
bobiquesada 1 year ago
this is SO much better live.
revpunk1977 1 year ago
Shades of Nine Inch Nails on this album...
studmeow 1 year ago
@studmeow
You mean shades of Joy Division on everything NIN has done.
Yep, damn right.
mrfudgeyhead 11 months ago 6
Comment removed
tquasa 7 months ago
@studmeow Nine Inch Nails covered "Dead Souls" for the soundtrack from "The Crow." Check it out!
ultramegaunknown 3 months ago
i think it's their best song
131KrisKelmi 1 year ago 4
The drums sound like a tribal celebration.
BobDylan1201 1 year ago 4
this is gorgious,and i love the drums
Guitargirlmx 1 year ago
Definitely one of their sexier songs. What a phenomenal band, I caught them just after they peaked, in the U.S. I was of course dancing to New Order and started looking deeper..... my friends were eating shrooms in the early 80's and listening to JD now I know why.
KingCast65 1 year ago
Pornography - Cure. The song must be a tribute to this because it has almost the exact same structure.
klondike999 1 year ago 3
This band shall always keep a special place in my heart. Or my brain, since my heart is but a muscle.
HawK047 1 year ago
@HawK047 Your heart and soul...
MrShimazu 1 year ago 2
just tribally awesome.
KTPSLD2ABTFE 1 year ago
thank god for torrents=)
ChaosTitties 1 year ago 3
@ChaosTitties Hahaha ;-)
bittty420 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
when I hear this song, I have the adrenaline to the stars
ludoutenatenjo 1 year ago
when I hear this song, I have the adrenaline to the stars
ludoutenatenjo 1 year ago
pure fucking art
nuff said
ItsJoshman11 1 year ago
vietnam,iraq,afghanistan?
axellock62 1 year ago
@axellock62 wat
moriluk 1 year ago
On this track Sumner played bass guitar.
gabriel94220 1 year ago
I stepped inside
saint362001 2 years ago
Comment removed
malleymyster 2 years ago
@malleymyster
Kurt has taken a reprieve from writing.
TheHatefulDead 1 year ago
@malleymyster I like to think that Kurt Cobain and Ian Curtis formed a Lennon/ McCartney like songwriting team in rock and roll heaven.
GreenOilers 1 year ago
@GreenOilers Nice thought, if Cobain were in his league..i'd better shut up!
locomotifx 1 year ago
This is perfect druming
garthspencer 2 years ago 3
@garthspencer
You should check out Can and Brian Eno. The drum beat reminds me a lot of "No One Receiving" by Brian Eno, especially when Stephen hits the snare.
TheIlluminerdi 1 year ago
@TheIlluminerdi : Jaki Liebezeit's drumming in the midsection of Mother Sky.
Enevan1968 7 months ago
The drums in this song... wow. Just scary dark drumming. Stephen Morris and Peter Hook are the greatest rhythm section ever assembled.
dragoon84 2 years ago 83
There's nothing scary about the drums in this song. Sorry.
madeyes4u 2 years ago
the drums are completely awesome in this song
dalailama64 1 year ago 52
@dragoon84 it's Sumner on bass on this track
MassimoConnolli 1 year ago
@dragoon84 didn't Bernard play bass in this song?
LiveJoyDivision 11 months ago
@dragoon84 Don't argue at all but do listen Finnish group 'Sielun Veljet' and You'll find more hypnotic drumming :)
GuuTuup 3 months ago