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September 10, 2011

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They were the definitive eighties dance band with the classic hit "Blue Monday." But New Order's decision to re-form for a handful of European benefit gigs has taken their former bassist by surprise.

The band is due to perform in Brussels on Oct. 17 and Paris on Oct. 18 in with a lineup including Stephen Morris and Bernard Sumner, but without their original bass player, Peter Hook, who left in 2007.

In a statement he left fans in no doubt about his surprise.

"I first I heard about this on Monday and it has taken me completely by surprise! Everyone knows that New Order without Peter Hook is like Queen without Freddie Mercury, U2 without The Edge, Sooty without Sweep!" And he went on to say the exclusion had made him "very sad."

"On a more serious note, I do not understand the decision the other three have taken. I wish they had approached me first. I do not agree with the methods they have used and feel it would have been courteous and professional to have spoken to me in advance of the announcements. It is very sad.''

The two gigs will be the band's first live performance since 2005, but it is not clear whether they anticipate any more gigs beyond the two charity events scheduled for next month.

[Edited 9/10/11 12:38pm]

Must be Saturday.

No, the gigs are slated for next month, silly.

wasn't the decision to continue on without Hook made a long time ago?

i was under the impression that peter hook had no desire to continue with new order, anyway. he's been pretty vocal in his dislike for the rest of the band. you'd think that, after touring the 'unknown pleasures' album solo, he might just shrug this one off and keep his mouth shut. he's mentioned on more than one occasion that that album is as much a part of his history as it is ian curtis'...well, new order is as much a part of bernard sumner's and stephen morris' history as it is his.

quitcher bitchin', hooky.

The bass was a pretty big part of Joy Division and New Order's sound, but he also knows these are benefit shows. It'll be the same grudge John Paul Jones had over Plant and Page 15 years ago. No big deal.

They way the bitch at each other youd think they were all a bunch of drama queens...........oh wait.

lazycrockett said:

They way the bitch at each other youd think they were all a bunch of drama queens...........oh wait.

(grin)

I wish I could attend the shows, though.
Oh well.