The Story of Closer: One of the Bleakest Masterpieces in Rock History 

I borrowed Closer and Unknown Pleasures from a classmate when I was 17, and both records completely blew me away. Never has music touched me in a way Joy Division has; they will remain my all time favourite forever.

I know they never put singles on albums but "Love will tear us apart " is a masterpiece.

This band really gives me a feeling that something original is being unfolded. Never seen a so immediate and unpretentiously band of musicians since. New Order is an unexpected genius move. They are both the soundtracks to my life.

I first heard "she's lost control" on a mix cassette somebody gave me back in 1983. I Immediately went out and bought both albums.

I love Joy Division but it took a while for me to understand and appreciate them. I was in college when Closer came out. Intrigued by the haunting cover image I bought the album. Since this was 1980 there was no Internet or Spotify and they sure as hell weren't playing it on FM radio. I took one listen and went back to the record store to exchange it - probably for The Teardrop Explodes. It was so dark and foreboding it scared the shit out of me. A year later I was in another record store and came upon "Movement". I asked the clerk about it and he relayed the story of Ian Curtis and the subsequent formation of New Order. I took it home and fell in love with this band and its unique sound. Eventually I bought Unknown Pleasures and began my 40-year love affair with both bands. I saw New Order play Ceremony in 1983 but that was the only JD song I heard them play in the 3 NO concerts I saw. Fortunately I saw Peter Hook's phenomenal performance of both albums a year ago to close the circle. Just an astounding legacy and thanks for the reminder of how powerful and enduring this music is!

I've not heard Closer in about a year & while I have to watch my actions/moods when I listen to it, this video essay will invariably make me pull it out to listen to again, thanks. I did not know the story genesis behind Eternal, thank you for sharing that and I fully agree with you regarding 24 hours being their darkest lyrical fare and in my opinion their best song. Looking forward to more of your content.

My music taste and life changed when I listened to Unkown Pleasures in 1988. I was only 13 those days... Forever Joy Division & New Order

An amazing album.....my personal favourite. Kudos.

nice to see someone talking about closer

I happened upon this outstanding analysis today. It had me examine each of the songs a bit farther than I ever have. Well done Joe...

One of the saddest albums of all history yet still arguably one of the most beautiful. Well done.

Thanks for this. The more people who know about this masterpiece the better. Just a couple of clarifications. JD were performing Atrocity Exhibition before Unknown Pleasures was released. Colony was also performed shortly after UP was released with 24 hours being performed in October 1979. Although Closer wasn’t released until after Ian’s death, by then they had performed every song on the album live. From what we know Decades appears to be the only song debuted after the recording of Closer making its first performance at the Rainbow in London on 4th April; Closer being recorded the previous month.

One of the best documentaries I’ve seen on Joy Division. You really did a great job!!!

Absolutely wonderful presentation thank you

A really insightful and beautifully illustrated video. I was a JD fan back when Unknown Pleasures first came out and have never stopped loving their music. Thank you for making this film.

Excellent and deep commentary on this emotional recording. Thank you ❤

Great job on this, I absolutely love this album.

This is great. Thanks for doing this

I have watched a few of your videos now, and one thing that stuck out was the almost lyrical quality about your narration, especially towards the end. I really dig your style, mate!

I saw a doc where the band members said they weren’t paying attention to his lyrics at the time recording… nice video man. Love this album

2:15 Ian wasn't unallowed to pick up Natalie, he would just refrain himself from doing it, something that his wife, Debbie, didn't really see the issue in. (Info from the book, Touching from a Distance)

So interesting! Thank you! They are both unique albums in it's own way.

I have to say when i hear the live tracks off this album, my two favourite ones live are Atrocity Exhibition and Colony. If we are talking about the best song lyrically I would have to give that one to heart and soul, Ians lyrics are incredible on that song. But my top 2 tracks in general would have to be Twenty Four Hours and A Means To An End with isolation coming in third best on this classic album. Passover has got some very hard truths in it and I will say that The Eternal is one of the most soul breaking songs ever and Decades is quite possibly JD's finest moment!

One of my favorite bands of all time. On a trip from the US to the UK in 1979, we stopped for the night in Manchester. I hadn't discovered Joy Division yet, at 12 y/o - but I did a couple of years later & it always bothered me that I may have had the opportunity to see them live & missed it. Ian, like Kurt Cobain, is one of those people I really wish had lived - selfishly because of all the incredible music we've lost with their early deaths.

I adore this album. Just the best.

First time I heard Closer was after I'd become a New Order fan. I was still at that stage where I was still wasn't sure about Joy Division. Musically, they were so far removed from New Order. I'd heard Love Will Tear Us Apart and Atmosphere previously, but Unknown Pleasures was...well, it was just different. Late one night, I turned the radio on and was listening to 4ZZZ (alternative radio station in Brisbane, QLD, Australia). I didn't know who or what was playing, as I'd missed any announcement, but I could tell they were playing a full album based on the silence between songs. As the album kept playing, I suddenly realised it was Joy Division - and it was good. Very good. Suddenly, Joy Division made perfect sense. As much as I love Unknown Pleasures now, Closer really was a defining moment in music for me.

Ian`s epilepsy got severe during the intense "UP" tour when they ate the speed (drug) to stay sharp and awake . Before that Ian was very normal bloke and not depressive at all. The heavy epilepsy drugs and sudden stardom in the alternative scene drove him craze. The affair with Annik was strange and according to Annik it wasn`t sexual at all. She was more like a devoted groupie-friend and Ian acted awkward with the case.

thanks... genius music and words... great albums... RIP Ian Curtis...

Thanks for this, indeed I prefer Closer to Unknown Pleasures, and Colony is my favourite J.D. song because it's kind of a heavy metal/grunge tune under a post-punk suit, so I cover it (quite rearranged) with my band, and I still wonder why no metal or grunge band ever did it!

The Eternal is my favorite song of all time on my favorite albums of all time.

Saw them live at Camden Hall in London late 1979. Ian Curtis was mesmerizing. That dance he did.

Awesome.

'there's no turning back the last man'

Thank you , best album ever

Poor Ian. My heart broke at his life/death.

Yes Joy Division!!

I've been waiting for a guide to come and take me by the hand

Decades is my favourite

The backing music to this presentation is so antithetical to the music described within I at one stage checked if it was some form of interference or I had some infomercial open in another tab. Little to learn here beyond the bleeding obvious and in tune with the selected backing track as tone deaf and lacking in insight that Mr Curtis was troubled, the sound was fully worked in production stage along with the odd supposed quote from surviving band members. That the presenter appears to have not read Ballard speaks volumes though the volume in question is pretty out there. I made to to 7:35 and utilised the remaining time writing this and am about to commence a search for my Ballard short stories anthology. Ronald Reagan, how prescient.

I don’t know why anyone would refer to Closer as a punk album. Apart from that….pretty good synopsis

the background music is amazing, do a show on that, genius!

The album Closer, not the song Closer by NIN which is truly a masterpiece...

Punk was pretty much over by 1979. I never thought of Joy Division as punk. The music didn’t sound punk, the band didn’t look punk.

Actually most of the songs were played live.

it's not a punk album in any way , WARSAW was mainly sounding this way , but JOY DIVISION rapidly went over it !!!

It's been my favorite album since 1990. I've read that George Michael loved it too. I think Benard really could cut loose on guitar in Joy Division and had to limit himself with New Order because of the Indie/Dance sound they were famous for. And having to be the vocalist as well.

I always thought of A means to a end as Ian’s kind of last words to the other guys in the band. With “our vision touched the sky “ and “a legacy so far removed one day will be improved “ and “ I put my trust in you “ three times in a row to the other guys as to say whatever you three do with the music is ok I trust you to do what’s best with it. Also the lyric “ committed still I turn to go” I take it as he loves the music and the band but he knows it’s over and he’s going to improve the legacy

If a few people are interested I have a few JD live reviews/ interviews & 'Joy Division singer found dead' cuttings I kept from 79-80 I could print up .

whats the Song in the background?

I had heard somewhere that Decades was also inspired by punks who showed up to Joy Division shows wearing heavy trench coats and military overcoats - the young men with "weights on their shoulders".

Decades was not written about war

I cannot believe you talk about joy division and have the audacity to through elevator jazz guitar background music on them

This is really an excellent overview, but I think you shoot yourself in the foot by using that generic jazzy bluesy background music. It’s not related to the album, but worse, it makes it a lot harder to recall the individual songs as you’re listening to the text.

With respect, Joy Division were never 'on the verge of stardom'. Their albums got decent chart placings because their fans were the type to buy the records the week they came out. They didnt hang around in the higher reaches of the charts for long. British music changed halfway through 1982, exemplified by New Order's subsequent career, funnily enough. Much of the 'no sell-out' punk ethos was replaced by the 'new pop' 'anti-rockist' sensibility. Hell, Madonna used to be in a band with future members of Swans. With Ian, I simply dont believe they'd have made the concessions necessary for mainstream acceptance like U2 or Simple Minds, both broadly speaking their peers at the time.

I n a c c u r a t e a l s o s h i t e

You should do one on black flag, the history of sst records is pretty interesting

very interesting and well-researched, but it seems to me too much of a reductionist reading. i think the songs are open to many interpretations - not all of them just concrete references to the lyricist's own life

I’ve watched a few of your videos but this one sounds like you’re drunk or took some qualudes or something, very distracting. Hope you’re doing better.

Punk?? What punk?? Whole catalogue? Who cares about the whole catalogue? They released 2 albums of original music, period. That's the catalogue. The rest is something else

Well er , a few points - after 'At a later date' , 'ideal for living 'e.p. Joy Division did not regard themselves 'a punk band' . reading Huxley ,Burroughs , 'House of Dolls' & others may help .....well done getting so much 'live footage ' back to front ....the lack of JD music ( replaced by what sounds like a backing track for a Grover Washington/John Martin LP) makes this rather pointless to those trying to learn about 'Closer' & JD in general ...

Not punk .......ever

Masterpiece my ass. Most Joy Division songs sounded much better live than what Hanchett did to them.

I was a huge JD fan for a decade. Itx not that great of an album.