I have it on good authority that on 25th September, Warners will be releasing ETERNAL LIVE, a mammoth (14 CDs, 2 DVDs) Joy Division live box set.
192 tracks. Two never-before-heard (even on bootleg) gigs.
The list of shows is as follows:
Hope and Anchor March 79 (PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED),
Bowdon Vale March 79,
Acklam Hall May '79 (PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED),
Factory July ‘79,
YMCA, London 1980
Futurama, 1979
Paris, 1980
Paradiso, Amsterdam 1980
Effenaar, Eindhoven 1980
Preston, 1980
Lyceum, 1980
Moonlight Club (both 2 and 3 April), London 1980
Malvern, 1980
Ajanta, Derby 1980
Birmingham Uni 1980 (last-ever gig)
This won’t be an audiophile release and it remains to be heard if any of these shows are upgrades on what’s already circulating, but it’s thrilling news. Also, the set includes TWO DVDs’ worth of live footage.
Given that over the 28 months of their existence, JD only played around120 shows, this is a significant release.
I’d be very excited if 18 October ‘79 was included, but sadly not. While I love the band it’s not something I’d buy. It all rather smacks of corporate greed, selling old stuff to old blokes with money to burn. I think I’d rather keep seeing them as a fond memory.
Absolutely Ian. I remember seeing them live back in ‘79 as a 16 year old and being completely blown away, and JD (as well as early NO) became a bit of an all-consuming obsession over the next decade or so…
I’m sure I am not the only person on the forum to find this kind of snobbery rather pathetic. What’s wrong with being old? It happens to all of us. And what’s wrong with oldies buying and listening to music? Are they not allowed to enjoy the sounds of their youth or something?
It’s not snobbery at all, just a comment on what seems like cynical marketing. We have live stuff on Still, live stuff on the deluxe versions of the two albums and none of it is that great. I imagine those buying will largely be people who remember the band from their time, yes perhaps trying to recapture memories of their youth. Do we really need live cassette recordings that are hardly going to capture the power of the live band. I can still recall seeing the band clearly in my mind and it’s a treasured memory. I’d hazard that spending the money on new music from new bands would do a lot more for music.
So it’s not for me and I’m sure some will love it. I wonder how many copies bought will actually be listened to, rather than being filed in a plastic cover to keep them pristine. It’s not just this JD release, I feel the same about all of these endless remasters of old stuff, sold at outlandish prices to boost someone’s pension.
What people choose to spend their money on is up to them. Like you, I wouldn’t buy this box set, but I do respect others’ choice to do so. I am much more excited about two upcoming releases of new music I heard about yesterday. I am sure many here would question why I want to buy them, that is OK as long as they don’t tell me I am wrong to want them. I am sure you didn’t mean to come across as being extremely critical of those who are looking forward to this box set.
I love the band and have fond memories but I have no intention of buying this. 192 tracks and only two of them unreleased is not enough to entice me.
I’m not going to tell people what to do with their money and I agree to Nigel to a certain extent.
Unfortunate choice of words though, my little fishy friend.
Same, though ‘the light’ are good to see live. Especially when you’ve been drinking all day and then find yourself hanging over the stage @City Hall Newcastle!
I shall give it a listen on Qobuz. I certainly didn’t mean to cause any offence. I voiced the same opinion about yet another Pink Floyd mega reissue a while back and got the same reaction then. I must learn.
