Taking Sides: AC/DC vs Joy Division/New Order

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1) Both of two distinct phases, marked by original vocalists dying by own hands. Second phases vastly succesful commercially, despite almost-universal critical consensus on superiority and breadth of influence of first.

2) Bands initiate second phase by replacing deceased 'personality' vocalists with almost completely different characters. Latter-day vocalists "best" to aficionados of pub blooze/whateverNOfansarecalled, "absolute totally unlistenably fucking worst" to the unconvinced or even neutral. Also, vocal focus moves from 'lyrics' to 'grain' or 'texture'

3)New Order denied Nazi connotations of name despite it being the SECOND consecutive Fuehrer-flavoured collective designation and also despite Ian Curtis' fascination with odd ideas (not forgetting their dark senses of humour and penchant for constant intoxication, Wilson's bullshit factory etc). AC/DC denied gay connotations of name despite songs such as "Big Balls", "She's Got Balls", and "Got You By The Balls", and also despite their puerile sense of humour and penchant for constant intoxication.

4)Compare performances by Phil Rudd and Steven Morris on, respectively (musical and/or loose career-point similarity); "Riff Raff"/"Transmission", "What's Next to the Moon"/"Atrocitty Exhibition", "Night Prowler"/"24 Hours", "Highway to Hell"/"Love Will Tear Us Apart", "Back in Black"/"Confusion", "You Shook Me All Night Long"/"Blue Monday"

― dave q, Tuesday, 16 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Plus - compare/contrast roles/performances of Malcolm Young and Peter Hook

― dave q, Tuesday, 16 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

If having a puerile sense of humour and penchant for constant intoxication makes your sexuality suspect, then count me in!

AC/DC is the better band, hands down.

― Sean, Tuesday, 16 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Some interesting points raised there, Dave, but the bands in question are so apples & oranges that the comparison seems wildly moot.

The music of each serves different ends, I think.

― Alex in NYC, Tuesday, 16 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Depends on whether you're more spooked by cemetaries ("The Eternal") or slashers ("Night Prowler").

― Curt, Tuesday, 16 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

"wildy moot"

I am going to start using this in daily conversation!

― Jordan, Tuesday, 16 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Apples Vs Oranges a scientific comparison.

― Mr Noodles, Tuesday, 16 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

How soon after you fell on your head did you come up with such an inane question? Besides, your putting way to much thought into the AC/DC lyrics.....who gives a SHIT!

― James H., Tuesday, 16 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Hey Alex,No such thing as "wildly moot".I get it, you must have heard that on an Alannis"how contrived can I be"Morrisette record. For your benefit Alex; there is no degree of moot!I could be wrong though, so why don't we take it to a "moot court" and find out.

― James H., Tuesday, 16 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I would like to raise a moot point.

― Mr Noodles, Tuesday, 16 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Brian Johnson and whoever sings for New Order are both terrible, but if you can't sing I suppose it's better to mumble than to shriek. Bon's death really gave the band the chance to stretch out a bit, but other than writing a couple radio hits they didn't make much of the opportunity, unlike New Order. But I'd easily choose Bon Scott era AC/DC over Joy Division, since I only like about 2 Joy Division songs.

― Kris, Wednesday, 17 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

eight months pass...

What the fuck is this? How can one even begin to compare a crappy white trash cock rock band to one of the best bands in the world. ACDC may be more popular, but New Order is infinitely better.

― Jason, Tuesday, 14 January 2003 21:56 (twenty-two years ago)

New Order never included a beer bottle opener in their box set, therefore AC/DC wins.

― donut bitch (donut), Tuesday, 14 January 2003 22:23 (twenty-two years ago)

I prefer JD/NO's sleeve art and AC/DC's music, lyrics, live shows, videos, and interviews.

― dan (dan), Tuesday, 14 January 2003 22:37 (twenty-two years ago)

Bon Scott AC/DC beats Joy Divison, but New Order beats Brian Johnston AC/DC.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Tuesday, 14 January 2003 23:32 (twenty-two years ago)

Wow. How did this thread get revived?

It's an interesting juxtaposition, but foiled by the fact that JD/NO plucked a vocalist who was ALREADY IN THE BAND to take Ian's place, whereas AC/DC stole Brian Johnson from a forgettable band called Geordie. The fact that Bernard was already invovled rendered New Order impenetrable from barbs from disgruntled fans who'd claim "the new guy doesn't fit."

A better comparison with AC/DC would be, say, Iron Maiden (from Paul D'ianno to Bruce Dickinson) or the Stranglers (Hugh Cornwell to....whomever that 'new' cheese monkey is) or....ummmmmm...10,000 Maniacs (ah, there ya go!) after Natalie Merchant left.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 14 January 2003 23:38 (twenty-two years ago)

When Merchant left, 10,000 Maniacs brought in their original guitarist and a singer he was collaborating with (who also, I believe, had sung back-up for the Maniacs). So it seems more like the Joy Division/New Order situation than AC/DC's. Nobody was stolen, old friends were just reunited when the diva left.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Tuesday, 14 January 2003 23:41 (twenty-two years ago)

DAMN YOUR EYES, ANTHONY!

Actually, well done.

Alrighty then, how about AC/DC and....er....The Dead Kennedys (circa the 'reunion' tour with the ex-Dr.Know vocalist/veteran child star of "the Courtship of Eddie's Father")?

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 14 January 2003 23:43 (twenty-two years ago)

Folks, you do realize that the most appropriate comparison would be between AC/DC and Van Halen, which AC/DC would win by a landslide

― Chris Barrus (xibalba), Wednesday, 15 January 2003 01:18 (twenty-two years ago)

Nah, not the most appropriate, because all the singers Van Halen chose post-Dave were pretty well-established already. (And don't try to tell me anyone really knew who Brian Johnson was prior to his days in AC/DC).

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Wednesday, 15 January 2003 01:27 (twenty-two years ago)

two years pass...

Bon Scott himself had brought Brian Johnson and his band Georgie to the Young brothers attention before his untimely demise. Angus has stated in interviews that in a way, Bon Scott picked his own replacement in the band.

― Earl Nash (earlnash), Thursday, 20 January 2005 05:13 (twenty years ago)

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