Ian Curtis suffered from personal problems including a failing marriage, depression, and epilepsy. As the band's popularity grew, Curtis's condition made it increasingly difficult for him to perform; he occasionally experienced seizures on stage.
He killed himself on the eve of the band's first US/Canada tour in May 1980, aged 23. Joy Division's second and final album, Closer, was released two months later; it and the single "Love Will Tear Us Apart" became their highest charting releases.
Joy Division first recorded "Love Will Tear Us Apart" at Pennine Studios, Oldham, on 8th January 1980, along with the B-side, "These Days".
"Love Will Tear Us Apart" became Joy Division's first chart hit, reaching number 13 in the UK Singles Chart.
The following month, the single topped the UK Indie Chart.
The song also peaked at number 42 on the Billboard disco chart in October 1980.
"Love Will Tear Us Apart" also reached number 1 in New Zealand in June 1981.
The single was re-released in 1983 and reached number 19 on the UK charts and number 3 in New Zealand during March 1984.
In 1985, the 7" single was released in Poland by Tonpress in different sleeve under licence from Factory and sold over 20,000 copies. In November 1988, it made one more Top 40 appearance in New Zealand, peaking at number 39.
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