What's so special about this? About Joy Division's cover design. Unknown Pleasures

Contents:

• 1979
• A Few Years Earlier
• Warsaw
• House of Dolls
• Factory Records
• Dying Star
• Unknown author
• Cover Design
• The Fate of the Album and the Band
• Peter Saville
• Extraterrestrial virus
• Materials

1979

A rare phenomenon occurs in the Sahara Desert – snow falls. The Voyager 1 spacecraft successfully reaches Jupiter, opening new horizons for astronomical exploration. Meanwhile, Sony launches the Walkman portable music player, revolutionizing the way we listen to music. These events highlight the remarkable diversity and dynamism of our world, where every discovery and innovation makes a significant contribution to the advancement of science and technology.

Peter Saville, a graduate of Graphic Design at Manchester Polytechnic, creates the cover for the debut album of the little-known Manchester rock band Joy Division. This work will become a landmark in the world of music design, reflecting the unique style and atmosphere of the band, which would go on to have a significant influence on rock music and culture. The album cover would not only become a visual symbol of Joy Division, but also a milestone in the career of Saville, who would later become a renowned designer, working with various musical projects and artists.

She would go on to become a post-punk icon and one of the most stylish and original musical artists in history. Her unique style and influence on musical culture would stand out among contemporaries, leaving a noticeable mark on the world of music.

A few years earlier

On July 20, 1976, the Sex Pistols played their first concert outside of London. The event took place in a provincial club, where fewer than forty spectators gathered. This concert became an important event in the history of punk rock and marked the beginning of the band's large-scale influence on the music scene. Despite a small following, the Sex Pistols launched a cult following that would go on to transform the UK music landscape.

The performance has an impressive effect on the audience, as a result of which many of them soon begin to form their own rock bands. Among them are future legends such as Buzzcocks, The Fall, The Smiths, Simply Red and Joy Division. This demonstrates how inspiration can lead to the creation of significant musical groups that subsequently influence the development of rock music.

Warsaw

The next day, twenty-year-old Peter Hook goes to the store to buy a bass guitar, although he has never played this instrument before. He begins rehearsing with a friend, Bernard Sumner, a peer who is mastering the electric guitar. This stage in their lives will be the beginning of a musical journey that will later lead to the creation of iconic works. Joint training and sharing experiences will help them develop their skills and inspire them to create a unique sound that will be remembered by many.

Later, thanks to an ad in a record store, the musicians find their future leader - Ian Curtis. Within a year, they were joined by permanent drummer Stephen Morris.

Initially, the band was called Warsaw, which is associated with the David Bowie song "Warszawa". This name also alludes to the events of World War II and the Warsaw Pact countries. The name emphasizes the historical significance and cultural contexts that influence the band's work.

"House of Dolls"

One of the band's early songs, No Love Lost, references a fragment of the novel "House of Dolls" by the Jewish writer Yehiyil Dinur, known under the pseudonym Ka-Tzetnik 135633. This work reveals the terrible realities of the Joy Division concentration camp brothel, where the Nazis used female prisoners as sex slaves. The book touches on important themes related to human suffering and the loss of dignity in wartime, making it significant in the context of studying the Holocaust and its aftermath.

The band Joy Division, following the traditions of the first wave punk, chose a provocative name that exemplifies hyperidentification. This name reminds listeners of the atrocities of fascism and human tragedies, deepening their understanding of historical events. Joy Division's music not only reflects the spirit of punk rock but also provokes reflection on the dark pages of history, creating a unique combination of sound and significance.

Factory Records

In 1978, the independent record company Factory Records was founded in Manchester. One of its founders was a young designer, Peter Saville, who took responsibility for the design of all products of this record label. Factory Records quickly gained popularity due to its unique approach to music and visual design, which played an important role in the development of the Manchester music scene. Saville's design became an integral part of the label's identity and had a significant influence on the development of graphic design in the music industry.

A year after the founding of Factory Records, Joy Division began recording their debut album, Unknown Pleasures. At this time, Peter Saville was designing the cover for this landmark album.

Dying Star

The idea for the album cover was suggested by the band's drummer, Stephen Morris. He recommended that Peter Saville use an illustration found in the Cambridge Astronomical Encyclopedia. This decision became a key element of the album's visual style and emphasized the uniqueness of the band's musical direction.

The waves, which are a graph of eighty radio pulses, come from the pulsar B1919+21. This cosmic object, located in the constellation Vulpecula, is the source of radio emission that reaches Earth in regular bursts of pulses. Pulsars, such as B1919+21, are neutron stars with high density and a strong magnetic field, making them unique objects for astronomical study. Studying pulsar radio pulses helps scientists better understand the physics of neutron stars and the evolution of stellar systems. Neutron stars are formed as a result of a catastrophic supernova explosion. At this point, their luminosity increases significantly, but over time they gradually fade, which is the final stage of their existence. Neutron stars are among the densest objects in the Universe, and studying them helps scientists better understand the physics of stellar evolution and the processes that occur in extreme conditions. In July 1967, Jocelyn Bell, a graduate student of Antony Hewish, made one of the most significant discoveries in astronomy - the first radio signal from a neutron star. This discovery became the basis for further research into pulsars. The results of the work were so astonishing that they were kept secret for several months under the code name LGM-1, which stood for "Little Green Men". At that time, Antony Hewish suggested that the signal could come from an extraterrestrial civilization. Later, in 1974, he was awarded the Nobel Prize for this outstanding discovery. The study of pulsars opened new horizons for astronomy and increased interest in the search for extraterrestrial life.

Unknown author

In 1977, in the Cambridge Astronomical Encyclopedia, the musicians first encountered the illustration that would later become the cover of their album. However, this publication did not provide information about the author of the image. At the time, neither the musicians nor the designer knew the name of the graphic's creator and had no idea that this was far from the first publication of his work.

Three years ago, a similar image was published in the book "Charts: Graphic Visualization of Abstract Data." This book contained a reference to the Arecibo astronomical observatory in Puerto Rico, but the author was not indicated.

Graph with waves was previously published on a blue background, which accompanied the article "The Nature of Pulsars", published in January 1971. This publication also does not indicate the author of the graphic material.

The waves become mysterious not only because of their nature, but also because of their unknown author.

The first appearance of this image, along with two other similar graphs, is recorded in the doctoral dissertation of Harold D. Kraft, Jr., entitled "Radio Observations of Pulse Profiles and Dispersion Measurements of Twelve Pulsars." This work represents an important contribution to the study of pulsars and radio observations, emphasizing the significance of these graphs for the scientific community.

Harold Craft, along with others As a graduate student, he measured newly discovered pulsars at the Arecibo Astronomical Observatory, which at the time had the most advanced digital-to-analog converters. Kraft made his first measurement on the pulsar B1919+21, creating a special program to visualize its emissions.

Kraft asked a local draftswoman to ink the image for his dissertation. This added the necessary clarity and contrast to the image, which is especially important for high-quality printing.

Cover Design

The image of the pulses of a dying star became a symbol for the debut cover of Joy Division, which at the time was considered one of the darkest representatives of the British underground. This artistic solution perfectly captures the atmosphere of the band's music and its unique style, which made the cover iconic in the world of rock music. Joy Division not only paved the way for post-punk but also set the tone for many subsequent musical movements.

The musicians were determined that the artwork would be displayed on a white background, similar to that of the Cambridge Astronomical Encyclopedia. Neither they nor designer Peter Saville had access to other publications, which limited their understanding of possible design options. This aspect creates a unique blend of music and visual art, highlighting the importance of graphic design in musical projects.

Saville concluded that the image on a black background better conveys the essence of the band's work. He adhered to a minimalist style and the aesthetics of scientific graphics, rejecting traditional design methods. The album cover remains without the band name or the album title, highlighting the uniqueness of this approach. The designer carefully places all the text on the back, which adds intrigue and creates a mystery for the listener.

Saville uses textured cardboard for the sleeve, which adds mystery to the cover and provides a pleasant tactile sensation. This choice of material is not only visually appealing, but also creates a unique user experience, emphasizing the originality of the product.

The compositional solution of the cover creates a unified concept for the entire design. Saville designs not only the strict layout of the back cover, but also the inner sleeve, as well as the labels on the record. This helps create a holistic visual image that emphasizes the content and style of the musical work.

In contrast to the black cover, the inner sleeve is white, with a black-and-white photograph on the front side depicting the silhouette of a hand opening a door. On the back, maintaining a strict layout, is a list of songs and information about the release date.

The record labels differ from the usual standards. They lack track titles, and the sides are labeled in an unconventional way—as Outside and Inside instead of the traditional A and B. This gives them a unique and original feel that may appeal to collectors and music lovers.

The process of creating the cover of the Joy Division album "Unknown Pleasures" is a striking example of harmonious collaboration between the designer and the musicians. In this creative collaboration, each party contributes to the overall vision of the project, while record label producers remain hands-off. This unique approach resulted in an iconic visual image that has become an integral part of the band's musical identity and remains relevant to this day.

The cover is a striking example of graphic readymade and minimalist design. Instead of using excessive decorative elements, the designer uses ready-made materials with unique aesthetics and meaning. Saville strives to preserve their purity and authenticity, avoiding unnecessary interference in the design. His approach is to protect the cover from excessive decoration, which contributes to its uniqueness and memorability. The minimalism of the cover design emphasizes sincerity and truth, making it truly original.

At the time of the creation of the cover of Mysterious Waves, the name of its creator remained unknown. Therefore, only Joy Division and Peter Saville are listed as the authors of the design. The cover has become an iconic element of the band's visual identity and continues to attract interest from fans and music scholars alike.

Harold Kraft was surprised to learn of a music cover featuring his own image. The news came to him from a colleague, and when he went to a record store, he confirmed its authenticity. He couldn't resist buying the record and a poster as a souvenir.

The Fate of the Album and the Band

The release of Joy Division's album "Unknown Pleasures" in 1979 went virtually unnoticed and didn't bring the band instant fame or success. However, over time, the album became a cult classic and had a significant impact on the music scene. "Unknown Pleasures" stands out for its unique sonic textures and deep, dark themes, which attracted the attention of listeners and critics. As a result, the album became a symbol of the post-punk movement and continues to inspire new musicians around the world.

Bassist Peter Hook initially expressed strong dissatisfaction with the results of the work.

He felt that the sound on the album was too clean and soft, reminiscent of the style of Pink Floyd. This was different from their sound at concerts. However, over time, he changed his opinion of the album and began to perceive it in a different way.

The first wave of interest in the band Joy Division arose a year later, when their album reached number 71 in the UK charts. This success was caused not only by musical achievements, but also by the tragic fate of the band's leader. On May 18, 1980, Ian Curtis committed suicide after hearing the album The Idiot by Iggy Pop. According to those close to him, he suffered from severe depression, caused by frequent epileptic seizures and personal problems. The history of Joy Division ended with his departure. The remaining members soon formed a new band called New Order, continuing their musical legacy.

In 2000, Q magazine included the album in its list of "100 Greatest British Albums," ranking it at number 19. This album became a landmark for British music and had a significant influence on the development of the genre.

In 2011, the cover of the album Unknown Pleasures was voted the eighth best music covers of all time by readers of the online publication MusicRadar. This iconic design continues to influence the music industry and visual aesthetics, remaining a symbol of an era.

In 2020, Rolling Stone magazine updated its list of "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time," ranking Unknown Pleasures at number 211. Released by Joy Division, the album continues to exert a significant influence on music culture and is considered an iconic work in the history of rock music.

In 2019, the album was reissued in a limited edition, featuring a white cover and black sleeves. This reissue has attracted the attention of collectors and fans, emphasizing the uniqueness and rarity of this release.

Peter Saville

Peter Saville continued his career as a designer and art director at Factory Records, creating album covers for bands such as New Order, as well as for other artists. His talent has allowed him to collaborate with various labels and musicians, including Brian Eno, Pulp, Suede, Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, King Crimson, Ultravox, Roxy Music, Peter Gabriel and Paul McCartney. Saville's work has become iconic in the music industry and brought a unique visual style that continues to inspire contemporary album cover art.

Saville has collaborated extensively not only with musicians, but also with a number of art institutions, such as the Whitechapel Art Gallery in London and the Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris. He is also the author of logos, patterns, and graphics for famous brands in the fashion industry, including Yohji Yamamoto, Christian Dior, Raf Simons, Calvin Klein, Burberry, Supreme, and Dr. Martens. This diversity of projects underlines his influence and significance in the world of art and fashion.

Extraterrestrial Virus

In recent decades, the symbol from the cover of the Unknown Pleasures album has become an integral part of the fashion industry and pop culture. This graphic element has gained wide popularity and recognition, attracting the attention of even those who are not familiar with the music of Joy Division and have no interest in astronomy. Each year, it continues to inspire designers and artists, becoming a symbol not only of musical heritage but also of visual culture.

Prints from the iconic cover have become an integral part of modern street style. They can be seen not only on clothing and accessories but also as tattoos on people's bodies. These vibrant images are actively used at fashion shows and have found their way into the film industry, bringing an element of recognition and artistic expression to everyday fashion.

In 2003, Belgian designer Raf Simons presented his first collection using the famous print. In 2018, he returned to this recognizable image, demonstrating his commitment to experimenting with texture and graphics in fashion. Simons's influence on contemporary design remains significant, and his collections continue to inspire many.

Undercover hides mysterious waves in the lining of its outerwear and creates unique prints on the sleeves of sweatshirts. Carhartt, in turn, incorporates these elements into its logo, demonstrating a creative approach to design. Both brands emphasize their individuality and attention to detail, combining style and functionality in their collections.

Dr. Martens creates a unique embossed pattern on the boots of its iconic 1460 model. This model has become a symbol of street fashion and self-expression, combining style and comfort. The textured pattern adds personality and character to these boots, making each pair truly special. The 1460 boots from Dr. Martens are perfect for everyday wear or for creating bold looks.

Chapman Skateboards offers unique skateboard deck prints. Our products combine style and quality, allowing every skateboarder to express their individuality. We use only high-quality materials and modern printing technologies to ensure our designs are vibrant and durable. Choose Chapman Skateboards to create your own unique skateboarding style.

In Steven Spielberg's film Ready Player One, one of the main characters wears a T-shirt with a wave print. This piece of clothing highlights her individuality and reflects the theme of virtual reality adventures, making the character's image memorable. The wave-print T-shirt has become a symbol not only of style, but also of the free spirit inherent in the gaming world.

The story of Joy Division ended with the tragic death of its frontman, but the fate of the cover of their debut album continues. The minimalist cover became emblematic of an entire era and had a significant influence on music culture and design. It captures the dark mood and atmosphere inherent in the band's music and continues to inspire artists and musicians around the world. Despite the end of Joy Division's musical career, their legacy and visual imagery live on today, captivating new generations of fans and researchers.

Howard Kraft's chart may seem mundane at first glance, but its popularity in pop culture far exceeds the interest of the scientific community. This case confirms that culture and art, like science, need fresh ideas and discoveries, even if they are of extraterrestrial origin. The integration of science and art can lead to new forms of expression and inspiration, making research and discovery important not only for scientists but also for a wider audience.

Materials

For an in-depth study of the history of Joy Division and Factory Records, we recommend familiarizing ourselves with the key events and the impact these phenomena had on musical culture. Joy Division, formed in 1976, became a symbol of post-punk and left an indelible mark on the world of music. Factory Records, founded by Tony Wilson, played a vital role in promoting the band and other artists, shaping the unique music scene in Manchester. Studying their contributions will help us understand the evolution of rock music and the influence they have had on modern artists.

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