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>
Show replies by date