Joy Division was an influential English rock band formed in Salford in 1976 by Bernard Sumner and Peter Hook, later joined by Ian Curtis and Stephen Morris. Originally inspired by the punk movement, the group soon became pioneers of the post-punk genre with their dark, atmospheric sound. Their debut album Unknown Pleasures was released in 1979 on Factory Records, following their 1978 EP An Ideal for Living. Frontman Ian Curtis’s struggles with health and personal issues deeply shaped the band’s music and ultimately led to his death in 1980, just before their first North American tour. After Curtis’s passing, Joy Division’s remaining members formed New Order. The band’s legacy endures through landmark releases like Closer and the anthem Love Will Tear Us Apart.