The TRAGIC Story of Joy Division’s “Love Will Tear Us Apart”
The story of “Love Will Tear Us Apart” begins in the late 1970s. Joy Division was transforming Manchester into the epicenter of a new post-punk sound. Frontman Ian Curtis was beginning to unravel. His marriage to Deborah Woodruff was unraveling and he had fallen into a complicated relationship with Belgian journalist Annik Honoré. “Love Will Tear Us Apart” conveys the way love, no matter how deep, can reach an inevitable breaking point. This is the story of that song, the tragedy behind its creation, the man who wrote it, and the song that outlived him.
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CHAPTERS:
0:00 The Story of Love Will Tear Us Apart
1:18 Joy Division and the New Manchester Sound
4:26 Ian Curtis and the Conception of a Song
8:38 How Love Will Tear Us Apart Came Together
12:53 A Release and An Unimaginable Tragedy
15:47 The Legacy of Joy Division
REFERENCES & CLIP CREDITS:
Joy Division: Love Will Tear Us Apart (Live) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gA4BY3FDEME
Joy Division: Song & Dance Interviews https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jANCuDlaPqQ
Joy Division – She’s Lost Control (Live At Something Else Show) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FD2SfQJOK08
Post WWII Europe, Bomb Damage, Rebuilding https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxm5A82VFSo
Ian Curtis interview for Radio Blackburn, BBC https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DauN0oHgh4A
Word In Your Ear Podcast Interview with Peter Hook) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x5STa3yfs7g
Peter Hook Plays “Love Will Tear Us Apart” (July 2001) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yOsL16fcBXs
#joydivision #postpunk #postpunkhistory #iancurtis #peterhook #vinylcommunity #vinylrecords #vinylcollection #andyfenstermaker #fensepost #vinylchannel #poeticwax #musicessay #musicstory #albumstory #musichistory #albumhistory #musicdocumentary
@jokubrik6597
February 28, 2026 at 11:11 pm
Joy Division, The Fall, Magazine… what giants of music. Total art.
@reuireuiop0
February 28, 2026 at 11:11 pm
Kind of like a final piece cum tribute like "Riders on the Storm" was for Jim Morrison and the Doors. In both the bass line was central, tho the guy playing it for the Doors wasn't even in the band.
Shame really that the remaining Doors didn't succeed in finding an innovative follow up form like New Order, as they were just as brilliant instrumentalists, and busy finding new artistry like in Riders, but also on Texas Radio and the Big Beat. If they'd made a similar resolution on the death of their singer (like Joy D did and became New O) one can only wonder what mighta happened
@RkOrigin-n5x
February 28, 2026 at 11:11 pm
That song was written using emotions
@robhaunui3343
February 28, 2026 at 11:11 pm
"Love Will Year US Apart" and "Atmosphere" both reached No.1 here in New Zealand in 1981,"Transmission" just missed out,reaching No.2. Their debut album "Unknown Pleasures" also reached No.1 in 1981,with follow-up albums "Closer" hitting No.3 in 1981 and "Still" hitting No.3 as well in early 1982. We had some awesome charts back in the early 80s,unfortunately turning to shite as the years went by following worldwide charts.
@TrevorBarre
February 28, 2026 at 11:11 pm
I ran a record shop from 1978 to 1981.1979 was some sort of epicenter for rock music at that point in time – Joy Division and Public Image Ltd.were on;y the peak of a slew oi fantastic artists.
@depresso_espressooo
February 28, 2026 at 11:11 pm
I can’t even listen to too much of Joy Division because it just reminds me of what a dark place I am mentally in. It’s not that they make me negative,it is that the sorrow in Ian’s voice,Hooky’s bass lines looming over and creating a dark atmosphere that reminds me of the negativity
@marcelmathys1971
February 28, 2026 at 11:11 pm
For me the first Techno Band with Kraftwerk from Germany 😂❤Greetings from Switzerland
@FuturCrayon
February 28, 2026 at 11:11 pm
The heartbreaking word of the chorus is this final "again"
@mindspace696
February 28, 2026 at 11:11 pm
I think you might have got the Pennine Studios and Strawberry Studios recordings mixed up here.
@AbstractCatsMedia
February 28, 2026 at 11:11 pm
I got into Joy Division and New Order about the same year, around 1985, fell in love instantly with both sounds! Sam Raily, was perfect in Control. I got to see Peter Hook And The Light, around 2015, loved seeing Hook's son, playing his father's parts. What magic show! Ian, would have been proud.
@spacelord2234
February 28, 2026 at 11:11 pm
Brilliant video again. Thanks Andy 🖤
@shubhoroy8438
February 28, 2026 at 11:11 pm
I listen to it almost everyday!
@davidgoodfellow2384
February 28, 2026 at 11:11 pm
Love your white kitty
@arthurdalton517
February 28, 2026 at 11:11 pm
Joy Division is in my top 6 band definitely a all time favorite
@Lisafer15
February 28, 2026 at 11:11 pm
Love is changeable never permanent but often painful.
@germcorp
February 28, 2026 at 11:11 pm
Hardly a great time for Ian Curtis…
@SpaceEngineer-Dreampop
February 28, 2026 at 11:11 pm
Make Love not War…No make WAR because LOVE tears ppl apart !! It just doesn't make sense !
@SpaceEngineer-Dreampop
February 28, 2026 at 11:11 pm
I REALLY don't believe Love Tears ppl Apart. I think it's indifference, hate and lack of empathy that TEARS ppl apart. I NEVER understood this song.
@TheAVroomChris
February 28, 2026 at 11:11 pm
I remember being a teenager….hearing Joy Divison and being depressed it was over…then elated New Order happened. Just an amazing time to be alive and loving music.
@kiwi659
February 28, 2026 at 11:11 pm
Yessss ❤
@SkinnyEatWorld95
February 28, 2026 at 11:11 pm
I love Joy Division man. They are so classic and set the path for soooo many bands❤
@bornfuct
February 28, 2026 at 11:11 pm
love the pain Joy division makes me feel…and the sublime happiness New Order drenches me with….
@nvm9040
February 28, 2026 at 11:11 pm
Definitely a fan of their short catalog but the stories of the band is just mysterious and fascinating
@Mark-tw5ws
February 28, 2026 at 11:11 pm
Cool vid, thanks. Timeless classic, one of the greats
Comments are closed.