Joy Division – Atmosphere (1980)

I am posting a Joy Division video as this weeks Time Machine, as singer Ian Curtis would have turned 60 this week, born 15 July 1956. Sunday is the new day for the Time Machine Video of the Week post.

Joy Division were formed in Salford, Manchester in 1976, after two members saw the now famous Sex Pistols gig at Lesser Free Trade Hall in Manchester. They were Ian Curtis (Vocals), Peter Hook (Bass), Bernard Sumner (Guitar) and Stephen Morris (Drums). The band went through a few name changes, Stiff Kittens and then Warsaw, before, finally sticking with the Joy Division moniker. Ian Curtis committed suicide on 18th May 1980, the remaining members, then decided to carry on, with name change to New Order and the addition of Morris’ girlfriend Gillian Gilbert.

“Atmosphere” was first released on March 1980, on a French label Sordide Sentimental as a 7″ limited edition single, entitled “Licht und Blindheit“, (German for Light and Blindness). It consisted of two tracks “Atmosphere” and “Dead Souls“. Two months later after Ian Curtis’ death, it was re-released on Factory Records as a 12″ single backed with She’s Lost Control. The  single was then re-released in 1988 to coincide with the release of the compilation album “Substance“, and a music video was produced for the song, which is the one posted above.

– Single cover –

– Lyrics –

Walk in silence,
Don’t walk away, in silence.
See the danger,
Always danger,
Endless talking,
Life rebuilding,
Don’t walk away.

Walk in silence,
Don’t turn away, in silence.
Your confusion,
My illusion,
Worn like a mask of self-hate,
Confronts and then dies.
Don’t walk away.

People like you find it easy,
Naked to see,
Walking on air.
Hunting by the rivers,
Through the streets,
Every corner abandoned too soon,
Set down with due care.
Don’t walk away, in silence,
Don’t walk away.