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A review by kahn_johnson
Unknown Pleasures: Inside Joy Division by Peter Hook
4.0
It's not often I'll read a book about a musician or band I'm not a massive fan of – but Joy Division hold an iconic place in British music history and all the reviews were glowing.
Oh, and it was two for £5 in HMV so, ya know...
Obviously, being there from the off bassist Peter Hook is perfectly placed to tell the story of one of the most influential bands of the last 40 years — and as with everything about the band, the book carries the long shadow of the late Ian Curtis.
And in may ways, that's what this book is about. While Hook recounts the early gigs, the writing and recording sessions etc, Ian's health and personal issues are at the forefront of his mind throughout.
Partly because they shaped the Division story, obviously, but also because the bass player is obviously still coming to terms with his friend's suicide all those years ago.
And it's that openness, that willingness to talk frankly and honestly about what Hook experienced and witnessed back than that makes Unknown Pleasures such a brilliant read.
He's frank, funny and has clearly written the whole thing himself – including the frankly fantastic track-by-track breakdown of both albums, which he rightly advises should be read while listening to the music.
The book can be a little tough to get through at times, as Hook is happily prone to wandering off at tangents meaning a more linear narrative is here in spirit only. There are also ‘timeline’ chapters which don't really add anything to the main story and should have either been incorporated into the body of the book or left behind as an interesting idea.
But such grumbles are minor, and in no way overshadow the power of this book.
It's moving, funny, insightful, informative — and, something that will surprise no one who knows me, resulted in me buying both albums and a compilation the moment I finished reading it.
Oh, and it was two for £5 in HMV so, ya know...
Obviously, being there from the off bassist Peter Hook is perfectly placed to tell the story of one of the most influential bands of the last 40 years — and as with everything about the band, the book carries the long shadow of the late Ian Curtis.
And in may ways, that's what this book is about. While Hook recounts the early gigs, the writing and recording sessions etc, Ian's health and personal issues are at the forefront of his mind throughout.
Partly because they shaped the Division story, obviously, but also because the bass player is obviously still coming to terms with his friend's suicide all those years ago.
And it's that openness, that willingness to talk frankly and honestly about what Hook experienced and witnessed back than that makes Unknown Pleasures such a brilliant read.
He's frank, funny and has clearly written the whole thing himself – including the frankly fantastic track-by-track breakdown of both albums, which he rightly advises should be read while listening to the music.
The book can be a little tough to get through at times, as Hook is happily prone to wandering off at tangents meaning a more linear narrative is here in spirit only. There are also ‘timeline’ chapters which don't really add anything to the main story and should have either been incorporated into the body of the book or left behind as an interesting idea.
But such grumbles are minor, and in no way overshadow the power of this book.
It's moving, funny, insightful, informative — and, something that will surprise no one who knows me, resulted in me buying both albums and a compilation the moment I finished reading it.