What You Should Know Before Seeing the Ian Curtis/Joy Division Movie Control

"And we would go on as though nothing was wrong.
And hide from these days we remained all alone.
Staying in the same place, just staying out the time.
Touching from a distance,
Further all the time.
Dance, dance, dance, dance, dance, to the radio."
"Transmission" by Joy Division

For thirty years now a select group of music lovers have belonged to a secret society of sorts. We are not known by any particular name other than fans of Joy Division and New Order. 2007 will go down as a banner year for movies. With The Simpsons Movie the greatest television show in history met the big screen. With Control, the greatest rock band in history meets the big screen. Again. (Hint: Watch 24 Hour Party People.) The difference, of course, is that the Simpsons are a worldwide phenomenon known by even those who have never so much as watched an episode before criticizing it. Former Pres. Bush, I'm looking at you. Control is a movie with a built-in audience as well, but for those who may be lured into seeing it via word of mouth there are some things you might want to be familiar with before stepping into the theatre.

What is Joy Division?

Among the many bands that were formed directly as a result of the influence of the Sex Pistols, the band that is featured in Control may arguably have gone on to eclipse the influence of Johnny Rotten and mates. Joy Division is a band that was formed by four guys in Manchester, England: Peter Hook (the world's greatest bassist), Bernard Sumner, Stephen Morris, and Ian Curtis. Although the band only made one more album than the Sex Pistols, those two LPs and a series of classic singles were unlike anything ever heard before, but the dark, industrial sound can be felt in the songs of a massive variety of bands today. In 1980 Rolling Stone magazine named their song "Love Will Tear Us Apart" as the Single of the Year.

What is New Order?

New Order formed in 1980. The band members were the aforementioned Peter Hook (the world's greatest bassist), Bernard Sumner, Stephen Morris and Gillian Gilbert. The early New Order was heavily influenced by the sound they had made as Joy Division, but very quickly eschewed the heavy, guitar-laden sound that made Joy Division so immediately recognizable toward an increasing reliance on synthesizers. The unique quality of Joy Division remained: the two bands remain the only rock groups in which the bass line carries the melody rather than the rhythm in almost every song.

Why was Ian Curtis not a member of Joy Division?

On May 18, 1980, the same day that Mt. Saint Helens exploded, the world of Joy Division's fans and the friends and family members of Ian Curtis also changed forever as Ian Curtis hanged himself to death.

Why didn't the other members of Joy Division just keep their name instead of changing to New Order?

What am I, Kreskin? All I know is that New Order began their career playing only those songs written without Ian Curtis. The break was intentional and complete; not as a nose-thumb to Curtis, but as a show of respect that he was such an integral part of Joy Division.

Why did Ian Curtis kill himself?

I just told you; I'm not Kreskin! Ian Curtis had epilepsy and many times could not finish Joy Division performances. He was also both married and involved in a longtime affair with another woman. To listen to the lyrics of his Joy Division songs one would immediately assume that he was a wildly depressed young man; his lyrics read like a long, poetic suicide note. According to those who knew him, however, Curtis was no more depressed than any other 23 year old living in the bleak atmosphere of Manchester. In fact, the other members of the band once described themselves this way: "We were four guys who were pissed off and then we were three guys who pissed off."

What was Factory Records.

Formed by Tony Wilson (whose story is acted brilliantly by Steve Coogan in 24 Hour Party People), Factory Records was instrumental in creating Joy Division and New Order. In addition, a great number of other brilliant bands came from Factory. The Factory Records business model could never have worked in the US: no contract and artistic freedom. Had Joy Division signed with a corporate label they would probably never have had two movies made about them.

What are the titles of the two Joy Division albums?

Their first album is titled Unknown Pleasures and their final album is titled Closer. There have been Joy Division compilations and a collection of rarities and a live concert can be found on the album Still.

What are the key Joy Division songs I should listen to before seeing Control.

In addition to the aforementioned "Love Will Tear Us Apart", you should also listen to "Transmission", "She's Lost Control", "Atmosphere", "Disorder", "Atrocity Exhibition", "Dead Souls", and "Heart and Soul."