Love Will Tear Us Apart

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"Love Will Tear Us Apart"
Single by Joy Division
from the album Substance
Released	April 1980 (7") June 1980 (12") May 1995 (Re-release) September 24, 2007 (2007-09-24) (Re-release)
Format	7", 12", CD
Recorded	March 1980, Strawberry Studios, Stockport, England
Genre	Post-punk
Length	3:26
Label	Factory - FAC 23
Writer(s)	Ian Curtis, Bernard Sumner, Peter Hook, Stephen Morris
Producer	Martin Hannett and Joy Division
Joy Division singles chronology
"Komakino" (1980) "Love Will Tear Us Apart" (1980) "Atmosphere/She's Lost Control" (1980)
Love Will Tear Us Apart
Original single sleeve

"Love Will Tear Us Apart" is a song by the British post-punk band Joy Division. "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 singer Ian Curtis played guitar (albeit somewhat minimally). 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 in May 1980.^{[citation needed]} 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 postponed their US tour after his death, performed a few short sets as The No-Names, then finally renamed the group 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.

Contents 1 Popularity 2 Video 3 Track listing 3.1 7": Factory / FAC 23 (UK) 3.2 7": Gap Records Australia / SFA 406 (Australia) 4 1995 re-release 4.1 MC: London / YOJMC 1 (UK) 4.2 12": London / YOJX1 (UK) 4.3 CD: London / YOJCD1 (UK) 4.4 CD: London-Polygram / 422 850 129-2 (Canada) 5 2007 re-release 5.1 7": Warner / FAC 23 (UK) 5.2 CD: Warner / FAC 23CD (UK) 6 Sample 7 Cultural references 8 Covers 9 References 10 External links

[edit] Popularity

"Love Will Tear Us Apart" has remained popular and was listed by NME magazine as the best single of all time in 2002. The song was listed by Rolling Stone magazine at number 179 in its top 500 songs of all time.^[1] In May 2007, NME placed it at number 19 in its list of the 50 Greatest Indie Anthems Ever, one place ahead of another Joy Division song, "Transmission". The song reached number 1 in the inaugural Triple J Hottest 100 music poll of 1989 and again in 1990. When being interviewed for New Order Story, Neil Tennant of the Pet Shop Boys stated that "Love Will Tear Us Apart" was his favourite pop song of all time. He also mentioned several New Order songs in the same dialogue.

The song has also been used in television programs and in films, such as the 2001 film Donnie Darko, in a pivotal scene before Donnie has to leave his girlfriend in order to save her. The song is included in the indie film Wristcutters, which takes place in an afterlife for people who have committed suicide. It was also included in a film about the Manchester music scene, 24 Hour Party People, during several scenes about the band and Curtis' suicide. It is heard in the Doctor Who episode "School Reunion." The film Series 7: The Contenders features a music video for the song which characters explain as being part of a school project. Their homemade music video is in the style of a cheaply made '80s video with actors dressed in stereotypical goth fashion. In the sci-fi comedy radio series Undone, the song is performed as a chime on an ice cream van.^[2]

"Love Will Tear Us Apart" was eventually performed by New Order (though not for 18 years after Curtis' suicide) and has been covered by many artists including, Nerina Pallot, Hawksley Workman, Calexico, The Cure, Swans, Unbroken, Nouvelle Vague, Heavens, Fall Out Boy, Worm is Green, José González, Red Mecca, Yat-Kha, Stanton Miranda, U2, Arcade Fire, Squarepusher, David Trust & The Weathermen, Honeyroot, Chris Edwards, Susanna and the Magical Orchestra, Moonspell, The Blood Divine, Simple Minds, Oysterband with June Tabor, Paul Young, Jamie Cullum, Nick Cave, Michelle Darkness feat. Hanna Pakarinen, Evelyn Evelyn and In the Nursery. The song "Let's Dance to Joy Division" by UK act The Wombats was inspired by "Love Will Tear Us Apart," as is obvious from the parodied cover of The Wombat's single.

Serbian rock musician, journalist and writer Dejan Cukić wrote about "Love Will Tear Us Apart" as one of the forty-six songs that changed history of popular music in his 2007 book 45 obrtaja: Priče o pesmama.

[edit] Video

On the video for the song, at the very beginning, the door that swings open and shut has the initials of the band members carved into it. The video was shot by the band themselves as they recorded the song. It includes production errors with colour being 'browned out' at some points. Due to another production error the vocals as sung by Curtis during the video didn't come out as intended. The song as originally recorded in the video sounds much more like that in their Peel Session. Curtis re-recorded the vocals separately with the hint of melancholy that helps make it distinctive. The oddly-shaped guitar played by Ian Curtis is a Vox Mark VI.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Track listing

[edit] 7": Factory / FAC 23 (UK)

1. "Love Will Tear Us Apart" – 3:18
2. "These Days" – 3:21
3. "Love Will Tear Us Apart" – 3:06

In her biography "Touching From A Distance", Deborah Curtis explains that the reason for the two versions of the song, one on each side, was a result of Curtis's slightly different singing in each one; one vocal take was allegedly done when other band members told Curtis to sing "like Frank Sinatra".

• also released on 12" (FAC23.12)

[edit] 7": Gap Records Australia / SFA 406 (Australia)

1. "Love Will Tear Us Apart" – 3:18
2. "These Days" – 3:21

• Track 1 recorded at Strawberry Studios, Stockport, early March 1980
• Other tracks recorded at Pennine Sound Studios, Oldham, January 8, 1980

[edit] 1995 re-release

[edit] MC: London / YOJMC 1 (UK)

1. "Love Will Tear Us Apart (Radio Version)" – 3:38
2. "Love Will Tear Us Apart (Original Version)" – 3:25

[edit] 12": London / YOJX1 (UK)

1. "Love Will Tear Us Apart (Original Version)" – 3:25
2. "Love Will Tear Us Apart (Radio Version)" – 3:38
3. "Love Will Tear Us Apart (Arthur Baker Remix)" – 4:12
4. "Atmosphere" (Original Hannett 12inch) – 4:08

[edit] CD: London / YOJCD1 (UK)

1. "Love Will Tear Us Apart (Radio Version)" – 3:38
2. "Love Will Tear Us Apart (Original Version)" – 3:25
3. "These Days" – 3:25
4. "Transmission" (Live) – 3:44

[edit] CD: London-Polygram / 422 850 129-2 (Canada)

1. "Love Will Tear Us Apart" (Radio Version) – 3:38
2. "Love Will Tear Us Apart" (Original Version) – 3:25
3. "Love Will Tear Us Apart" (Arthur Baker Remix) – 4:12
4. "Atmosphere" – 4:08
5. "These Days" – 3:25
6. "Transmission" (Live) – 3:44

[edit] 2007 re-release

[edit] 7": Warner / FAC 23 (UK)

1. "Love Will Tear Us Apart" (Original version) – 3:18
2. "These Days" – 3:21
3. "Love Will Tear Us Apart" – 3:06

[edit] CD: Warner / FAC 23CD (UK)

1. "Love Will Tear Us Apart" (Original version) – 3:18
2. "Love Will Tear Us Apart '95" (Radio Version)" – 3:38
3. "Atmosphere" – 4:08

[edit] Sample

	"Love Will Tear Us Apart" Sample of "Love Will Tear Us Apart" from Substance
Problems listening to this file? See media help.

[edit] Cultural references

• Love Will Tear Us Apart features in the short story, Eden Stir Her Laceless Veil by Danny Roberts.^[3]
• The song plays a prominent part in the movie Series 7: The Contenders
• The song is featured in the 2002 film 24 Hour Party People, based on the Manchester music scene from '76-'92.
• The song also featured in the 2007 film Control, in a sequence depicting troubles between Ian Curtis and Deborah Curtis
• Manchester United fans have used it to sing about Ryan Giggs, with the words changed to "Giggs will tear you apart", or alternatively "Giggs has torn his hamstring".

[edit] Covers

• 1994 - Unbroken
• 2003 - Fall Out Boy
• 2003 - Flowing Tears
• 2004 - Nouvelle Vague
• 2004 - José González
• 2004 - Oysterband

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• http://www.songfacts.com/detail.lasso?id=2529
• Record of U2's instances of snippeting Love Will Tear Us Apart
• Joy Division Discography

v • d • e Joy Division Ian Curtis • Peter Hook • Stephen Morris • Bernard Sumner Steve Brotherdale • Terry Mason • Tony Tabac Albums Unknown Pleasures • Closer Compilations Still • Substance • Warsaw • Permanent • Heart and Soul • Martin Hannett's Personal Mixes • The Best of Joy Division Live albums Preston Warehouse • Les Bains Douches  • The Peel Sessions • Joy Division The Complete BBC Recordings • Let The Movie Begin Singles and EPs An Ideal for Living • "Transmission" • Licht und Blindheit • "Komakino" • "Love Will Tear Us Apart" • "Atmosphere/She's Lost Control" Related Discography • New Order • Factory Records • 24 Hour Party People • Martin Hannett • Peter Saville • Tony Wilson • Rob Gretton • Alan Erasmus • Control • Joy Division (2007 film)