New OrderRelationships have been acrimonious among Peter Hook and the remaining members of New Order for years. And yet, the band – along with the group they were born from, Joy Division – will be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame this November.
According to co-founding former bassist, Peter Hook, he’s unlikely to perform alongside Bernard Sumner, Stephen Morris, and Gillian Gilbert unless they can come to a kind of truce, he admitted in a new interview with Rolling Stone.
In 2007, New Order broke up for a second time, before getting back together in 2011—minus Hook.
In November 2015, Hook sued Sumner, Morris and Gilbert. As the case faced court, it was revealed that his former bandmates launched a new company without Hook’s input that generated £7.8 million in four years, and the former bassist reportedly only received a fraction of the money.
Sumner, Morris and Gilbert argued that they treated Hook fairly and that his stake in New Order was fair, despite the discrepancy in payments. In four years, he received just “1.25%” of the group’s royalties, as well as other income from merchandise and performances.
Don't miss a beat with our FREE daily newsletter
While the judge was willing to hear the case, it was encouraged for the members of New Order and Hook to reach an agreement outside of court. In September 2017, the band said they reached a settlement in the dispute against Hook.
Over the years, though, Hook has remained steadfast in the belief that the current iteration of New Order isn’t, in fact, New Order—sharing those thoughts in an interview with The Music in November 2022.
In a new interview with Rolling Stone, Hook issued a firm “no” when he was asked if he’d stand beside his former bandmates at the podium and accept their induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
He added that he “couldn’t give a shit” about the expectations about being inducted at the same time, as “you’ve got to have morals.” However, when the publication asked if circumstances would change if a truce was offered, Hook said that’s a “slightly different” situation.
Admitting that he hasn’t spoken to Sumner and Gilbert in 15 years and Morris for about for or five years, “but that wasn’t a friendly moment,” he said that if there was some kind of apology or attempt to “reach out and try and form some kind of relationship,” he might reconsider his position.
“You can’t just go ‘truce for the night’ after what we’ve been through,” Hook said. “If you knew what we’ve been through, you wouldn’t even suggest it. That’s the thing. Nobody knows what you went through. There’s a lightness to it in that respect.”
Peter Hook is touring Australia with his band The Light this July, when they celebrate the 25th anniversary of the New Order album, Get Ready, which features the hits Crystal and 60 Miles An Hour. The group will perform the album in its entirety as well as a string of New Order and Joy Division hits.
The Joy Division set will include beloved songs such as Disorder, She’s Lost Control, Shadowplay, Transmission, Atmosphere, Love Will Tear Us Apart, and more. Meanwhile, the New Order set will feature Ceremony, Bizarre Love Triangle, True Faith, Temptation, Blue Monday, and other tracks.
Peter Hook previously said of the enduring popularity of his band, “Fans come to see us because they love the sound… New Order doesn't sound like New Order, which I’m happy about — and also outraged.”
Peter Hook & The Light were formed in 2010, following the second breakup of New Order in 2007. The latter band reformed once more in 2011 and has been active since; however, Hook has not been involved at any point. Joy Division, on the other hand, ran for one continuous stint between 1976 and 1980, disbanding following the tragic passing of frontman Ian Curtis.
