Joy Division

It was a development, anything that has ever happened was. Whether it was positive or negative is subjective. I would have loved to hear what else Ian Curtis had in him but at the same time I would hate to be without New Order.in the world.

Not a total change, many aspects are quite similar, especially at the beginning. However, their tone and outlook was very different from the start.

Overall, I'd say no. Standing alone and without making a connection to one another, they are equally influential. And personally, I like early New Order just as much as Joy Division.

Of course, popular music is currently overrun with bands trying to sound like New Order.