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Why Joy Division? Henry Rollins examines Jon Savage’s oral history of the band

59 points by petethomas 8y ago

roryrjb 8y ago
In the same way that George Martin used his experience and expertise in the studio with the The Beatles, Martin Hannett used his studio craftsmanship to shape the sound of Joy Division. As the article states, without his (and others) input they may not have been what they were. Having listened to their albums (an actual perfect discography), their demos, outtakes and other rarities, I think this definitely rings true. My first exposure to their history was the film 24 Hour Party People, which I think actually does justice to them and the scene that they were a part of.
- wiz21c 8y ago
  The "Control" movie is nice too (at least from the point of view of someone who likes JD without being the biggest fan)
- benj111 8y ago
  "without his (and others) input they may not have been what they were" Yes? But that isn't to write off the (other) members of the band. The albums still stand out after 45 years because you had a group of incredibly talented people coming together to make the albums. You could have said the same about, and people have, Hook or Curtis. If you just feel Hannett is underappreciated. Probably, but that goes for everyone not holding the microphone.
- sonnyblarney 8y ago
  U2 + Eno + Langlois. And Radiohead + Godrich. And Nirvana + Butch Vig. Producer is part of the band in the 1980's and 1990's, since the 2000's the 'producer is the band'. Katy Perry et. al. just sing Max Martin covers. The musicians don't have at their disposal the tools to make the soundscape, unless they practice for 10 years and actually 'get good', in which case they might be 'mini famous' and respected among some niches.
anm89 8y ago
As someone who likes a lot of punk and some hardcore, I will never understand the appeal of Henry Rollins. Overrated musician, overrated human being.
- joekrill 8y ago
  Wow. I mean, I like a lot of punk and hardcore, too. I was never a huge Rollins fan in that I idolized the guy or anyhing, but I was never NOT a fan. I mean how can you not respect the guy? Black Flag is iconic. Rollins himself, as far as I'm aware, is a stand-up guy, true to himself, no bullshit dude. What, exactly, is overrated about him?
  - anm89 8y ago
    I guess I'll qualify that and say I don't think Black Flag is a bad band I've just never heard anything from them that I really loved either and that's in a genre I'd say I'm pretty predisposed to liking. But really he just comes off as one of the smuggest people to me which I find to be a really obnoxious trait. Like every interview with him feels like he has to go out of the way to make the interviewer feel like his time is being wasted when in reality he seems to like being interviewed as he spends a lot of time in front of cameras. To each their own. I certainly don't fault anyone else for liking him or Black Flag and there's certainly a lot worse music out there but he just always rubbed me the wrong way.
- kdtsh 8y ago
  That’s cool dude. I love Black Flag and Rollins Band, and I reckon his spoken word is entertaining. You do you.
HyperTalk2 8y ago
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVlNfo1tgXM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVlNfo1tgXM

59 points by petethomas 8y ago

In the same way that George Martin used his experience and expertise in the studio with the The Beatles, Martin Hannett used his studio craftsmanship to shape the sound of Joy Division. As the article states, without his (and others) input they may not have been what they were. Having listened to their albums (an actual perfect discography), their demos, outtakes and other rarities, I think this definitely rings true. My first exposure to their history was the film 24 Hour Party People, which I think actually does justice to them and the scene that they were a part of.

wiz21c 8y ago
The "Control" movie is nice too (at least from the point of view of someone who likes JD without being the biggest fan)
benj111 8y ago
"without his (and others) input they may not have been what they were" Yes? But that isn't to write off the (other) members of the band. The albums still stand out after 45 years because you had a group of incredibly talented people coming together to make the albums. You could have said the same about, and people have, Hook or Curtis. If you just feel Hannett is underappreciated. Probably, but that goes for everyone not holding the microphone.
sonnyblarney 8y ago
U2 + Eno + Langlois. And Radiohead + Godrich. And Nirvana + Butch Vig. Producer is part of the band in the 1980's and 1990's, since the 2000's the 'producer is the band'. Katy Perry et. al. just sing Max Martin covers. The musicians don't have at their disposal the tools to make the soundscape, unless they practice for 10 years and actually 'get good', in which case they might be 'mini famous' and respected among some niches.

anm89 8y ago

As someone who likes a lot of punk and some hardcore, I will never understand the appeal of Henry Rollins. Overrated musician, overrated human being.

joekrill 8y ago
Wow. I mean, I like a lot of punk and hardcore, too. I was never a huge Rollins fan in that I idolized the guy or anyhing, but I was never NOT a fan. I mean how can you not respect the guy? Black Flag is iconic. Rollins himself, as far as I'm aware, is a stand-up guy, true to himself, no bullshit dude. What, exactly, is overrated about him?
- anm89 8y ago
  I guess I'll qualify that and say I don't think Black Flag is a bad band I've just never heard anything from them that I really loved either and that's in a genre I'd say I'm pretty predisposed to liking. But really he just comes off as one of the smuggest people to me which I find to be a really obnoxious trait. Like every interview with him feels like he has to go out of the way to make the interviewer feel like his time is being wasted when in reality he seems to like being interviewed as he spends a lot of time in front of cameras. To each their own. I certainly don't fault anyone else for liking him or Black Flag and there's certainly a lot worse music out there but he just always rubbed me the wrong way.
kdtsh 8y ago
That’s cool dude. I love Black Flag and Rollins Band, and I reckon his spoken word is entertaining. You do you.

HyperTalk2 8y ago

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVlNfo1tgXM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVlNfo1tgXM