In their short but monumental career, Joy Division left behind a small, yet profoundly influential, body of filmed and televised live performances. Because video recording technology was expensive and inaccessible at the time, this surviving footage is a precious historical resource, offering a vital glimpse into the band’s intense stage presence, particularly that of Ian Curtis.
This resource chronicles every known filmed and televised performance by Joy Division from 1978 to 1980.
📺 The Televised Appearances
Joy Division had very few TV appearances, with their single performance on BBC’s Something Else being their most famous and only nationally broadcast moment. These clips are iconic in the band’s history.
| Date | Program/Channel | Song(s) Performed | Notes on Footage |
| Sept 20, 1978 | Granada Reports (Granada TV) | “Shadowplay” | The band’s television debut, introduced by Tony Wilson. Part of the So It Goes series on Granada. |
| July 20, 1979 | What’s On (Granada TV) | “She’s Lost Control” | A live-in-the-studio performance. |
| Sept 15, 1979 | Something Else (BBC2 TV) | “Transmission,” “She’s Lost Control” | The only national TV appearance. This footage is widely circulated and includes a brief interview with Stephen Morris and Tony Wilson. |
📽️ Filmed Concert Footage
Most of the surviving concert footage was professionally captured and later compiled for the official Factory Records video release, Here Are the Young Men (FACT 37). Other early concert filming was typically done on Super 8 film, often by friends of the band.
| Date | Venue/Location | Format & Filming Notes | Key Tracks Available |
| Mar 14, 1979 | Bowdon Vale Youth Club, Altrincham, UK | Filmed on Super 8 by Malcolm Whitehead. | “She’s Lost Control,” “Shadowplay,” “Leaders Of Men” (Excerpts available on the Substance video release) |
| Aug 27, 1979 | Open Air Festival, Leigh, UK | Filmed set. | The entire set is known to have been filmed. |
| Oct 16, 1979 | Plan K, Brussels, Belgium | Filmed on Super 8. | Portions of the concert are featured in Here Are The Young Men. |
| Oct 27 & 28, 1979 | Apollo Theatre, Manchester, UK | Videotaped in full by Buzzcocks manager Richard Boon. | The primary source for Here Are the Young Men. Tracks like “Dead Souls,” “Love Will Tear Us Apart,” and “Day of the Lords” are featured. |
| Jan 18, 1980 | Effenaar, Eindhoven, Netherlands | Filmed on Super 8. | Includes definitive performances of “Digital,” “New Dawn Fades,” “Colony,” and “Autosuggestion” (featured in Here Are The Young Men). |
🎬 Promotional Music Video
Unlike modern bands, Joy Division created only one dedicated music video before Ian Curtis’s death.
| Date | Song | Director/Location | Notes |
| April 28, 1980 | “Love Will Tear Us Apart” | Stuart Orme, T.J. Davidson’s Rehearsal Studios | This iconic promotional film was the last time the band was filmed together. Multiple edits exist. |
🔎 Viewing Resources
The best way to see the majority of the surviving footage is through the official compilations:
- Here Are The Young Men (FACT 37): This classic official video collects the essential footage from the Apollo and Effenaar concerts.
- Substance (Video Release): This video compilation (accompanying the album) includes the TV appearances from Granada Reports and Something Else, as well as the “Love Will Tear Us Apart” promo.
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