Joy Division – Unknown Pleasures – Peter Hook releases the verb | Review

The book Joy Division – Unknown Pleasures by Peter Hook is an autobiography of the bassist of the iconic post-punk band Joy Division. The work tells the story of the band from its formation in Manchester, England, in 1977, until the death of lead singer Ian Curtis in 1980.

Hook shares his own perspective on the creation of the band's music, tensions between members, live performances and the recording of their two albums: Unknown Pleasures and Closer. Additionally, it explores the personal life of Ian Curtis, his struggle with epilepsy and the emotional breakdown that led to his suicide.

The book is a captivating read for music fans and offers a candid and intimate look at one of the most influential bands in rock history. Peter Hook uses his personal experience to provide a unique insight into the Manchester music scene at the time and the life of a touring musician.

Image: Matheus Araújo, 2023

In Joy Division – Unknown Pleasures the author makes the reader laugh out loud with the stories of the band, not just the band, but their personal stories. The book has some errors in the translation adaptation and in some parts of the book there is no translation, so it is important to know the basics of English to be able to understand some terms.

The work makes all Joy Division fans get to know Ian Curtis, the band's lead singer, in a different way. Ian Curtis is widely seen by fans as an inspired young man who puts a lot of effort into his songs, especially during his live performances, making him feel like he's in another dimension with as much dedication as he had on stage. In the book, the author tells excerpts from his private life in which he shows that Ian was just one of us, he liked to make the most of life, his youth and his few days of life.

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In the book Joy Division – Unknown Pleasures you find a timeline for each historographic moment told by the author, this timeline is revealed between the chapters and provides a brief summary from the beginning of the historical context until its closure.

As a bonus, Peter Hook leaves at the end of the book his description of each song from his favorite album by the band, the Closer.

If you are a fan of the music or the band and are looking for an engaging read about one of the most influential bands in rock history, Joy Division – Unknown Pleasures by Peter Hook is highly recommended. Peter offers a candid and intimate perspective on the band's life since its formation.

When you're playing live, it's almost like a form of meditation, where everything disappears except the music. You are completely immersed in it. – Peter Hook

TITLE: JOY DIVISION – UNKNOWN PLEASURES

AUTHOR: PETER HOOK

PUBLISHER: EDITORA SEOMAN

YEAR: 2018

PAGES: 461

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