The history of New Order is a story of cultural and musical transformation. From the ashes of Joy Division, one of the most influential bands of the post-punk era, emerged one of the defining musical acts of the 1980s – New Order. Emerging in the early 1980s, New Order quickly gained traction in the burgeoning Madchester scene, becoming one of its most beloved acts. With their unique blend of post-punk, synth-pop, and electronica, they quickly became one of the most influential bands of the era.
In this article, we'll explore the history of New Order, from their roots in Joy Division to their lasting legacy in modern music.
New Order
was formed in Manchester in 1980, when the former members of the pioneering post-punk band Joy Division decided to carry on without their late singer Ian Curtis. The band, which included Bernard Sumner, Stephen Morris and Peter Hook, had a strong influence on the Madchester movement of the late 1980s and early 1990s, and were known for their distinctive sound. The band's early music was heavily influenced by the post-punk and electronic genres, with their debut single “Ceremony” being released in 1981. They quickly achieved success with the release of their first album Movement in 1981, which contained the hit single “Blue Monday”. This single became one of the most popular songs of the era, and helped to establish New Order as a key part of the Madchester scene.Over time, New Order continued to evolve their sound and experiment with new musical styles. They released several albums in the 1980s which further explored their post-punk and electronic influences, including Power, Corruption & Lies, Low-Life, and Brotherhood. In 1989 they released their most successful album to date, Technique, which featured a more electronic sound than their previous albums. The band's success continued through the 1990s, with the release of several more albums including Republic, Get Ready, and Waiting For The Sirens' Call.
However, by 1993 tensions between the band members had reached a breaking point, leading them to break up. The band reunited in 1998 for a series of concerts in London and New York. Since then they have released several more albums, including Lost Sirens, Music Complete, and ∑(No,12k,Lg,17Mif) New Order + Liam Gillick: So it goes. .
Despite this reunion, New Order have never fully returned to the level of success they achieved in the 1980s and early 1990s. New Order have been credited as one of the most influential bands of their era. Their unique blend of post-punk, electronic music and pop has left an indelible mark on modern music. From their formation in Manchester in 1980 to their break up in 1993 and eventual reunion in 1998, New Order have become an iconic part of music history. New Order were an English rock band formed in Manchester in 1980.
The band was initially a continuation of Joy Division, whose lead singer and main songwriter, Ian Curtis, had committed suicide in May of that year. The remaining members – Bernard Sumner, Peter Hook, and Stephen Morris – decided to continue as a new band, taking the name New Order in 1981. The band's sound was heavily influenced by Joy Division, but it also incorporated elements of post-punk and disco. New Order quickly became one of the most successful and influential bands of the late 1980s and early 1990s. New Order's debut single, “Ceremony”, was released in 1981 and was followed by their first album, Movement, in 1981. The album was a blend of post-punk and disco elements, with the single “Temptation” becoming a hit. Their next album, Power, Corruption & Lies (1983), saw them move further away from their post-punk sound and explore more electronic sounds.
The album featured the hit single “Blue Monday”, which is still one of their most popular songs. The band continued to experiment with electronic music on their next albums, Low-Life (1985) and Brotherhood (1986). These albums featured a mix of dance-oriented tracks and more traditional rock songs. Their next album, Technique (1989), was entirely electronic, and marked a shift towards a more commercial sound. The singles “Fine Time” and “Round & Round” both became hits, while the album itself reached number one on the UK Albums Chart. In 1991, New Order released their fifth studio album, Republic.
The album featured the hit single “Regret”, which reached number four on the UK Singles Chart. After this album, the band took a break from recording and touring for several years before eventually reuniting in 1998. They released two further albums in 2001 and 2005 before going on indefinite hiatus in 2007. New Order have been cited as a major influence on many other bands and artists over the years, including Gorillaz, U2, and The Killers. They are widely regarded as one of the most important groups of the Madchester movement, and their influence can still be felt in modern music today.
Break Up and Reunion
New Order split up in 1993 due to internal tensions and a desire to pursue individual projects. Band members Bernard Sumner and Stephen Morris decided to focus on their side-project, Electronic, while bassist Peter Hook pursued his own venture, Revenge.The band also experienced a decrease in commercial success, which caused them to take a break from performing together. In 1998, New Order reunited and began performing live again. This reunion came after several years of speculation amongst fans, who were eager to see the band perform together again. The reunion was marked by the release of their album 'Republic', which featured the singles 'World (The Price of Love)' and 'Regret'.
Evolution Over Time
The story of New Order's evolution over time is one of reinvention and experimentation. They began as a post-punk band, drawing on the sounds of their predecessors Joy Division and the wider punk scene, but quickly began to explore more electronic sounds.On their 1985 album Low-Life, they blended synth-pop with post-punk, creating a sound that was entirely their own. Their follow-up albums, Brotherhood (1986) and Technique (1989), saw them move further into electronic dance music, incorporating house and acid house influences. The band's sound continued to evolve over time, with frontman Bernard Sumner's lyrics becoming more personal and intimate. This was particularly evident on 1993's Republic, which marked a departure from the upbeat dance vibes of earlier albums. After their break up in 1993, the band reunited in 1998 for the album Get Ready, which saw them return to their dance-oriented roots. New Order's evolution over time was marked by their willingness to experiment and try new sounds.
They were pioneers of the emerging electronic music scene in the 1980s and 1990s, and their influence can be heard in many modern bands today.
Formation and Early Success
New Order formed out of the ashes of the British post-punk band Joy Division, following the suicide of lead singer Ian Curtis in 1980. The remaining members - Bernard Sumner, Peter Hook and Stephen Morris - were joined by Gillian Gilbert to form New Order. Drawing from a variety of influences, including krautrock, disco, synthpop and electronic music, they created a sound that was often described as a fusion of rock and dance music. Their first single, “Ceremony”, was released in 1981 and set the tone for their future work.In 1983, they released their debut album Movement, which featured their breakthrough single “Blue Monday”. The song was an instant success and quickly became one of the most influential and successful singles of the decade. It made the UK Top 10 and even reached number 1 on the US Dance chart. The success of “Blue Monday” helped to propel New Order to international fame and they soon became one of the most popular bands of the era.
Their subsequent albums, such as Power, Corruption & Lies (1983) and Technique (1989), further cemented their status as one of the most influential bands of the time. New Order was an essential part of the Madchester movement, and their influence can still be felt today. Their unique blend of punk, electronic and post-punk sounds set them apart from their contemporaries, and their iconic tracks have gone on to become some of the most influential music of the era. Even after their break-up in 1993 and reunion in 1998, their music has continued to impact generations of musicians. New Order's story is one of perseverance, creativity, and innovation that will surely remain a part of music history for many years to come.
