A new book of notes written by late Joy Division/New Order manager Rob Gretton is to be published next month. On October 7, 1 Top Class Manager The Notebooks of Joy Divisions Manager 1978-1980 will be released courtesy of Grettons widow Lesley Gilbert, who compiled this behind-the-scenes look at the seminal post-punk outfit.
The book condenses more than 20 of Grettons notebooks from his Joy Division period into one volume, gathering up and displaying various posters, letters, diaries, to-do lists and studio notes. The subjects covered in 1 Top Class Manager include the genesis of Joy Divisions classic, Unknown Pleasures (which the book reveals was almost called Symptoms of Collapse), the fallout following the suicide of Joy Division front-man Ian Curtis and, in one particular diary entry, how Joy Division threw eggs at touring partners Buzzcocks and released mice onto stage during their set.
Also in the book is a list of new band names for Joy Division to use after Curtiss death, which included the monikers Man Ray, Radical Jesuits, Sons of God and, perhaps worst of all, Arab Legion. Thankfully, the remaining band-members eventually decided to go with New Order.
1 Top Class Manager is only coming as a limited run of 1,500, but a copy can be pre-ordered here.
Joy Division "Transmission
The book condenses more than 20 of Grettons notebooks from his Joy Division period into one volume, gathering up and displaying various posters, letters, diaries, to-do lists and studio notes. The subjects covered in 1 Top Class Manager include the genesis of Joy Divisions classic, Unknown Pleasures (which the book reveals was almost called Symptoms of Collapse), the fallout following the suicide of Joy Division front-man Ian Curtis and, in one particular diary entry, how Joy Division threw eggs at touring partners Buzzcocks and released mice onto stage during their set.
Also in the book is a list of new band names for Joy Division to use after Curtiss death, which included the monikers Man Ray, Radical Jesuits, Sons of God and, perhaps worst of all, Arab Legion. Thankfully, the remaining band-members eventually decided to go with New Order.
1 Top Class Manager is only coming as a limited run of 1,500, but a copy can be pre-ordered here.
Joy Division "Transmission
