This is why events un-nerve us. It’s all getting a bit heated up Manchester way as The Stone Roses and Primal Scream’s Mani has started conducting a very public falling out with Peter Hook of Joy Division/New Order fame. Taking to Twitter, he’s accused him of “living off Ian Curtis’ blood money”.

Freebass, the bass player supergroup they were both in in earlier this year, have also announced their split.Mani cracked it on his Twitter account, lambasting Hook for apparently exploiting past glories. Hook is currently touring a series of shows where he is playing Joy Division’s Unknown Pleasures album in full.

“Three things visible from space, Great Wall Of China, Peter Hook’s wallet stuffed with Ian Curtis’ blood money, Man City’s empty trophy cabinet!” he tweeted, then continuing: “I’ve actually got an ongoing career, so I don’t feel the need to exploit my past glories. I exist in the here and the now.”
He also had a crack at Freebass – the triple bass project formed by Hook, himself and former Smiths bassist Andy Rourke – who have now split up before their album is even released on September 20. Rourke walked out of the group last month.

“It’s where it belongs mate… in the fucking bargain bin before it’s even released,” Mani wrote of the album. “You live and learn.” Pleasingly, he also confirmed that he’s going back to work in his main job with Primal Scream, saying: “I’m getting back with the ‘real’ players tomorrow, thank fuck. Can’t be doing with talentless nostalgia fuckwit whores.” Ouch.

Freebass have released a statement to the media which reads in part: “It is with great sadness that just prior to the long-awaited album release of ‘It’s A Beautiful Life we have to announce that the much anticipated Mancunian union of bassists, Freebass, is no longer a functioning group.”

The statement continued: “Recent events have made Freebass entirely unviable as a band and, with this in mind, it has been decided that the project should be shelved, rather than placed on hiatus while members pursue their other interests. The band would like to take the opportunity to thanks friends and fans for their support and interest, especially on the UK tour in June 2010. We also hope that people will enjoy the album, which concludes five years of work, and treat it on its own merits. No third parties were involved or harmed in the break-up.”
This, kids, is what you call a messy break up….