Tony Wilson Quotes

Over the years, Joy Division has become a huge part of music culture.

I look back on Joy Division very fondly indeed. I know that, of course, the band came to a tragic end, but that does not change the fact that Joy Division was a great band to be a part of.

I read one too many books about Joy Division by people who weren't there, and they always seem to dwell on the dark, the intense, the miserable image of Joy Division.

What is remarkable about Joy Division is the way they are bereft of two of the mainstays of most other rock and pop: longing and supplication.

We didn't play any Joy Division songs for 10 years after the start of New Order, which was a very honourable thing to do even if it meant shooting ourselves in the foot.

I was very into New Order, Joy Division, all of that when I was younger. I had a lot of bootlegs that I saved up my pocket money to buy. I had all the obscure early EPs.

The reason Joy Division and New Order are as influential and successful as they are is because of the unique playing of all the individuals.

There are lots of Joy Division songs that are so powerful when played live, some of which we did either never play or played very rarely.

When I listen to Joy Division, it doesn't sound particularly English.

I'm very proud of New Order and Joy Division, that heritage of songs.

I started making music with my band in the '80s, so I am more product of post punk than classical music, and I have always carried on this way.

I think the most exciting thing is that you expect people our age to know the music, but actually a lot of kids know the music, and if anything is left, we have left really good music, and that's the important part, not the mop-tops or whatever.

There's not a hip-hop artist that didn't snatch of piece of Bob Marley. It's totally impossible.

New York City has more rock history in its 305 square miles than most of America combined.

After the Ramones, it was more about new wave for me than punk.

Green Day was more of the influence than Blink.

I don't have a crystal ball, but I'm willing to bet one of my arms right now that as long as there's electricity, Ramones music is going to be relevant.

'Unknown Pleasures' is a very important record for me. It was the first LP that I recorded.

When I play a gig and look out at the audience, you're literally looking at a sea of Joy Division T-shirts.

I've been very grateful and humbled by the fact that young people really dig Joy Division's music. It's a great testament to the chemistry and the songwriting prowess between the four original members.

After Chuck Berry died, it seemed web sites popped up like mushrooms to show where he'd taken the guitar introduction to 'Johnny B. Goode' from to prove that his music was nothing new, that it was only ignorance, or vanity, that led his listeners to think that not only was the music different - they might be, too.

My family wasn't in the music business, but they loved music.

I'd say a big transition as a kid was when I started to listen to Good Charlotte. They were like a rap-to-rock/punk group.

A lot of young people have been raised on our music, or rather had it forced upon them by their parents.

We were big Clash fans, you know, big Who fans and I think we would listen to this music and talk about music and do nothing but music night and day, and when it came time to actually making our own music, you feel compelled to sort of tuck all those influences away, not show them.