Imagine being lucky enough to have heard this song played live.

how staggering and monumental is it that this futuristic sound was being created in 1978. mindblowing!!!!

For people who say Joy Division were no fun, just look at Hooky's blonde hair. The rest of the band told him to bleach it and they said they would too, but it was all a piss take on poor Hooky. Brilliant stuff, lads.

the rest of the band all told Peter Hook (the bassist) that they were all gonna bleach their hair blonde for this performance he was the only one that did it they all stitched him up lol

I always loved how Bernard looked at his guitar when he played as if he was just learning

I always loved Ian Curtis' dancing. It was so angular and unusual yet perfectly rhythmic

They were so far ahead of their time.

Always has been one of my fav Joy Division tracks. The way Ian moves...people thought he was on drugs but he wasn't, he was just high on the music.

ONE OF THE GREATEST BANDS EVER.

Always a great band, but as someone with epilepsy, I have always appreciated someone giving a voice to it, particularly with the song 'she's lost control'.

I love watching Ian Curtis perform live knowing his history. It's both exciting yet sad af

So much emotion in that guitar. Drives the whole song .

I read that Ian idolized Iggy Pop, Lou Reed and even Jim Morrison, yet JD were soooooo British, everything about them was Manchester and they represented their city so well despite the American influences which isn't bad thing, he just always fascinated me! He was big on Bowie fan too.

Peter, Bernard, Stephen, and Ian. Thanks boys.

that fucking dancing is an inspiration to us all

It wasn't until hearing this live version that I really understood the bands' issues with Martin Hannett's production. On the one hand, Hannett gave them a sound unlike any other punk band, guaranteeing that they stood out from all the many others. On the other, it really sapped a lot of the power out of the songs. His production fit the subject matter perfectly, but I still really wish their was more power in the recordings.

I want to be able to write a thousand million words describing how wonderfully fantastic this song and performance is for me.

Joy Division were THE best. Don't forget. This version of "Shadowplay" is very controlled. Listen to any of the live verions of "Shadowplay" on the various discs out there - it is incendiary - it will blow your socks off. The studio version on "Unknown Pleasures" is unbelievably great too. They were the greatest. Don't forget. End of.

Stephen Morris (the drummer) revolutionised music. A quietly HUGE figure in the progression of pop.

Bernard sumner is actually a really underated guitarist

One of my all time favourite songs.

To the centre of the city where all roads meet, waiting for you To the depths of the ocean where all hopes sank, searching for you I was moving through the silence without motion, waiting for you In a room with a window in the corner I found truth In the shadowplay, acting out your own death, knowing no more As the assassins all grouped in four lines, dancing on the floor, And with cold steel, odour on their bodies, made a move to connect but I could only stare in disbelief as the crowds all left I did everything, everything I wanted to I let them use you for their own ends To the centre of the city in the night, waiting for you To the centre of the city in the night, waiting for you

Was fortunate to see them live on a few occasions back in the day. First time I saw them they were still called Warsaw. Remember them supporting Buzzcocks on a couple of occasions. Always a great live band who I knew would become big. R.I.P Ian and thanks for the sounds guys .

My favourite guitar tune ever its simple and beautiful

I was 14 when this aired. Disco seemed to be all that got played on the radio. Punk had arrived in a burst of energy and already seemed to be winding down and bands were fading away. Poor old Tony Wilson was an odd presenter but he put some amazing music on his shows. And then, then there was this. Simply fantastic. Thanks for posting Fage.

seriously you can watch Ian and feel as though the music is a direct translation of all the inner turmoil and chaos he was experiencing, I find that profoundly beautiful.

Who knew this bit video would become iconic? The growl from guitar and bass on this is so menacing and post punk. My favourite ever bit of music video

something so fucking hypnotizing about ian’s dancing. just knowing everything he was feeling internally that he was hiding, the instrumental, it’s all so fucking real & ahead of it’s time. love jd, miss you ian🖤

No one ever looked less, or sounded more, like a rock god.

So lucky to be able to be alive in a time to hear this band

This is one of my favorite songs by Joy Division. I heard recently in 1989, when songs like this just arrive to Peru, at the time the issue was already a classic song.....

the bass gets me every time at the start

One of the most band important bands in history. Period.

One of the best bands to ever exist! In my top 10 definitely!

This hits hard. Joy Division is my favorite band, in fact, Ian is the voice and soul that tell the truth. Old soul.

This really needs to be released officially. I'm sure it must still exist in the Granada archives in broadcast quality. You will then be able to see Bernard smile when Wilson references Salford.

I knew who this band was in 1978. And this was while living in Texas. A high school friend kept close tabs on music - mostly punk - had the music magazine imports, and would search out the record LPs. Unknown Pleasures got played a lot. Everyone else outside our clique were pooching their lips and rocking their heads back and forth to acts like Bad Company, Foreigner, and Kiss - plus all the other high rotation acts on the radio. It, plus a lot of other bands we were into like The Damned, The Ramones, Iggy, Talking Heads, and David Bowie (just to name a few) was our refuge from all the crap music on the radio. Joy Division made some really amazing music in their too short run and I'm glad they did.

RIP Ian. Discovered Joy Division few days ago. Awesome!!!

Barney is an underrated guitarist.

God damn, Steven Morris just kills the groove in this. So solid.

Even the Doors never reached this level of aggression and paranoia, yet Curtis and the band still have this weird calm about them. As far as music can be sincere and wildly more pessimistic than the average politically influential moron would like, this song marked the start of a new era.

The Bernard Sumner guitar 🔥😍

Ian dancing pretty cool so intense and full of feelings.

My all time favorite band.

Sumner's guitar play was somethin else

The passion in the movement of Ian Curtis. Awesome.

05/18/1980 today only joy divison - RIP Ian

Increíble , que forma de tocar .Estos británicos en directo son los mejores. Que musicon.Y es de 1978.Increible.

Joy Division is a Brilliant!! & Awesome Punk Rock Band from Manchester!!

why in the movie "control", played "transmission"? if was with this song that they were presented as a band ..

Now i do see and do understand the manner of Ian's dance. He showed what he'd felt through those movements. And nobody took a look at that! People gave no @@@@ about the others. I'm happy to live in 2022 and listenin' to such the great rexords.Take care of each other, guys

Almost 40 years now it still is as startling haunting as ever entwined with huge power chords and the melancholy beauty of the late Ian Curtis 's vocals

3:12 Bernard kicking his legs like that so cute

this guys were light years ahead

44 years ago today. ❤

Stunning guitar work paired with Ian's off beat vocals. Just magic. Such a Shame Ian was taken far too early..

don't here lyrics like this no more!! REAL MUSIC

2019! KZfaq decided to suggest this for me in 2019! How am I going to get all those years back! I can't stop listening to this 😁

Ian Curtis is never not impressive, and Hook/Morris/Sumner were one of the greatest rhythm sections of all time. They could repackage the same material over and over, and it would be worth a buy, so brilliant is the music.

I can feel you Ian. RIP.

This DESTROYS the album version! Fucking BRILLIANT ART!

Soul Eruption There was something growing Through the pub smoke far away, deep underground in synaptic distress. There was something growing where the young men met the future where notions suicidally shake where private visions confess. Had to play it out, to the end Had to play it out, to the end Had to play it out, to the end. Something grew and erupted As new centuries beckoned On new waves and possible ends A life slips away, co-opted. Something grew and erupted writhed and seethed with ancient power Like a man who stands and faces it all with steadied hands. Where sings the living voice, dead? Where sings the living voice, now dead? Is there room in heaven for the angels of hopeless dread? He's lost control again - Isolation has its charms. He remembers nothing. He forgot what she said. Had to play it out, to the end Had to play it out, to the end Had to play it out, to the end. - Poem I wrote for Ian, comparing his death with the eruption of Mt. St. Helens, which occurred the same day. Cheers to all you fuckin' awesome JD fans.

Eccezionale! Un magnetismo e una potenza che nessun altro gruppo ha mai raggiunto....sono senza parole....dopo decenni mi sono rinnamorato dei joy Division. Li avevo dimenticati anche se hanno segnato la mia adolescenza, sono felice di averli ritrovati....

Interesting how Ian never looked up during the bands introduction... This certainly is KZfaq gold. Thank you Fageoner for the download!! b

This isn't gold this is diamond, JD is a great band and an influence for many others that's for sure

2023 and still amazing.

I cant believe how many times I have said this band is awesome since I was a child over and over and now I am an old fart and still when I hear or listen again they are awesome ...

Why do I love Ian’s voice so much

There is nothing more Goth than this. Marilyn Manson, The Cure etc have nothing on this.

Hypnotic post-punk with an ever more hypnotic vocalist with some seriously fine dance moves :)

As someone pointed out stuff with Ian is extremely rare Just watching him sort of taking control of Joy Division He IS Joy Division love you guys Absolutely one of the most iconic bands ever

I agree mate,saw them live in 79 in Guildford,lan Curtis and the band had the crowd mesmerised!😎. am 50 now and still mesmerised by joy division.

So dark, so sinister, so f***ing excellent!!

What an era for music. Most vibrant and creative and interesting era in popular music. These guys, Ian Dury, Graham Parker, Squeeze, Madness, The Cure. I was lucky to be excited by it all!

Aaaggh for the algorithm make i t go more mainstream! underrated!

Best fucking band ever!!!...

I was in high school, when I took out this album (in cassette! lol). I was originally looking for New Order; someone had stolen all of the New Order albums and this "weird" band Joy Division came up. I never realized how lucky I was to discover them until I was much older. I love Ian Curtis.

the combination of music and the lyrics always surprise me. They are so different and still fit together

Can't believe i was 16 when this came on tele.It was great.

They got a lot of atmosphere by keeping the space in their songs. Most people would be tempted to play too much. I am guessing the music was more busy at the jamming stage and they edited out to get to that stark melancholy... Very tender and sweet.

Despite none of the band members ever saying they were influenced by black sabbath, their live performances sound very similar

All time favorite of the iconic bands from history. True innovators.

Best JD songs made in my eyes!

They were a Dope Band! Ian was a genius He gave you everything he had.

Amazing to see them way , way back then .

Cool to see Tony H Wilson at the start of this vid. He was instrumental in many bands getting noticed or signed, from Manchester and surrounding areas. Joy Division still stand out, as the feeling and sound, that many have followed and tried to copy.

A beautiful talented man taken too young. His mind and intelligence was far beyond his years.he saw the future.

How can people give a thumbs down to this?

the soundtrack our lives... rock n roll yeah

thanks Tony.....

1978...awesome..

Cwl to see Tony Wilson introducing them here too. Saw him loads on Granada tv in the 70's and he seemed like just another presenter, but fair play, that guy was passionate about music and put his money where his mouth was, even though it cost him a lot in all kindsa ways. I doubt we'd be watching JD on here if it weren't for him. After he died they named a street in Manchester after him. I think it's called "No we won;t give you money for cancer treatment street". Or something like that.

RIP, Ian. 🌸❤

One of the greatest bands of the last 40 years. I love them!!!

this has got to be the best live performance by any band ever

Banda que vai continuar influenciando ! incrível ! ídolos de gerações !

Depressing times - great band.

I feel like their live sound was a combination of the Stooges and Black Sabbath. Truly nothing like it.

Such an amazing , talented band.. I can't get enough of these guys being Warsaw, Joy Division , or New Order..

I just love the dark atmosphere and gloomy lyrics in their music