Watch George Michael and Morrissey clash on Joy Division, Everything But the Girl and breakdancing

26 December 2016, 10:00 | Written by The Line of Best Fit

(News)

(Morrissey) (George Michael)

George Michael was a Joy Division fan and Morrissey was definitely not, reveals an entertaining 1983 show in which the pair went head to head reviewing books, movies and music.

"I actually really liked Joy Division, or particular their second album Closer," says Michael to presenter Robin Denselow during the show Eight Days a Week, which you can watch below. "I thought Closer, the second side of Closer…it’s one of my favorite albums, It’s just beautiful."

Morrissey was more damning about his fellow Mancunians: “I think most people’s vision of Joy Division is entirely coloured by the death of Ian Curtis... It’s always really the only factor people want to seem to discuss… Joy Division were on group I really didn’t take to very much… I saw them a few times by accident…. "

"[Joy Division and New Order] had the spirit of the times but I think it was totally false… it was like this complete affectation of people wanting to be something they weren’t. I find it quite sad but in a musical sense I hear nothing whatsoever.”

The pair were discussing the band - along with Radio 1 DJ Tony Blackburn - after the release of book, An Ideal for Living: An History of Joy Division by Mark Johnson. Other topics on the show which screened on 25 May 1984, also included Everything But the Girl's Eden and the film Breakin’.

George Michael's passed away yesterday at the age of 53.