Sacrilege
"Love will tear us apart..." sang Ian Curtis in 1980, his own tragic lyrics would be scrawled on many a Goth's canvas schoolbag, accompanied by a suitably mournful melody that evokes memories of many an ill starred teenage tryst and remains a somewhat chilling insight into the self destructive mind of it's author.

Few people can fail to be moved.

Twenty three years on from its release, I stumble upon a live version recorded at Glastonbury and featuring New Order (nee Joy Division, sans Curtis who wasn't contactable by seance).

clicks on mediaplayer

Oh dear lord... Sumner's murdered it. The resigned solemness of the original is replaced by punkish angry wailing. I couldn't imagine a more inappropriate vocalist short of Johnny Rotten.

Don't do it kids.
(Bicycle Repairman "you're also a bit of a wanker", Thu 26 Jun 2008, 14:50, 9 replies)

Gaaaargh
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mnz45ssz0no

This makes me feel sick.
(geordiedave is reliving the time Southgate missed that penalty, Thu 26 Jun 2008, 15:00, closed)

I've heard that too...
Its fucking crap isn't it! Totally destroys the subtle beauty of the original.

I can forgive Sumner though. Apart from that he's ace!
(Errorist, Thu 26 Jun 2008, 15:00, closed)

I'm normally a fan
But there are certain songs a unique vocal talent like Sumner should never attempt in public.
(Bicycle Repairman "you're also a bit of a wanker", Thu 26 Jun 2008, 15:02, closed)

That Fall Out Boy version is brutal..
Check out this version from The Complete Stone Roses...

www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQYg4Jq_DX8

None will ever be a patch on the original.
( Stu71 ....bad money dies, I love the scene, Thu 26 Jun 2008, 15:20, closed)

look up a Mongolian band
called Yat Kha, they've done a good version

done some other good covers too

Tuvan throat singing FTW!
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Thu 26 Jun 2008, 15:29, closed)

joy division
i'm fairly sure joy division always did love will tear us apart live in a punky wailing style as they were a punky wailing type band.

check out les baines douches live album.

apologies for music geekery.
(Bunbury, Thu 26 Jun 2008, 15:59, closed)

Sumner
Just cannot sing live - even New Order songs. He is perhaps the shittest 'singer' I've ever had the misfortune to witness on stage.

Swans version of Love Will Tear Us Apart, however, is fantastic.
( Davros' Granddad a voice of calm reason in a world of spastics., Thu 26 Jun 2008, 16:04, closed)

Jose Gonzales
Did an accoustic version and it's rather good.
(Bicycle Repairman "you're also a bit of a wanker", Thu 26 Jun 2008, 16:21, closed)

i agree
New Order are one of my favorite ever bands, but live... Erk. When Barney Sumner does that "OUF!" stuff between lyrics, it sort of undermines the whole song. STOP IT NOW MAN!
(Alaning, Fri 27 Jun 2008, 8:47, closed)