Joy Division and New Order: Album by Album

A definitive album-by-album history of Joy Division and New Order, tracing their evolution from post-punk darkness to pioneering pop innovation and enduring cultural legacy.Coming out of northern England in the late 1970s, few bands have had the impact and influence of Joy Division and New Order. Joy Division were formed in the slipstream of punk but, thanks to frontman Ian Curtis’s singular voice and Martin Hannett’s ambitious production, soon stretched beyond the genre’s sonic limits to create something dark and new. After Curtis’s heartbreaking suicide, the surviving members picked themselves up and created the future as New Order. Written by music critic and journalist Mayer Nissim (Digital Spy, Gold Radio, NME), Joy Division and New Order: Album by Album deep dives into both groups’ studio albums, pulling together a comprehensive narrative of two of the most vital bands in pop history. From their rehearsals at TJ Davidson’s in Manchester to their number one records, it takes you through their fallouts, reunions and fragmentations to their lasting legacy. This book includes extensive interviews with singer and guitarist Bernard Sumner and estranged bass player Peter Hook, alongside conversations with six key band collaborators: graphic designer Peter Saville, Scissor Sisters frontwoman Ana Matronic, producer Stephen Street, recording engineer Michael Johnson and filmmakers Charles Sturridge and Grant Gee. It also features photographs by Anton Corbijn and official group snapper Warren Jackson, as well as full colour reproductions of all Peter Saville’s groundbreaking album sleeves and a complete discography of both bands. Read more