Ceremony (New Order song)

"Ceremony"
Song by Joy Division
from the album Still
Released	8 October 1981
Recorded	2 May 1980
Studio	High Hall, Birmingham University
Genre	Gothic rock^[4] post-punk
Length	3:51
Label	Factory
Songwriter(s)	Bernard Sumner Peter Hook Stephen Morris Ian Curtis^[3]
Producer(s)	Martin Hannett

Joy Division

"Ceremony" was one of the last Joy Division songs to be composed, with lyrics written by Ian Curtis. According to guitarist Bernard Sumner, the group wrote the song a few weeks before Ian Curtis died "to try and heal him through music" and keep him "involved in the band and involved in music and remind him of what ... a great future he had". Sumner concluded, "Unfortunately, it didn't work".^[5]

At the time, the group felt that the song represented a major step forward and had the potential to be a major hit. Sumner characterised the song as "a very uplifting track, filled with and enhanced by Ian's lyrics".^[6] Drummer Stephen Morris, meanwhile, commented, "In my opinion, it had 'hit single' pressed through it like Blackpool rock. It was probably the only Joy Division song that I played repeatedly on cassette. I liked it that much. It was something uplifting and well...up [in mood]. It felt like the start of something new – or different, at least".^[6]

There are three recorded versions by Joy Division in existence. The first is a live version, available on the Still album, from their final concert at High Hall, Birmingham University on 2 May 1980. The second, available on the Heart and Soul four-disc box set, is from a studio session on 14 May 1980,^[7] four days before Curtis's suicide. It was the group's last recording. The third is a version recorded at the soundcheck on the afternoon of 2 May 1980 (along with "Decades") and is only available via bootleg. In all recordings, the vocals are only partially audible.^[6]

New Order

After the death of Ian Curtis, the remaining members of Joy Division regrouped as New Order. Their first release was a re-recording of "Ceremony" as a stand-alone single backed with "In a Lonely Place", with guitarist Bernard Sumner taking over lead vocals. Because Curtis had never transcribed the lyrics to "Ceremony" and because his singing was muted to the point of near-inaudibility on all surviving recordings, Sumner said he had to put them through a graphic equalizer to approximate the lyrics.^[8]

New Order "Version 1" March 1981

On 6 March 1981, the first single of New Order and the first version of the song "Ceremony" was released by Factory Records (with the name FAC 33). Initially released as a 7" single, it was reissued as a 12" two months later.^[9] Martin Hannett (Joy Division's producer) produced the record and Peter Saville designed the sleeve artwork for both releases.

The 7" record was issued in a stamped gold-bronze sleeve. The 12" sleeve was a completely separate design: gold typography on a green background.

New Order "Version 2" September 1981

This section does not cite any sources. (August 2024)

In September 1981, "Ceremony" was re-released. Gillian Gilbert played guitar on this new recording just after she joined the band. Martin Hannett again produced the record. The single was re-issued as a 12" only, with the same catalogue number (FAC 33). The original is approximately 4:34 minutes in length while the re-recording is 4:23. The re-recorded version was used on all subsequent compilations until Singles in 2005, when the original March '81 recording was released on CD for the first time. The b-side of the reissued single featured an alternate mix of "In A Lonely Place," substantially similar but identifiable by different placement of its "digital thunderclaps."

Re-issue

This section does not cite any sources. (August 2024)

The single was re-issued again in April 2011 for Record Store Day in a white sleeve. This limited edition release (only 800 copies) plays at 33 rpm. It features the New Order recordings of "Ceremony" (the pre-Gillian Gilbert take) and the alternate mix "In a Lonely Place" on one side, with the rare Joy Division recordings of the same tracks on the flip side.

This section does not cite any sources. (March 2025)

In 2019, the single was re-issued in two editions: a "green sleeve" edition with contents identical to the original issue, and a "white and blue" sleeve edition with the September 1981 version of Ceremony (with Gillian Gilbert) on the a-side, but the original mix of "In A Lonely Place" on the b-side (unlike the September 1981 reissue with a similar cover, which featured the alternate mix).