{"title":"Joy Division","description":"\u003ch2\u003eAbout Joy Division\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eJoy Division formed in Salford, England in 1976 (initially under the name Warsaw, drawn from David Bowie's Warszawa) and adopted the Joy Division name in 1978. They signed with Tony Wilson's Factory Records (the foundational Manchester independent label). Their debut Unknown Pleasures (1979), produced by Martin Hannett with its distinctive sparse, atmospheric production approach, is widely considered one of the most important albums in alternative music history. Ian Curtis suffered from epilepsy and mental health struggles, dying by suicide on May 18, 1980 at age 23 - on the eve of the band's first American tour. The surviving members Sumner, Hook, and Morris (joined by Gillian Gilbert) continued as New Order, becoming one of the most important British bands of the 1980s. The 2007 biopic Control (directed by Anton Corbijn) starred Sam Riley as Curtis. The iconic Unknown Pleasures cover (the pulsar radio waves image) has become one of the most widely-replicated album cover designs in music history.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSound and style\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eJoy Division's sound combines post-punk, gothic rock, new wave, dance-punk, and rock with Curtis's distinctive baritone vocal delivery, Hook's signature melodic bass approach (influential on subsequent generations of post-punk bassists), Sumner's atmospheric guitar work, and Hannett's distinctive production aesthetic. Their work is widely cited as foundational to post-punk, gothic rock, and broader alternative music.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eDiscography highlights\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eUnknown Pleasures (1979, Factory)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCloser (1980, Factory)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLove Will Tear Us Apart standalone single (1980, Factory)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eStill (1981, Factory) - posthumous compilation\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch2\u003eFor collectors\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eOriginal Factory pressings of Unknown Pleasures and Closer are foundational items in post-punk and alternative music collecting. Multiple anniversary editions, audiophile reissues, and the comprehensive Factory \/ Rhino reissue programs have been released.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eWhere to start\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eListeners new to Joy Division should start with Unknown Pleasures (1979) or Closer (1980). \u003cspan class=\"related-collections\"\u003eExplore more: \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/punk-new-wave-vinyl-records\"\u003ePunk \u0026amp; New Wave\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/classic-rock-vinyl-records\"\u003eClassic Rock\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"joy-division-transmission-vinyl-ltd-180g","title":"Transmission 12\"","description":"\u003cp\u003eReissued with 2020 remastered audio. Since the demise of Factory records, this single has never been repressed or reissued before and is cut on 180-gram vinyl, featuring the original artwork on heavyweight board.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wax Trax Records","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48540777414839,"sku":"210000048497","price":22.98,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0745\/5755\/4871\/files\/arhi-628758-151175-07292020021551-1518.jpg?v=1781154231"},{"product_id":"joy-division-unknown-pleasures-vinyl","title":"Unknown Pleasures LP","description":"\u003cp\u003eUnknown Pleasures is the debut studio album by English rock band Joy Division, released on 15 June 1979 by Factory Records.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wax Trax Records","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48540881092791,"sku":"210000049128","price":28.98,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0745\/5755\/4871\/files\/joydivisionunknownpleasures.jpg?v=1781154594"},{"product_id":"joy-division-preston-28-february-clear-vinyl","title":"Preston 28 February LP","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis gig, taped at the Warehouse in Preston, took place during the final round of UK dates Joy Division was to play before jetting off to the US. The live captures the band raw sound with Ian Curtis's haunting vocals.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wax Trax Records","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48540971270327,"sku":"210000072171","price":33.98,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0745\/5755\/4871\/files\/preston-28.jpg?v=1781154909"},{"product_id":"joy-division-the-best-of-cd","title":"The Best of... CD","description":"\u003cp\u003eJoy Division's The Best of... CD includes 14 tracks from their seminal albums and singles, featuring the iconic \"Love Will Tear Us Apart.\" This compilation is essential for understanding their profound influence on the punk and new wave genres.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wax Trax Records","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48785688625335,"sku":"210000051705","price":12.98,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0745\/5755\/4871\/files\/1339867.jpg?v=1783045659"},{"product_id":"joy-division-love-will-tear-us-apart-vinyl-180g","title":"Love Will Tear Us Apart 12\"","description":"\u003cp\u003eJoy Division recorded only two albums before singer Ian Curtis tragically took his own life in 1980. But what the Manchester quartet lacked in longevity, they made up for in quality. The two albums pioneered a new sound and mood for alternative music.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wax Trax Records","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48785736761527,"sku":"210000048498","price":22.98,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0745\/5755\/4871\/files\/jd-lovewilltear-1lp-front-1000x1000.jpg?v=1783045767"},{"product_id":"joy-division-closer-vinyl-180g","title":"Closer LP","description":"\u003cp\u003eRediscover the haunting brilliance of Joy Division with their seminal album, Closer, pressed on high-quality 180g vinyl. This LP features iconic tracks such as \"Heart and Soul\" and \"Isolation,\" encapsulating the band's evolution into post-punk pioneers after the tragic loss of lead singer Ian Curtis. The Peter Saville-designed packaging adds a timeless touch to this essential piece of music history.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wax Trax Records","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48785760420023,"sku":"210000036501","price":26.98,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0745\/5755\/4871\/files\/2890832.jpg?v=1783045833"},{"product_id":"joy-division-substance-vinyl-180g","title":"Substance 2LP","description":"\u003cp\u003eTo celebrate the 35th anniversary of \"Love Will Tear Us Apart\" on June 27th, Rhino is reissuing four iconic Joy Division releases on heavyweight 180-gram vinyl. The studio albums Unknown Pleasures (1979) and Closer (1980) are being followed by Still (1981) and an expanded version of Substance (1988), both available as a double-LP set. Joy Division rapidly evolved from their initialpunk rock influences to develop a sound and style that made them one of the pioneers of the post-punkmovement of the late 1970s. Substance is a great 17-track compilation for the period 1977-1980 featuring the hits \"Transmission,\" \"Atmosphere\" and \"Love Will Tear Us Apart.\"\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wax Trax Records","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48785821073591,"sku":"210000032457","price":45.98,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0745\/5755\/4871\/files\/substance36.jpg?v=1783046013"},{"product_id":"joy-division-young-hearts-fail-live-at-moonlight-club-london-color-vinyl","title":"Young Hearts Fail: Live at Moonlight Club, London LP","description":"","brand":"Wax Trax Records","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48860499673271,"sku":"210000100211","price":32.98,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}]}],"url":"https:\/\/www.waxtraxrecords.com\/collections\/joy-division.oembed","provider":"Wax Trax Records","version":"1.0","type":"link"}