Rhino readies Joy Division reissues :: Music News :: Articles

It seems odd to place a timestamp on Joy Division - for us younger indie fans, the group's music and influence have seemed ever-present. But it really has been 30 years since the legendary post-punk band formed, and we probably should have expected that - at some anniversary along the road - the entire Joy Division catalog would be repackaged, revamped and reexamined. That year has arrived.

Next week (Oct. 30), Rhino Records will reissue the twin albums that built the towering myth of Joy Division and doomed singer Ian Curtis: Unknown Pleasures (1979) and Closer (1980). Also up for a shiny new coat of digital paint: 1981's posthumous rarities compilation Still. This trio of albums will receive a proper remastering, but the main draw for Joy Division fans will be the addition of rare live performance discs to each of the three albums. The Unknown Pleasures reissue features a 1979 performance at the Factory in Manchester, Closer adds a 1980 gig at the University of London, while Still features another 1980 show at the High Wycombe Town Hall. A vinyl box featuring all three albums arrived last month.

All of this back-catalog action arrives the same day as the previously reported soundtrack to Curtis biopic Control, featuring period music by Iggy Pop, Buzzcocks and others, in addition to a cover of Joy Division's "Shadowplay" by the Killers. For complete track lists check out Rhino's press release.

Oh yeah, and did we mention ringtones of "Love Will Tear Us Apart" and "Transmission" also arrive Oct. 30? Geez, we were kind of hoping for "Atrocity Exhibition," personally.

Got news tips for Paste? Email news@pastemagazine.com.