Record Play Pause: Confessions of a Post-Punk Percussionist: the Joy Division Years: Volume I

Record Play Pause: Confessions of a Post-Punk Percussionist: the Joy Division Years: Volume I by Stephen Morris

Stephen Morris's memoir is the best of the Joy Division autobiography. There is very little "set the record straight" content and just a history of where he came from and what he feels. He came from a fairly normal house. He became enamoured with music. He was not so keen on school. He got into drugs which got him suspended from school. He was only too happy to drop out when he had a chance. He had a stint as a freelance music writer. He took up drums, but was not that good. (He thought he could disguise it by having more drums.) He want on to meet up with the other guys and form Joy Division. He also became attracted to synthesizers and drum machines. The book details the formation and some of the initial activities of the band. The focus is very much on his experience. He self-deprecatingly declares himself a horrible singer and a not very good drummer. (Though he does have a drummer's desire to be on time.) There is very little on conflicts within the band - it seems the biggest "conflict" is him retroactively wondering what they could have done to help Ian Curtis to help him from committing suicide. The book is interesting look at life and experiences in the late 1970s punk and post-punk scene in northern England.