Hook: New Order has broken up

Legendary English rock act New Order has broken up, according to a post from bassist Peter Hook on his MySpace.com site. "I'm relieved," he wrote. "Really hated carryin' on as normal with an awful secret, so let's move on, shall we?" Hook made similar comments in an interview last Friday on XFM, telling host Clint Boon that he and singer/guitarist Bernard Sumner were no longer working together.

New Order, which also included drummer Stephen Morris and guitarist/keyboardist Gillian Gilbert, formed in 1980 following the dissolution of their prior band, Joy Division. That act's lead singer, Ian Curtis, committed suicide on the eve of an American tour.

New Order went on to become one of the most influential acts in modern music, fusing synthesizers and dance beats to rock structures on classics such as "Bizarre Love Triangle," "Blue Monday," "Age of Consent," "Ceremony," "Temptation," "True Faith" and "Regret."

The group went on a five-year hiatus beginning in 1993, but reconvened for new studio albums in 2001 ("Get Ready") and 2005 ("Waiting for the Sirens' Call") that introduced its music to a new generation of listeners. New Order's last show was in November in Buenos Aires.

Curtis is the subject of the upcoming film "Control," the score for which was performed by New Order. The movie will premiere May 17 at the Cannes Film Festival in France. As for Hook, he guests on the debut album from Perry Farrell's Satellite Party, due May 29 via Columbia, and has also formed a new band, Freebass, with former Smiths bassist Andy Rourke and Stone Roses/Primal Scream member Mani.

Sad news, but maybe not considering how lackluster the last CD was.

I'm not remotely sad about this. Their comeback was two poor albums and a handful of mediocre shows. I saw them at Wembley Arena last year and they were dreadful - turgid, soulless, obviously going through the motions, boring.

They shouldn't have reformed. They split at their peak in '94 with Republic (a broken-hearted masterpiece) and should have left it there.

Shapeshifter said:

I actually liked "Get Ready."
"Republic" their peak? How about "Brotherhood"?! (although I know most say "Technique")

it's really not tragic at all. they said and did all they needed to do.

now bring on the posthumous archival releases!

I don't know bout his, Hook always seems to be the whiny complaining one in NO, and really I've felt that NO brought up back in the 90's. Everything after just seems like a reunion cd kind of thing.

i feel the same way about new order as i do about the pixies...both bands were done a long time ago, and everything they've done since has just been gravy - for the fans, and because they gotta eat.

^^ yeah i pretty much feel the same way.

I wonder when I'm going to start feeling that way about The Cure. If their next album is as inconsequential as their last album, I might be almost there....

NorthernLad said:

yeah, that pretty much seems like the "bobby smith & friends" party these days...which is fine, but it's not the entity it used to be. at least he's handling business beautifully on the archival front.

Anx said:

I just wish the reissues weren't taking so long to release.

NorthernLad said:

it hasn't been SO bad. it gives younger fans a good chunk of time to digest each wave of reissues, which is nice. and really, there's only one more wave to go, right? or at least, only one more wave that matters.

NorthernLad said:

"Taking so long"? Try waiting for the Banshees' reissues. Now those are really taking a long time.

Anx said:

I will go to my grave defending "Wild Mood Swings".

sextonseven said:

Yeah... that is true. Although I still haven't picked up "Join Hands" yet...

NorthernLad said:

the grave will be a good place to take it

NorthernLad said:

There doesn't seem to be that much material saved by them unlike The Cure. Siouxsie seems to be more concerned with her solo album anyway which is due reportedly at the end of summer.

Anx said:

Heresy!!!

My version of it is much better - a different tracklisting and sequencing, incorporating some of the b-sides - a stellar album. Robert should hire me immediately to save him from himself

sextonseven said:

ooooh i haven't heard about that. Any new Siouxsie material is worthy of excitement

NorthernLad said:

ok, i'll admit i liked some of the latter-day b-sides i heard on 'join the dots'. i did not like 'wild mood swings', however. not at all. not one bit. not on a plane, not on a train.

Anx said:

But might you like it in a car...? or in a bar??? Would you like to play it on guitar, while gazing up at a star?

[OK, i really need to get back to work, heh]

this news is a while old isn't it? it was all over most blogs about
a month or perhaps even 2 months ago (? i can't remember) but they
all had new order's last live show from this year up. the one which
they make the announcement that it will be their last ever show.

haven't downloaded it

Anx said:

i'm so scared they'll release another greatest hits set

IstenSzek said:

I have no doubt they will. Way to milk that back catelog!!

NorthernLad said:

but they have like, 28 of those already

an extensive b-side collection or re-issues like
the pet shop boys did, now that would be

I'm a little sad about this. I imagine they might be a little sick of each other after all the exposure they've received in the past few years and all of the bands imitating them and Joy Division. It's become really cool to namedrop them again, and they've always seemed like reluctant rock stars. With the new film in the can and a bunch of releases coming out, maybe they feel like their work is done. I'm just glad that I got to see them a few years back with Moonbeam and Anx. I can't speak for anyone else, but I had tons of fun at that show.

IstenSzek said:

oh god no

MendesCity said:

Both good albums, but Republic really completed the circle. It was like a summation of their entire career - the melancholy of Joy Division and their first album, the cutting edge dance element, the rock-pop of Low Life. They really should have left it there. There were some good moments on their last two albums, but no great ones. And that gig I saw really was dreadful. I couldn't wait to go home.

Shapeshifter said:

Aside from the singles on Republic, it's not really that great. I like both of their recent albums better.