Joy Division - Unknown Pleasures

Joy Division was one of the first and most influential bands coming out of the early years of the post-punk era, and their debut album, Unknown Pleasures, would inspire generations of artists and change the future of music. This English band formed in 1976 and their first recordings were inspired by early punk rock as represented on the 1978 debut EP An Ideal for Living.  Joy Division soon signed with the new independent label, Factory Records, where they would record Unknown Pleasures with producer Martin Hannett. This June 1979 release developed a sparse sound and style that made Joy Division one of the pioneering groups of the post-punk genre. The debut album, with the very iconic cover, would become one of the most influential post-punk albums of all time. This podcast episode will tell the story of the formation of Joy Division, their early recordings prior to and around the time of the debut album, and the creation and music of Unknown Pleasures.