Joy Division's debut album Unknown Pleasures was released on this day in 1979. The seminal album is one of the most important and influential records of all time. From the intensity and raw emotion of the music and lyrics to the iconic cover art, everything about Unknown Pleasures is perfect and timeless.
Happy 40th anniversary to a monumental work.
To mark the milestone Joy Division released a limited edition version of the seminal album pressed on ruby red vinyl. The official New Order store has sold out of copies, but some are still available through Rhino's store.
This afternoon, Joy Division marked the 40th anniversary by distributing Unknown Pleasures t-shirts to fans in Manchester.
Our Unknown Pleasures: 40 T-Shirts in aid of @theCALMzone and Big Change MCR are now all in the hands of fans across Manchester.— Joy Division (@joydivision) June 15, 2019
Thank you for coming out in your thousands in the sun, wind and (a lot of) rain #UnknownPleasures40 pic.twitter.com/kLS2wSnWns
The city of Manchester also paid tribute to the seminal album today.
Manchester celebrates the 40th anniversary of Unknown Pleasures at Manchester Town Hall, St Peters Square #UnknownPleasures40 pic.twitter.com/ZGs6PHIdJK
— Joy Division (@joydivision) June 15, 2019
đź“ŤWest Tower, Deansgate Square, Manchester đź–¤ #UnknownPleasures40 pic.twitter.com/faeEo6hyay
— Joy Division (@joydivision) June 15, 2019
Peter Hook on Unknown Pleasures:
Peter Saville created the original artwork for Unknown Pleasures which was adapted from an pulsar image Stephen Morris saw in the Cambridge Encyclopedia of Astronomy. Watch Saville discuss the iconic artwork below plus read more about the cultural impact of the artwork here:
Anton Corbijn on hearing Unknown Pleasures for the first time and how the album inspired him to leave Holland: (taken from Joy Division: Interviews):