Joy Division — Love Will Tear Us Apart

"Love Will Tear Us Apart" is a song by the British post-punk band Joy Division. The lyrics were written by the band's vocalist, Ian Curtis, who committed suicide in May 1980, a month after the song was released as a single. The song was then re-promoted in 12" format in June 1980.

"Love Will Tear Us Apart" was written in August and September of 1979 and was debuted when the band supported Buzzcocks on their UK tour in September and October 1979, and it is one of the few songs in which Ian Curtis played guitar (albeit somewhat minimally). The title of the song is a play on the title of a Neil Sedaka song "Love Will Keep Us Together" made popular by The Captain & Tennille in 1975. The lyrics are perceived to reflect the problems in Ian Curtis' marriage to Deborah Curtis, as well as his general frame of mind in the time leading up to his suicide. Deborah Curtis had the phrase "Love Will Tear Us Apart" inscribed on Ian Curtis' memorial stone.

The song was first released in April 1980 and, after Curtis' suicide that May, became the band's first chart hit, reaching number 13 in the UK. It also debuted at #1 in New Zealand in June 1981. The band broke up after his death and reformed as New Order. "Love" was re-released in 1983 and reached number 19 on the UK charts and re-appeared at #3 in New Zealand during March 1984. In November 1988, it made one more Top 40 appearance in New Zealand, peaking at #39. "Love Will Tear Us Apart" appears on the Substance compilation album. It was first recorded for a John Peel session in November 1979, then re-recorded in January 1980 and March 1980. It is the latter version that appears on Substance. The January 1980 version originally appeared as the single's B-side.

In 1995, to publicise the release of Permanent, the track was reissued, complete with a new remix done by Arthur Baker and a new radio edit, also known as the Permanent Mix. On September 24, 2007 (2007-09-24), the single was again reissued, in its original configuration. This time, it was to publicise the Collector's Edition re-issues of the band's three albums. Although the single was now issued on the Warner label, it retained all the classic Factory packaging, down to the FAC 23 catalogue number.

Original Artist
Joy Division

Live Statistics
This was played 111 times (by Joy Division / New Order)

Live Debut

The Electric Ballroom, London, England (UK) 26/10/1979 1:01:31 AM

Last Live

Club Ciudad, Buenos Aires (AR) 18/11/2006 12:00:00 AM (New Order)

Official Versions
1995 Radio Version (3:40)
Alternate Version (3:10) HyperLink
Arthur Baker Remix (4:21)
BBC Sessions 1979-11-26 (3:25) HyperLink
Live 1979-12-18 (3:17)
Permanent Mix (3:36) HyperLink
Single Version (3:27) HyperLink
Trouser Enthusiasts Remix (7:03)
Video (3:27)

Available On

Get Ready (2001)
Closer (1980)
Substance (1988)
Permanent (1995)
Blue Monday (1983)
Love Will Tear Us Apart (1980)
Love Will Tear Us Apart 95 (1995)
The Complete BBC Recordings (2000)
Les Bains Douches 18 December 1979 (2001)
Peel Sessions (1987)
Before & After (2002)
Atmosphere (1988)
Fractured Box (2001)

Soundtrack

Donnie Darko (2001)
24 Hour Party People (2002)
Boston Kickout (1996)

Compilations

The Best of Peel Sessions (par Bernard Lenoir) (1990)
Palatine - The Factory Story Vol. 1 (1991)
The John Peel Sessions (1988)
Collected (1999)
A Strange Kind of Love (1996)
Generation Eighties (1995)
New Wave Dance Hits: Just Can't Get Enough, Vol. 2 (1994)
The Eighties Mix (1998)
Relax: The Ultimate 80's Mix (1998)
Lost Property (1996)
Never Mind the Main Stream: The Best of MTV's 120 Minutes, Vol. 2 (1991)
Shine Too (1995)
Once in a Lifetime (1997)
Untitled, Vol. 2 (1996)
Living In The Eighties (2000)
One + Only (1996)
Pulse 95 FM Essential Retro (1999)
Sound of the City (1992)
Sounds of the Eighties 1980-1981 (1995)
Wave 180 Minutes: Book Two (1999)
College Rock (1999)
Crush (1997)
Das Boot - The Final Voyage (2001)
Going Underground (1998)
Guitar Club Classics (2000)
Indie Top 20, Vol. 3 (1988)
New Wave - The Best Of Club Class-X (1995)
New Wave Greats 1976-1983 (1999)
Nocturnal (1998)
Rock & Wave Vol.

The clip Joy Division — Love Will Tear Us Apart can be downloaded for free and without registration.