Joy Division were an English rock band formed in 1976 in Salford, Greater Manchester. The band, primarily consisting of Ian Curtis (vocals and occasional guitar), Bernard Sumner (pictured) (guitar and keyboards), Peter Hook (bass guitar and backing vocals) and Stephen Morris (drums and percussion), rapidly evolved from their initial punk rock influences to develop a sound and style that pioneered the post-punk movement of the late 1970s. Their self-released 1978 debut EP, An Ideal for Living, caught the attention of the Manchester television personality Tony Wilson. Their debut album, Unknown Pleasures, was released in 1979 on Wilson's independent record label Factory Records and drew critical acclaim. Despite the band's growing success, Curtis was beset with depression and personal difficulties, including a dissolving marriage and his diagnosis with epilepsy. He found it increasingly difficult to perform at live concerts, and often had seizures during performances. On the eve of the band's first American tour in 1980, Curtis, overwhelmed with depression, committed suicide. Joy Division's posthumously released second album, Closer, and the single "Love Will Tear Us Apart" became the band's highest charting releases. After the death of Curtis, the remaining members reformed as New Order, achieving critical and commercial success.

Read the rest of this article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joy_Division

_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

79:

According to estimates based on the Codex Laurentianus Mediceus, the volcano Mount Vesuvius erupted, burying the towns of Pompeii, Herculaneum, and Stabiae in Italy. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Vesuvius

1892:

Goodison Park in Liverpool, England, one of the world's first purpose-built football grounds, opened. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goodison_Park

1942:

World War II: Bombers from the United States aircraft carrier Saratoga sank the Japanese aircraft carrier Ryūjō at the Battle of the Eastern Solomons near Santa Isabel, Solomon Islands, helping to lead to an Allied powers victory. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Eastern_Solomons

1963:

Buddhist crisis: In response to the Xa Loi Pagoda raids three days earlier, the U.S. State Department cabled Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr., U.S. Ambassador to South Vietnam, authorizing him to encourage Army of the Republic of Vietnam officers to launch a coup against President Ngo Dinh Nhu if he did not willingly remove his brother Ngo Dinh Nhu from his unofficial position of power. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cable_243

1992:

Hurricane Andrew made landfall in South Florida, the third most powerful Category 5 hurricane to hit the United States during the 20th century. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Andrew

2006:

The International Astronomical Union redefined the term "planet", reclassifying Pluto as a dwarf planet since it has not "cleared the neighbourhood" around its orbit. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IAU_definition_of_planet

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

scrutinize (v): 1. To examine something with great care. 2. To audit accounts in order to verify them http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/scrutinize

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

Gather ye rosebuds while ye may,

Old Time is still a-flying; And this same flower that smiles today,

Tomorrow will be dying. --Robert Herrick (poet) http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Robert_Herrick_%28poet%29