Posted on 01/25/2023 1:46:34 PM PST by nickcarraway
On this day (Jan. 25) in 1978, Joy Division played their first live gig, a moment that is often credited with kicking off the post-punk era.
The iconic, yet short-lived rock outfit – made up of frontman Ian Curtis, guitarist and keyboardist Bernard Sumner, bassist Peter Hook, and drummer Stephen Morris – premiered their unique blend of moody punk-tinged, synth rock at Pips Discotheque in Manchester, England.
Back then, Pips was the place to be, a hub where the ever-shifting culture of late 1970s Britain was continually being shaped. “Inside there were different sub-cultures all coming together,” an article from the Manchester Evening News explained of the since-closed venue.
The members of Joy Division were frequent patrons of Pips, so when they arranged their debut at the disco, they already knew the lay of the land. However, the night didn’t go as smoothly as one would think.
Two other local acts, called Connection and The Stance, were scheduled to open for Joy Division. The night’s trouble began with on-stage antics from the latter band, which resulted in some broken glass and the headliner’s frontman almost missing his moment.
“Ian nearly didn’t sing at all after being thrown out for kicking glass The Stance had broken on stage,” the drummer Morris explained of the incident. “He was only being helpful, trying to tidy the place up a bit, as I recall.
“The bouncers left Ian cooling his heels outside until 15 minutes before Joy Division came on stage,” author Mark Johnson detailed in his book, An Ideal For Living. “He tried to plead with them, saying, ‘But I’m the lead singer,’ but the bouncer just said, ‘I don’t care if you’re The Pope, you’re not coming in.’”
Curtis was eventually allowed to re-enter the venue and take the stage, but The Stance’s antics had carried over into the crowd, an audience made up of now-opposing sides – those who came to support Joy Division and friends of the openers.
“The two camps engaged themselves in a brawl that rolled back and forth in pendulum fashion across the front of the stage,” Morris recalled. “Ian did his best to discourage this but to no avail. The punch-up continued unabated, with [Hook] joining in on his mates’ side.”
Violence aside, Joy Division’s debut was no bust. In fact, that night marked a distinct shift for the band, an outfit that would soon pioneer post-punk and, ultimately, alter the trajectory of rock into the 1980s.
Ping
Would the post-punk era be called "New Wave"? Are those synonymous terms?
Great band. Tragic, life-destroying epilepsy made Ian Curtis a prisoner of his own body, and he took his own life at age 23.
A collection of movements. New Wave, New Romantic, Goth/Alternative
Many people might use the synonymously. But not all. New Wave would be considered more accessible or pop related. Post Punk was more Avant-Garde and dissonant, including No Wave.
No.
They overlap
So the Police would be post-punk then New Wave (or at the same time) then pop/rock?
Since 1978???
I had no idea. Amazon Prime Music is my go to source for music. I have over 15,000 songs in my personal library.
25 of them are by Joy Division
Joy Division went on to become New Order, who had several big hits in the 80s.
(I'm not implying anything either way; I simply don't know.)
Also, during the late 70s and very early 80's I never remember anyone using the post-punk or alternative label. This was created by music critics much later. It seemed to me that the description of "Alternative Music" came about around when MTV's 120 minutes was on the air for some time - say until the very late 80s early 90s. From my recollection.
It would be the start of Electronic music. Keyboards. The band post-Ian’s suicide INVENTED synthesizers. There were really NO synthesizers around in 1979 that were being played properly. Another amazing fact are the lyrics side of the band. And do not get me started on the publishing side, Fantasy Records and the best music dance club in the entire World -— located in Manchester, England. An incredible story, how they LOST MONEY on the BIGGEST 12” record/song ever published, and a song still being played today in every major city on the planet. Too bad they are libtards.
There were synths on Atmosphere, so it’s plausible Joy Division would start adding them more. New Order’s keyboard player was the drummer’s gf already.
I didn’t discover Joy Division until about five years ago. I had heard a few New Order tunes back in the day but I am just now learning the whole catalog from YouTube. They both are my current favs. If anyone is interested, there were two movies made about them. 24 Hour Party People and Control.
She’s Lost Control.
Factory Records.
He was mis-diagnosed and given the wrong medication.
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