Take the quiz - how many 70's bands do you recognize

[LynneSin]

11. Stop whatever you are doing now and find yourself some Joy Divsion!!

I Joy Division

Essentially Joy Division is the prequel to New Order with one exception. Before New Order existed there was Joy Division and the lead singer was Ian Curtis. Ian Curtis had this absolutely amazing very distinctive voice that will haunt you when you hear it. If you can find a rare live video of Joy Division in concert he also had this disturbing way he moved when he sang, kind of a jerkish back and forth movement. Their first album is 'Unknown Pleasures' and probably one of my absolutely favorite non-Zeppelin albums out there. It's a great album to listen to on a Saturday afternoon when you're stuck in the house in a weird funk and want to listen to something moody and brooding and off-center.

But what happened to Joy Division and how did they become New Order you ask? Well that is the sad story. Unfortunately Ian Curtis was severely afflicted with epilepsy, which some say a few times on stage he actually had seizures and his treatment with medication was sometimes hit or miss. He also suffered with depression too. The combination of these 2 things was probably what lead to his suicide in 1980.

The surviving members did opt to continue on but instead of keeping the name Joy Division decided to use a new band name which was New Order.

Joy Division is considered Post-Punk in their sound but honestly I think they are the pre-cursor to what became the New Wave sound of the 80s