Have they ever...

...played a set without playing Temptation? I was wondering this because, of all the times I've seen them live and on almost every live boot I've got, they seem to play it towards the end of the set. Blue Monday comes and goes as does Regret etc and LWTUA but Temptation seems to be an ever-present.

If it were a footballer, you'd describe him as a consistent midfielder, a crowd favourite and is a true one-club man. I remember being at the Albert Hall in 86 and Wembley a year later and on both occasions saw a bloke stripped to the waist giving it plenty to Temptation. Indeed, I didn't notice him for the rest of either gig so it's possible that it was his song and he always freaked his nads off to it in public!

Temptation is their most-played song, but it was left out numerous times in the 80s. I would say it probably got played 2 out of every 3 gigs between 82 and 87.

Regret has been played at every gig since it was written (not counting the two JD-only sets), and so has Crystal. LWTUA has been played at every gig since 98 I think, but only as a treat before that.

You'd think they'd be sick of playing Temptation, Blue Monday, True Faith and BLT at every gig nowadays though - fingers crossed we will get some variety in October! You can understand them doing a greatest hits set to a festival audience who haven't necessarily come to see just them, but in October it will be 2/3000 every night who are bona fide New Order fans, who have paid to see New Order and do actually know some of the songs besides the singles!