Flip on the TV, wondering what those crazy guys on Breakfast Television are doing...but then i turned the channel and was drawn to....
Joy Division the documentary by Grant Gee. BLOODY BRILLIANT! I really should have seen this awhile ago when it was in town for the film fest a couple of years ago.
There's something odd about watching a documentary at 6 in the morning on arguably one of the most interesting frontmen of the music i grew up with who's demons won out far before his prime. It's unfortunately not a unique story among artists (singers, writers, actors). Perhaps artists are pre-wired to not only have a certain level of creative genius, but on the flip side have a distinct view of the world not in technicolour, but in various shades of grey and black? The documentary itself was about the chronological history of the band. It goes through how the band met up (sex pistols gig....and....i just put "god save the queen" in my head..great), their start up, progression to being on the cusp of being "big", Ian Curtis' suicide, and bands continuation into New Order (NOT a New Order doc). I won't go into details since i think that everyone should watch it.
Interesting tid bit. I'm watching them play "Dead Souls" and seeing Ian getting riled up and pumped in all his psychedelic dance glory (joe cocker had nothing on him) and thinking..."I've heard this song before". It finally clicked. Nine Inch Nails did a cover of it for "The Crow". Didn't even have to google that.
someone take these dreams away
that point me to another day
a duel of of personalities
that stretch all true realities
An interesting question is what defines "Pop"? Throughout the documentary, Joy Division is referred to as a pop band. Perhaps living through the 80s, in grade school, "pop" to me was the Michael Jackson's and Whams of the world, but to me the Brit "pop" of the 80s had a darker tone to it. Artists weren't singing about waking up before you go-go, manic mondays (soft spot in my heart for susanna hoffs) or singing in malls to raucaus tween girls. Could it be that the artists that came out of the late 70s and early 80s in the UK seemed to have a darker grip on reality than North American ones? Don't get me wrong, there were some great 80s bands from North America, they just didn't seem to have the darkness that Joy Division, the Cure, Bauhaus, The Smiths (although wrapped in some damn catchy tunes there mr. morrissey!) et al seemed to have....perhaps i'm just a dark guy and need to review that psychology text book again.
With "Atmosphere" playing in my head as i type this, i gained a deeper appreciation for the story of Joy Division and the guys behind the music. Ian Curtis, you left the world too soon, but i'm sure you've already gotten into a few pub brawls with Kurt Cobain.
thought: was Ian Curtis actually the Kurt Cobain of the early 80s? discuss.
thought #2: goth rock, pop rock, brit pop rock, why can't we just all get along? discuss.
Walk in silence,
Don't turn away, in silence
Your confusion,
my illusion,
worn like a mask of self-hate,
confronts and then dies.
Don't walk away
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