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

[@marleenvos4126]

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.

[@mister3566]

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

[@mister3566]

@user-ek2ng7qb6c Maybe not , Isolation, Means to an end are up there for me

[@drrocky01]

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.

[@jumofi]

Same for me mate

[@nolagospeltracts8264]

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.

[@LexTalionis23]

WOW 🤩 😍 thank you for posting this! Simply sublime. He was so real.

[@user-vg5rv5xf4u]

Yeah sure 😂

[@nolagospeltracts8264]

@@user-vg5rv5xf4u True story. I was 19 years old in 1983. This dude in one of my classes at UNO gave me the tape. I bought the albums at Mushroom Records uptown, New Orleans.

[@kimsimonson6515]

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.

[@joefikifiki]

I always found it funny how The Eternal is brought up in conversation as an example of how tortured Joy Division's lyrics are, when the song that comes literally before it is far darker. Glad this video had that impact on you!

[@kentvonseverin1257]

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...

[@chrisridenhour]

Absolutely wonderful presentation thank you

[@plev10]

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!

[@georgehoward9306]

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

[@elenamilitopingitore5044]

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

[@andymoody8363]

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.

[@paulsammax]

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.

[@andchat6241]

It's one of those films that only Herzog ( or Fassbinder) could direct . I don't know if it's ever been stated which side of 'The Idiot' was last played ....much as I love the LP the B side - 'Dum Dum boys ' , 'Tiny Girls & especially 'Mass Production ' can be difficult to listen if in a down cast mood , but it's difficult to equate records & life situations ...he'd also been listening to JA dub lps around then , including 'the dark prince of reggae' Keith Hudson ( who wrote ' turn the heater on' - later covered )...

[@andchat6241]

I haven't up with JD & gigs/lists since 'Still' was released , (surprised to see 'Sister Ray' in a set as they had a surprisingly large number 'in the can')..So When did 'Ceremony' appear (post tour with Buzzcocks ?) , Was 'Dead souls' still the opener late on ? & I didn't know they played at Finsbury Park 'the Rainbow' - was this a support slot ,like the previous slightly smaller Strand 'Lyceum' gigs ' ??

[@milesbuckley3973]

nice to see someone talking about closer

[@reefk8876]

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

[@joefikifiki]

Thanks man! Yeah saddly none of them saw it coming. According to this video kzbin.info/www/bejne/qIrCi2looq11aLc Ian Curtis was able to hide how he was feeling pretty well unfortunately.

[@AndyMangele]

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!

[@reggietelly]

This is great. Thanks for doing this

[@chrisperry7963]

Great job on this, I absolutely love this album.

[@jumofi]

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

[@adambraunstein3283]

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

[@chelseaacidcasual2825]

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

[@Pazuzu82]

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!

[@thesaltiestanarchist]

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)

[@Happyradio1234]

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

[@thetheraine]

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

[@macfilms9904]

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.

[@TesterAnimal1]

I adore this album. Just the best.

[@MosherBear]

Closer is an album that hits the nerve. As someone who lives with long term mental health issues, it's not an easy listen but an essential piece of work.

[@noneinparticular2338]

Thank you , best album ever

[@Happyradio1234]

agreed

[@16rpm1]

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

[@stolidarling]

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

[@andchat6241]

Did it have another name ? As Camden had the 'Electric Ballroom , Music Machine' and wasn't 'the Venue' nearby ?

[@stolidarling]

@@andchat6241 Sorry I can’t remember the name. I lost the tickets in a move.😭 I was just a “tourist” on my honeymoon from Chicago. I would love to return to London someday.❤️

[@thepilgrimplays]

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!

[@clivebroadhead4857]

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.

[@ellentronicmistress4969]

It;s a 20 minute primer video, not a thesis. If you think you know better or can do better then why not put yourself forward and make a video?

[@wrmlm37]

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

[@al1665]

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

[@Happyradio1234]

could these sensations make me feel the pleasures of a normal man?

[@alanhansmannkurtcobain8811]

Awesome.

[@marguskiis7711]

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.

[@wilcoleijdens9895]

While Hooky did say in that interview Colony came from the unknown pleasures sessions, it is not true. In his book he clarified it was Candidate, and I’m assuming he got the names confused.

[@natbirchall1580]

Yes Joy Division!!

[@Mancheguache]

'there's no turning back the last man'

[@SebastianRodriguez-cq3qu]

Nice track-by-track review for a great album. It should have been far more acclaimed but destiny did not want it so. There were other albums that outshined the splendour of Closer as a pivotal piece of music. I guess that UP, their debut album achieved more recognition, but Closer is a greater thing, more mature and focused, more artistic, somehow. There are peaks and highlights that make the album praise-worthy, Passover is one of them: how they managed to reduce music to its minimum expression and yet stressing the drama, the pathos...less is more.

[@marguskiis7711]

Actually most of the songs were played live.

[@reinforcedpenisstem]

For sure. The collectors edition has a whole CD of live tracks from closer

[@ChrisWhittenMusic]

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.

[@jonathanhayes7101]

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.

[@wesleyashworth5061]

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

[@Spectrescup]

If you'd have gone into a record shop in the early 80's, you'd more than likely have found Joy Division under 'punk'. At the time, it included everything that later became defined as either independent, indie, post-punk, new wave, alternative, college rock, goth etc etc. The likes of 'darkwave' was a much later continental european coinage. Most categorisation is retrospective, and requires either time/hindsight or peers/imitators. One way that people who really liked music/read the music press/listened to John Peel actually spoke to each other about new bands was what label they were on. They're a Factory/Creation/Postcard/SST/Rough Trade band was both a convenient short-hand and a vague but not useless descriptor. Remember, much of the time you'd be buying records you'd never heard, only read or heard about.

[@paulsage6849]

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

[@0ooTheMAXXoo0]

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

[@andchat6241]

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 .

[@travislostaglia8861]

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

[@whytegroovin]

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

[@pedrorocha9722]

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

[@kairuzo6675]

whats the Song in the background?

[@joefikifiki]

There are 2: Jobii - Holstein I Just Want Quiet - Slow Acoustic Guitar Calm Background Music I have them in video description.

[@tilius.xyz_]

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

[@Pmb213]

😂 it’s not that serious. It’s pretty sophisticated elevator music though.

[@tilius.xyz_]

​@@Pmb213 You have no taste in music if you find this elevator music sophisticated. You probably use icecream as souce for steak too.

[@michaelwilson2340]

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.

[@joefikifiki]

Yeah George Michael loved Closer, especially the second side of the record. He says so here kzbin.info/www/bejne/jJuWeYKhod-IitE .

[@michaelwilson2340]

@@joefikifiki Thanks! George was open minded and interesting talking about Joy Division and Closer. And Morrissey was...... Morrissey.

[@piershollott339]

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".

[@TheArpomni2]

Decades was not written about war

[@seanfogarty1141]

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

[@paddyhall4835]

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

[@reinaderive]

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

[@Spectrescup]

SST released more great records within 5 years than anyone, ever - even Elektra or ESP. Ironically, they ripped everyone off, but bands like Dinosaur and Sonic Youth still left smaller but honest labels like Homestead to join them, just, as Thurston Moore admitted, for the kudos of having a record on SST.

[@reinaderive]

thats right, greg ginn started SST ~ which stands for SOLID STATE TRANSMITTERS ~ before he got into punk music. he modified old transistor radios and sold parts through mail order business @@Spectrescup

[@kimtoms6442]

Not punk .......ever

[@Happyradio1234]

when they were warsaw they had a more punk feel

[@elaztec.aztecca]

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.

[@andchat6241]

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 ...

[@Nominay]

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

[@shaolin1derpalm]

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