Into the Groovy #21 - "24 Hours"

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When the subject of which band invented goth comes up, two group's pretty much dominate the answer: Bauhaus and Joy Division. Bauhaus vocalist Peter Murphy, affectionately called "The Grandfather of Goth," has, however, claimed credit by slagging Joy Division in the press. But, a case could be made for dark, gloomy, post-punk Joy Division, as they were quite an influence on a slew of goth bands (Red Lorry Yellow Lorry comes to mind, as does the non-goth Interpol, who took sounding like Joy Division to a new level.) Joy Division effectively ended when vocalist Ian Curtis hung himself prior to an American tour (the remaining members formed New Order, a highly-influential dance/alt-rock group, in 1980. Joy Division's album Closer was released soon after Curtis' death, complete with it's eerie crypt cover. Closer's "24 Hours" is part of a three-way tie for my favorite Joy Division song ("Dead Souls" and "Shadowplay" being the others.) "24 Hours" is quite dark and moody for such a rocking tune, and Curtis' lyrics about therapy just might have been a precursor. It is a fantastic piece of gloom and doom, and is pure Curtis. And Peter Hook's bass line shows just how talented a bassist he is. All in all, "24 Hours" fills my needs when my groove gets dark.