Off the back of the news that New Order are reconvening to perform two benefit shows in Europe in coming months, excluded bassist Peter Hook has voiced his disdain in music tome Rolling Stone.
The band, led by Bernard Sumner and employing keyboardist Gillian Gilbert and Tom Chapman [Bad Lieutenant] on bass, are reforming without Hook in a bid to raise some coin for long-time friend, the critically ill filmmaker Michael Shamberg.
“Them reforming as New Order,” declared Peter, “it’s not New Order. It’s some members of New Order going out as New Order. It’s like me saying I’m going out as Joy Division.”
Despite the same report confirming Hook’s upcoming tour dates, where his band the Light will perform in full Joy Division records Closer and Unknown Pleasures, he says there’s nothing hypocritical or ironic about his plan to perform his old band’s material.
“Ultimately I am happy for them to go out and play live, I really am. They’ve just taken everything with no regard. There have been some really underhand, dirty business dealings that have enabled them to do this that I don’t agree with and I’m very saddened and upset by it. I think you would feel duty bound to ask the other members, but obviously … they just did it.”
