Talk:Joy Division

Terry Mason link is wrong
Goes to a listing for the wrestler. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 2601:18C:CB00:2630:40ED:D973:517A:1A38 (talk) 02:14, 28 March 2017 (UTC)
 * Your report has been really useful, but I suppose you could have fixed it personally. Anyway, thank you very much.--Mauro Lanari (talk) 03:16, 28 March 2017 (UTC)

Sentence in lead, hate to be pedantic, but ?
'the album and preceding single "Love Will Tear Us Apart" became the band's highest charting release.'

should that be 'releases'. ? 78.147.43.93 (talk) 20:34, 21 August 2017 (UTC)
 * Yes, changed now Ceoil (talk) 20:37, 21 August 2017 (UTC)

Siouxsie quote
Here's the text before I edited it:

"Paul Morley praised the band as "the missing link between Elvis Presley and [siouxsie and] the Banshees"."

Here's my version:

"Paul Morley praised the band as "the missing link" between Elvis Presley and Siouxsie and the Banshees."

A minor difference, but with a few improvements:


 * Siouxsie is capitalised correctly as a proper noun.
 * We can link to Siouxsie and the Banshees without piping (see WP:NOPIPE).
 * We paraphrase the quote without misrepresenting it. In fact we lose literally no information this way.
 * It removes the need to clarify the band name with brackets (see MOS:PMC).

There is no downside to my edit. I'm amazed this has been a point of disagreement. Popcornduff (talk) 15:50, 18 July 2018 (UTC)


 * I understand your concern but don't see the need of making a change in the present case. Woovee (talk) 16:46, 18 July 2018 (UTC)


 * You've yet to explain why your version is better. Popcornduff (talk) 16:58, 18 July 2018 (UTC)
 * It is not a matter of which version is better than the other. It is presented that way per wp:STICKTOSOURCE. Woovee (talk) 17:09, 18 July 2018 (UTC)


 * As I said above, my version contains 100% the same information as yours, just with better formatting. It is a completely accurate representation of the source. Popcornduff (talk) 17:10, 18 July 2018 (UTC)


 * I agree with . Apart from anything else we cannot introduce a capitalisation error to the article.--John (talk) 16:53, 18 July 2018 (UTC)

The article actually says: ". . . the missing link between Elvis Presley and the Banshees." Source: https://books.google.com/books/about/Joy_Division.html?id=FCBiDAAAQBAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=kp_read_button#v=onepage&q=Elvis&f=false Why not just use the Banshees What's wrong with that?? -- Doctorx0079 (talk) 20:04, 18 July 2018 (UTC)


 * By quoting directly, we have to pipe the link and omit the full band name. Popcornduff (talk) 02:50, 19 July 2018 (UTC)
 * What's wrong with that? That is just what piped links are for. The reader can click the link if desired to find out exactly what Paul Morley's shorthand abbreviation is referring to. With a piped link you get an exact quote and clarification if desired. This is one of the main reasons we have piped links. -- Doctorx0079 (talk) 21:20, 23 July 2018 (UTC)


 * Discussion closed: the consensus is for Popcornduff's version. Woovee (talk) 12:15, 19 July 2018 (UTC)
 * I don't understand why Popcornduff's version is better than my version. -- Doctorx0079 (talk) 00:49, 23 July 2018 (UTC)
 * I think I stated the advantages pretty clearly in the bullet points above. Do you want to respond to them? Popcornduff (talk) 17:36, 23 July 2018 (UTC)
 * Are you not understanding why a pipe link is the best choice in this situation? Pipe links are intended to allow a direct quotation without having to use clumsy square brackets. The reader can click on the link if desired to find out what the quoted author is referring to. It is best to use a literal quotation with a pipe link in such situations. As long as the linked entry is reasonably referred to in the original quote it's not a "hidden" pipe link. Doesn't that seem the most reasonable choice? I don't get why not. Morley did in fact put "the Banshees" in the original text, not "Siouxsie and The Banshees", and it is also clear that he intended this as shorthand for the band "Siouxsie and The Banshees". I don't see why this pipe link is controversial. -- Doctorx0079 (talk) 20:58, 23 July 2018 (UTC)
 * "The reader can click on the link if desired to find out what the quoted author is referring to." That would be an easter egg link (see WP:EASTER): Do not use piped links to create "Easter egg" links that require the reader to open them before understanding what's going on. Popcornduff (talk) 03:18, 24 July 2018 (UTC)
 * That is DEFINITELY NOT an easter egg link. An easter egg link is a link where the link has no clear relationship to the text. E.G. if you had the phrase "post-punk" and it linked to the Siouxsie and The Banshees page, THAT would be an easter egg link. Linking "the Banshees" to the Siouxsie and The Banshees page is NOT an easter egg link, because it simply clarifies the context of which Banshees were meant. See the difference? -- Doctorx0079 (talk) 21:32, 24 July 2018 (UTC)
 * I agree it's not as extreme a case as the "post-punk" example, but it's still an easter egg link if the reader has to depend on context to guess where an article leads. What is the advantage when we can just make it completely unambiguous? Popcornduff (talk) 03:44, 25 July 2018 (UTC)
 * It's up to the reader to decide whether they want to find out which Banshees are meant. Since the link concerns Banshees it's NOT an easter egg link. An easter egg link is one where the meaning is opaque. That's why it's called an easter egg link. Usually it's an easter egg link when the phrase doesn't contain any words from the article title. But in this case the linked article is indeed about Banshees. I don't see the problem. -- Doctorx0079 (talk) 04:21, 25 July 2018 (UTC)
 * What is the advantage when we can just make it completely unambiguous? Popcornduff (talk) 05:24, 25 July 2018 (UTC)
 * You are misquoting for no advantage. Just link it and the reader can click for clarification. --

Doctorx0079 (talk) 21:41, 25 July 2018 (UTC)
 * It's not a misquote. Popcornduff (talk) 04:33, 26 July 2018 (UTC)
 * The quote IS: ". . . the missing link between Elvis Presley and the Banshees." UNLESS you put ". . . the missing link between Elvis Presley and the Banshees." then it IS a MISQUOTE. -- Doctorx0079 (talk) 00:45, 29 July 2018 (UTC)
 * It's paraphrasing. See WP:PARAPHRASE. Popcornduff (talk) 04:39, 29 July 2018 (UTC)
 * Why paraphrase that? A pipe link serves the same function much better. -- Doctorx0079 (talk) 18:50, 29 July 2018 (UTC)

I've been invited to comment on this, since I earlier (innocently) corrected a typo and removed the pipe. I think either way works, but I would be inclined to use the full literal phrasing and the pipe, as a more accurate representation. Wwwhatsup (talk) 23:52, 24 July 2018 (UTC)

Eh, I think the current version is okay with the quotation marks moved around. Maybe the pipe link was trying to get too clever. -- Doctorx0079 (talk) 20:11, 1 August 2018 (UTC)

the word 'commit' used in conjunction with suicide
The word 'commit' connotes a criminal or immoral act; suicide is neither. I do not think this article, and others, should not be denigrating people that have died by suicide. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Neoluddism (talk • contribs) 19:18, 25 September 2018 (UTC)

Proto-emo??
What the hell is proto-emo anyway?? Somebody tried to put that in the infobox. -- Doctorx0079 (talk) 20:06, 27 November 2018 (UTC)

GOTHIC ROCK??
This was discussed in the Talk Archives. The consensus was that JOY DIVISION IS NOT GOTHIC ROCK. Please refer to the Talk Archives before starting a new discussion. -- Doctorx0079 (talk) 19:03, 5 August 2019 (UTC)

Genres of Joy Division?
Since a certain particular human told me to take it to the talk page, I am indeed doing so. So why is the band only listed as “post-punk” on it’s page without “gothic rock” being included?

One, the gothic rock Wikipedia page literally name checks Joy Division as a pioneer of the genre. Two, that same page also listed credible sources for this claim as well. Seriously, Joy Division were one of the first bands to have the title of “goth” or “gothic” attached to their music, even by their own manager Tony Wilson.

Just cause they never identified with the subculture doesn’t mean they didn’t make the music. Distorted and jangly guitars, high-pitched bass, icy synths, heavy reverberated drums, and Ian’s baritone are all common staples of gothic rock; Which is again, listed on the gothic rock Wikipedia page. Even music theory wise in terms of picked guitar in a minor key on a descending scale, which is another common staple of goth music, Joy Division fits the bill. USMCLP (talk) 21:17, 5 August 2019 (UTC)


 * Isn't Bauhaus the real beginning of gothic rock as a genre? -- Doctorx0079 (talk) 21:26, 5 August 2019 (UTC)

What does Bauhaus have to do with any of the points I just made about Joy Division being a goth band? Bela Lugosi’s Dead and Unknown Pleasures came out like a month between each other. So if you’re trying to say Bauhaus was first or something, well no, both bands pioneered the genre around the same time. Especially considering JD performed songs from their first record way back in 1978, and The Birthday Party (another goth band) already existed.

The most ironic thing about Bauhaus is that just like Joy Division, they made goth music yet never identified with the goth subculture. Can also say the same about The Cure and Siouxsie and the Banshees, two other bands that made up the “big four” of the beginning goth bands who were seen as the main pioneers of the genre.

Regardless, Joy Division definitely fits the bill and it’d be quite silly to deny that, considering the amount of evidence I just mentioned. USMCLP (talk) 21:39, 5 August 2019 (UTC)


 * A gothic rock band should be one that identifies with the goth subculture at some point. Also a consensus requires more than just you. If you change the main page to say "gothic rock" someone will probably revert it again. -- Doctorx0079 (talk) 22:44, 5 August 2019 (UTC)

No, that’s not how music genres work. A music genre is based on MUSIC, not anything else. Also, the consensus is more than just me, as I literally mentioned the sources of JD being mentioned as a goth or gothic band. Did you read anything that I just said?

And your point also doesn’t make sense because those three other bands besides Joy Division have gothic rock listed as one of their genres on their pages. But did they ever identify with the goth subculture? Nope, not really. If someone reverts it again, I’ll revert it like you reverted my edit and tell them to head to the talk page lmao. I apologize if I come across as condescending, but you’re just making me repeat myself and making no legitimate argument of your own. USMCLP (talk) 23:13, 5 August 2019 (UTC)


 * What I said is exactly how it works here. -- Doctorx0079 (talk) 18:51, 6 August 2019 (UTC)

This is rather wp:UNDUE. That said, several recent wp:reliable sources have tagged Joy Division gothic rock but is it historically relevant to pigeonhole the band with this genre? I don't think so because the majority of music historians doesn't consider Joy Division as such. Gothic rock should be used only for the second wave of bands (Sisters of Mercy, Fields of the Nephelim) that played dark music. Sisters of Mercy used guitar solos and were up for rock'n'roll whereas post-punk bands of the first wave rejected all those rock'n'roll clichés. Now, I think that the "gothic" adjective should also appear at some point in the "musical style" section: there are a few quotes from contemporary reviews available from Melody Maker or Sounds. I ping as they helped pass this article GA. Woovee (talk) 21:15, 20 August 2019 (UTC)


 * We should be representing the sources in balance with their various descriptions. Most sources classify the band as post-punk, very strongly so. The goth connection is one of influencing future bands, not so much Joy Division being called a goth band themselves. Binksternet (talk) 22:47, 20 August 2019 (UTC)


 * Has anyone else looked at the current sources describing the band as Gothic rock? First one is a cover of NME that does not explicitly call the band a GR band in the context of a critical review (this cover describes Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds as GR too), the 2nd is a Youtube video with a passing remark by someone merely using the word "Gothic" ("slightly sinister and gothic") and the 3rd source is from a book (that most are unable to verify) that uses the term GR but makes no mention of Joy Division as such in the actual text. I'm inclined to question the reliability of these sources in relation to sourcing this genre. That is not to say that reliable sources describing the band as such do not exist.  Rob van  vee  05:30, 21 August 2019 (UTC)


 * Fair points, I’ll update the sources. USMCLP (talk) 07:51, 21 August 2019 (UTC)

This seems to be coming up again. Yes, there are reliable sources using some form of Goth or Gothic to describe the band's music. I'm fairly certain that other reliable sources can be found stating that JD influenced Goth, but never themselves belonged in the genre. Pretty sure this is a critical consensus. Post-punk is satisfactory as the genre without trying to add on further genres. CAVincent (talk) 09:19, 8 December 2023 (UTC)


 * Hey. Thanks again for backing me up on The Jam. Regarding Joy Division, I’m ok with just post-punk being listed on the main page, but if you want to put gothic rock to recognise their influence on the genre, fine. There was no recognised ‘goth’ subculture/music in 1979, though, so new wave ought also to be listed, as more reflective of how they were perceived at the time, even if they fit oddly within the genre according to some modern (mis)understandings of what new wave was. Janglyguitars (talk) 04:43, 11 December 2023 (UTC)

Bernard Sumner's "Name"
Although referred throughout the article as "Bernard Sumner", did he not call himself "Bernard Albrecht"? — Preceding unsigned comment added by Taff Hewitt (talk • contribs) 22:07, 11 April 2020 (UTC)
 * Only in the very early days of Joy Division (ie when they were called "Warsaw"), and he has regretted it since, like others from that era who unwisely flirted with certain imagery (see also Siouxsie Sioux and Sid Vicious). In Sumner's case it was re hitler youth. Ugg, but in fairness he was around 17 years at the time, and per his biography, had grown up in an area of Manchester heavily bombed by the Germans during the war, so naturally, I suppose, he was was curious in pushing boundaries, as young people usually are, and should be (except for Nazism obv, but it seems this was all rather innocent and naive). Ceoil  (talk) 22:41, 11 April 2020 (UTC)

The early flirtation with Nazi imagery in Punk was largely based on shock value and a rejection of the older generations' standards. The I fought in the war statements of fathers and grandfathers that meant little to teenagers in the Seventies. It had become a cliche they were bored of hearing.

Synth-pop Prediction
A quote from a reverted, sourced edit: "Joy Division gave up the ethos of punk: the band absorbed some electronic music and emphasized a research on the instruments’ timbre, thus forming some kind of "bridge" towards the synth-pop movement that was ready to burst out, just a few months later." Piero Scaruffi wasn't trying to label the band as synth-pop. He was opining that the band's experimentation with electronics predicted the synth-pop movement that emerged in their country. If there is a way to include this knowledge in the article without making a false statement, how would this work?

Source: Misterspaceman (talk) 04:28, 1 July 2024 (UTC)


 * I will let others opine on this, but: Joy Division wasn't at all synth-pop, not even experimenting with it. They explicitly rejected the attempt to add keyboards to their first album. New Order was an early synth-pop band. We all know the overlap between the two bands. It's enough to mention it in the New Order article. CAVincent (talk) 05:20, 1 July 2024 (UTC)
 * doesnt explicitly label them as such so it should definitely not go into the infobox as one of their genres, see WP:EXPLICITGENRE --FMSky (talk) 22:36, 2 July 2024 (UTC)