Joy Division is one of my favorite bands of all time. Kind of hard to believe that they lasted less than 2 years, and that front man Ian Curtis was dead at age 23.
They were one of the first post-punk bands, and had a huge influence on numerous musicians that came after. Groups that have cited them include U2, the Cure, Radiohead, Nine Inch Nails, Interpol, and others. They would, of course, reform after Curtis’s suicide as New Order.
This is probably Joy Division’s best album, though it didn’t really make much of a splash when it was released in 1979. Since then, it’s often recognized as one of the most influential albums ever. “She’s Lost Control” is one song from it you might recognize.
The image is an interesting one. It was designed by Peter Saville and is “radio waves from pulsar CP 1919.” It actually became quite iconic.
Peter gets his own treatment
Though quite simple, it’s also pretty powerful. A critic at the BBC described it quite well saying, “It speaks volumes. Its white on black lines reflect a pulse of power, a surge of bass, and raw angst. If the cover doesn't draw you in, the music will.”
Saville would design some more stuff for Joy Division and pretty much everything for New Order. He also designed the cover for the first group’s Closer, Les Bains Douche, and Preston 28 February 1980, all of which are pretty darn cool as well.
Saville has over 200 credits. Here’s a couple that are fairly well known:
And here's the band (Peter Hook, Ian, Bernard Sumner, Stephen Morris):
There are some good parodies out there (here’s a whole page dedicated to them):
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