Your CV of New Order gig attendance

Cardiff would have been my 20th New Order concert if it had gone ahead as planned.

To mark the occasion, I have been hatching an idea of putting together all the New Order and related concerts I attended to this day and posting it here.

With Cardiff show cancelled, when my attendance hits the 20th is beyond prediction now. So I have decided to post the list up to this point.

Would be pleased to see yours. And if you do, you don’t necessarily have to follow mine as a template, go your own style. Thanks.

New Order

1. 1985-05-04 Osaka (Koseinenkin Kaikan [Welfare Pension Hall] )
2. 1987-01-27 Tokyo (Nakano Sun Plaza)
3. 1987-01-28 Tokyo (Nakano Sun Plaza)
4. 1987-01-29 Osaka (Koseinenkin Kaikan [Welfare Pension Hall] )
5. 1987-01-30 Nagoya (Kokaido [Civic Assembly Hall])
6. 1998-12-29 Manchester (Manchester Evening News Arena)
7. 2005-07-31 Naeba (Fuji Rock Festival)
8. 2012-04-26 Manchester (Apollo)
9. 2012-04-27 Manchester (Apollo)
10. 2012-08-18 Osaka (Summer Sonic Festival)
11. 2012-09-16 Portmeirion (Festival No. 6)
12. 2013-07-07 Jodrell Bank (Observatory site)
13. 2015-12-06 Manchester (Warehouse Project)
14. 2016-07-09 Manchester (Castlefield Bowl)
15. 2017-07-13 Manchester (Old Granada Studios)
16. 2019-07-21 Jodrell Bank (Bluedot Festival)
17. 2021-09-08 Halifax (Piece Hall)
18. 2021-09-10 Manchester (Heaton Park)
19. 2023-10-05 Glasgow (OVO Hydro)

*4, 6, 7, 11, 12, 14, 15 and 17 are best of the lot. On the opposite end, the worst show is Manchester 2015 (Warehouse Project) hands down.

Revenge

1. 1991-01-30 Osaka (IMP Hall)

Peter Hook & The Light

1. 2012-05-18 Manchester (FAC251 - The Factory)
2. 2013-01-18 Manchester (Manchester Cathedral)[h]

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Some cool gigs there. Never seen the band abroad, so I'm envious of your Japan ones.

1. Reading Festival, Reading, UK, 29/08/93
2. Apollo Theatre, Manchester, UK, 16/07/98
3. Reading Festival, Reading, UK, 30/08/98
4. Albert Square, Manchester, UK, 21/09/98 (1 track only)
5. Alexandra Palace 31/12/98
6. Olympia, Liverpool, UK, 18/07/01
7. Civic Hall, Wolverhampton, UK, 24/11/15
8. Old Granada Studios, Manchester, 06/07/17
9. Alexandra Palace, London, UK, 09/11/18
10. BlueDot Festival, Jodrell Bank, Macclesfield, UK

Monaco

1. Civic Hall, Wolverhampton, UK, 13/05/97

Not very impressive, really.

I'm put to shame by a lot of you on here, probably. If DigiMike was about, his list is VERY impressive, including such classic gigs as Tower Ballroom '83, Royal Festival Hall '84, some Hacienda gigs and even the 1981 Glastonbury performance. Wow!

1. Glasgow SECC 25/03/1989
2. Reading 30/08/1998
3. Cologne 16/11/2001
4. Finsbury Park 09/06/2002
5. Glasgow Academy 18/10/2006
6. Glasgow O2 19/11/2015

I grew up in the sticks so #1 was the 1st opportunity I ever had after starting uni. I'm fairly certain it was that cologne gig we went to. They started very late and the crowd were getting a bit pissed off. Other than that, I live in the sticks now again so unlikely to ever attend another one.

Saw hooky with Monaco at Reading (along with everyone else) and a few PH&TL gigs in Glasgow and one in Manchester

I've probably missed a few but:

1983: Edinburgh 1985: Edinburgh, Glasgow 1986: Edinburgh, Glasgow, Sheffield, Mcr Hac 1987: Glasgow, Finsbury Park 1989: Glasgow SECC 2001: Mcr Apollo 2006: Glasgow

I've seen Electronic 1991 (good), Revenge 91 (terrible) and Monaco 98? (not bad). I've not seen NO recently - much prefer ACR these days.

prog99 wrote:

Saw hooky with Monaco at Reading (along with everyone else)

Ah yes. So did I, thinking about it. Completely forgot about that (no doubt diminished in my memory due to NO's blistering performance on the same day).

not a complete list, but close enough

aug 1984 chippenham goldiggers dec 1985 central london poly march 1986 oxford apollo oct 1986 royal albert hall ,london june 1987 reading uni dec 1987 wembley arena dec 1988 gmex manchester march 1989 birmingham nec august 1989 reading festival aug 1993 reading festival august 1998 reading festival dec 1998 london alex palace october 2001 brixtpn academy june 2002 london finsbury june 2005 london hyde park nov 2005 london brixton oct 2006 bournemouth international oct 2006 london wembley arena aug 2012 london hyde park oct 2023 london o2 arena

monaco reading aug 1998

peter hook and the light 3 times in reading at sub 89 and 1 at oxford aacademy

I am very envious of anyone who saw them in the 80s. I got into the band in 1987 (True Faith etc.), but was 15 and didn't start going to gigs for another year or so. Missed the NEC, SECC and reading gigs in 1989 and consequently had to wait another 4 years to see my favourite band (Reading '93).

Worth the wait (great gig), but I really feel like I missed out on seeing the band in their absolute prime.

Turin Traffic Festival 2005 Zagreb InMusic Festival 2012

miserable I know

New Order:

1. 2001 Tue Jul 31, Shoreline, Mountain View (Moby's Area One Festival)
2. 2006 Fri Oct 27, Wembley, London
3. 2012 Fri Oct 5, Fox, Oakland
4. 2014 Fri Jul 11, Bill Graham, SF
5. 2017 Fri Apr 21, Greek Theatre, Berkeley
6. 2018 Sat Sep 29, Long Beach (Music Tastes Good Festival)
7. 2021 Sat Nov 6, O2 London (livestream)
8. 2022 Wed Oct 12, Chase Center, SF

Peter Hook:

1. 2013 Fri Sep 27, Mezzanine, SF
2. 2014 Fri Nov 21, Mezzanine, SF
3. 2018 Sat May 12, Warfield, SF

I grew up 6 hours away from cities they'd played in the U.S. (halfway between Chicago and Atlanta).

In April 1988 Echo & The Bunnymen with Gene Love Jezebel played the university in my town, and I went. This was only 7 months after they'd all toured together - so close to seeing them tour Substance!

I have seen every member - including the short-lived lineup with Billy Corgan - but never saw the original 4 together.

...and because I'm a total nerd...

New Order Songs I've Heard Live:

Academic (soundcheck) Age Of Consent Be A Rebel Bizarre Love Triangle Blue Monday Californian Grass Ceremony Close Range Crystal Elegia 586 Guilt Is A Useless Emotion Here To Stay Love Vigilantes 1963 Plastic Regret Restless Singularity 60 Miles An Hour Sub-culture Superheated Temptation The Perfect Kiss Touched By The Hand Of God True Faith Turn Turn My Way Tutti Frutti Ultraviolence Vanishing Point Waiting For The Sirens' Call Who's Joe? Your Silent Face

Joy Division Songs I've Heard Live:

Atmosphere Decades Disorder Isolation Love Will Tear Us Apart Shadowplay She's Lost Control These Days Transmission

Covers:

San Francisco (Be Sure To Wear Flowers In Your Hair) - Scott McKenzie California Dreamin' - The Mamas & The Papas

1989 nec 1998 apollo 1998 men arena 2001 apollo 2002 old trafford 2005 hyde park 2005 apollo 2006 liverpool 2006 blackpool 2012 apollo 2013 jodrell bank 2015 liverpool 2016 castlefield bowl 2017 granada studios 1st and last dates 2019 jodrell bank 2021 heaton park 2024 wythenshaw

peter hook low life/brotherhood x 2 and substance

monaco at v97...apparently as i was absolutely smashed and remember nothing at all

bad lieutenant - leadmill

lee wrote: 1989 nec 1998 apollo 1998 men arena 2001 apollo 2002 old trafford 2005 hyde park 2005 apollo 2006 liverpool 2006 blackpool 2012 apollo 2013 jodrell bank 2015 liverpool 2016 castlefield bowl 2017 granada studios 1st and last dates 2019 jodrell bank 2021 heaton park 2024 wythenshaw

I forgot I was at the MEN 98 too. No wonder I forgot, it was probably the worst I'd seen them. Strange night.

Birmingham Tower Ballroom Oct 86 ( annoyingly i had to leave halfway through to catch last train home. They had taken to the stage so late that night. )

Sheffield Roxy June 87 Wembley Arena Dec 87 Birmingham NEC March 89 Reading Festival August 93 Reading Festival August 98 Manchester MEN Arena Dec 98 Manchester Apollo Oct 2001 Hyde Park June 2005 Brixton Academy Nov 2005 Manchester MEN Arena Jan 2006 (Manc vs Cancer event) Liverpool Summer Pops July 2006 Blackpool Oct 2006 Wembley Arena Oct 2006 Wolverhampton Civic Hall Oct 2006 Birmingham Ballroom April 2012 Brixton Academy May 2012 Jodrell Bank July 2013 Brixton Academy Nov 2015 Wolverhampton Civic Hall Nov 2015 Bluedot Festival Jodrell Bank July 2019

Also had a ticket for and went to watch the Birmingham Powerhouse gig June 1984 but was refused entry for being under 18( was refunded ticket cost but i was devastated my mate and i weren't allowed entry)

Sheffield Roxy June 87 was a fantastic night. I wish there were photos or video but i've never discovered any)

Reading 98 and Brixton 2005 are two of my all time favourites.

Electronic :

Cities In The Park, Manchester, August 91

Wembley Exhibition Hall 1, Dec 91

Revenge:

Cities In The Park August 91

Monaco:

Reading Festival 98

tapebias wrote:

I forgot I was at the MEN 98 too. No wonder I forgot, it was probably the worst I'd seen them. Strange night.

In Fast Forward, the second volume of his autobiography, Stephen Morris describes the Manchester Arena show 1998 was “awful,” as opposed to the other Christmas gig, Alexandra Palace, which was “pretty good mainly because it was New Year’s Eve.”

I was there and included it in the best lot as I felt it was great by myself. The evening was a double bill with Underworld and promoted under the event title, “Temptation”. I remember a fair size of the audience left after the New Order set, not bothering to stay longer for Underworld who took the stage later.

For me, it was the first time in almost 12 years to catch them live since Japan, January 1987, and quite an emotional experience to do so in Manchester, first time I saw them on their home turf. I vividly recall the spray painted words, “Salford rules”, over one of the amps on stage. Was thrilled to hear Regret live for the first time, and also Fine Time and Guilty Partner (live debut and played only twice to this day) for both Technique and Republic tours didn’t happen in Japan.

Stephen doesn’t give any clue why it was awful. I wonder if he meant the venue rather than the performance. Thoughts?

The Japanese One wrote:

tapebias wrote:

I forgot I was at the MEN 98 too. No wonder I forgot, it was probably the worst I'd seen them. Strange night.

In Fast Forward, the second volume of his autobiography, Stephen Morris describes the Manchester Arena show 1998 was “awful,” as opposed to the other Christmas gig, Alexandra Palace, which was “pretty good mainly because it was New Year’s Eve.”

I was there and included it in the best lot as I felt it was great by myself. The evening was a double bill with Underworld and promoted under the event title, “Temptation”. I remember a fair size of the audience left after the New Order set, not bothering to stay longer for Underworld who took the stage later.

For me, it was the first time in almost 12 years to catch them live since Japan, January 1987, and quite an emotional experience to do so in Manchester, first time I saw them on their home turf. I vividly recall the spray painted words, “Salford rules”, over one of the amps on stage. Was thrilled to hear Regret live for the first time, and also Fine Time and Guilty Partner (live debut and played only twice to this day) for both Technique and Republic tours didn’t happen in Japan.

Stephen doesn’t give any clue why it was awful. I wonder if he meant the venue rather than the performance. Thoughts?

Interesting, thanks. I looked it up in the book and yep it's there (page 371). Yep, Steve doesn't add any more than "awful". He could mean the gig or the venue or the vibe in the room or all of the above.Maybe doing a gig just a few days after Christmas just wasn't a good idea in hindsight?

I was at the gig. It certainly wasn't very memorable for me. Just all a bit going through the motions. Notable maybe only for Guilty Partner being played ( after a failed start "all part of the charm").Oddly, i had no memory of them playing Fine Time that night. I had entertained the idea for years that i'd never seen that one ever played live but it turns out i have then!

I stayed afterwards to catch Underworld. The venue had emptied by more than half after New Order finished.I was free to wander around the venue and sit almost wherever i wanted ( i'd paid for standing and which i did for NO's set). I had no hotel that night so the event going on til 4 or 5am or whatever it was suited me. I guess i must have left at the very end and then only had to wait a couple hours at Piccadilly train station for my train home in the morning.

Oh and Lionrock also performed that night( or at least a DJ set?) Can't recall if that was before or after New Order.

Fair to middling I guess. I was 17 in 1989, so the travelling wouldn’t have been an issue, more the finding somewhere to stay. 17 year olds didn’t have the wedge to stay in hotels in the 80s where I lived. Birmingham NEC 1989 Brixton Academy 2001 Finsbury Park 2002 Manchester Apollo 2005 Newcastle Academy 2006 Newcastle Academy 2012 Brixton Academy 2015 Wolverhampton Civic Hall 2015 Manchester Warehouse Project 2015 Manchester Castlefield Bowl 2016 Manchester Granada Studios 2017 Manchester Heaton Park 2021 Manchester Wythenshawe Park 2024

Feel like I’ve missed some out, but maybe when you’ve grown up with the band and read about every gig before and after it feels like more

Knew I’d forgot something

Revenge Newcastle Riverside 1990 Hooky bought me a pint and signed my Round & Round t-shirt

Fotz wrote:

The Japanese One wrote:

tapebias wrote:

I forgot I was at the MEN 98 too. No wonder I forgot, it was probably the worst I'd seen them. Strange night.

In Fast Forward, the second volume of his autobiography, Stephen Morris describes the Manchester Arena show 1998 was “awful,” as opposed to the other Christmas gig, Alexandra Palace, which was “pretty good mainly because it was New Year’s Eve.” Stephen doesn’t give any clue why it was awful. I wonder if he meant the venue rather than the performance. Thoughts?

I was at the gig. It certainly wasn't very memorable for me. Just all a bit going through the motions. Notable maybe only for Guilty Partner being played ( after a failed start "all part of the charm").Oddly, i had no memory of them playing Fine Time that night. I had entertained the idea for years that i'd never seen that one ever played live but it turns out i have then! I stayed afterwards to catch Underworld. The venue had emptied by more than half after New Order finished.I was free to wander around the venue and sit almost wherever i wanted ( i'd paid for standing and which i did for NO's set). I had no hotel that night so the event going on til 4 or 5am or whatever it was suited me. I guess i must have left at the very end and then only had to wait a couple hours at Piccadilly train station for my train home in the morning.

Sames as me Fotz, must have been in Piccadilly same time as we left after UW and spent 4 hrs shivering on a station bench. It was billed more as a dance event with lots of DJ rooms going on which I never bothered with. Thought the atmosphere was flat all round and almost empty by the time UW finished. Not one of their best IMO.

tapebias wrote:

Sames as me Fotz, must have been in Piccadilly same time as we left after UW and spent 4 hrs shivering on a station bench. It was billed more as a dance event with lots of DJ rooms going on which I never bothered with. Thought the atmosphere was flat all round and almost empty by the time UW finished. Not one of their best IMO.

Yes. Absolutely. It was all kind of flat, the whole event. Strange.

tapebias wrote:

Fotz wrote: I was at the gig. It certainly wasn't very memorable for me. Just all a bit going through the motions. Notable maybe only for Guilty Partner being played ( after a failed start "all part of the charm").Oddly, i had no memory of them playing Fine Time that night. I had entertained the idea for years that i'd never seen that one ever played live but it turns out i have then! I stayed afterwards to catch Underworld. The venue had emptied by more than half after New Order finished.I was free to wander around the venue and sit almost wherever i wanted ( i'd paid for standing and which i did for NO's set). I had no hotel that night so the event going on til 4 or 5am or whatever it was suited me. I guess i must have left at the very end and then only had to wait a couple hours at Piccadilly train station for my train home in the morning.

Sames as me Fotz, must have been in Piccadilly same time as we left after UW and spent 4 hrs shivering on a station bench. It was billed more as a dance event with lots of DJ rooms going on which I never bothered with. Thought the atmosphere was flat all round and almost empty by the time UW finished. Not one of their best IMO.

I was staying with my then girlfriend (now wife) at The Mitre Hotel by Manchester Cathedral, a stone’s throw from the MEN Arena, which may have made a difference in our respective experiences, especially the way we felt after we left the venue and out in the streets of Manchester early in the morning in cold winter.

If I remember correctly, after Underworld, the remaining punters were treated to Laurent Garnier’s DJ set during which we left the floor.

I still think New Order’s set was good enough and up to my expectation. Isolation and Heart And Soul were another pleasant surprises. JD “covers” still sounded fresh in those days.

Although not my cup of tea, Underworld were on top of their game in the aftermath of the hit tune, Born Slippy. I found myself nodding off on the balcony seat in the middle of their set though lol.

My regret is that I missed the chance of getting Peter Saville-designed T shirt of Unknown Pleasures variation, the half-collapsing image of the radio waves of the pulsar, which looked so cool. When I went to the merch, my size (M) was sold out and unavailable.

Glad I've managed to add a few outside of Manchester especially since I don't live there 😄 Wish I'd seen Electronic or Bad Lieu for that matter! When did the gigs stop getting raucous, seemed to think they were still lively after Hooky left, maybe when they added the visual backdrop?

I didn't mind Warehouse, thought it was different but do remember the sound was shocking, so loud!!!

1.	1998–07-16 Manchester (Apollo)
2.	2001-10-05 Manchester (Apollo)
3.	2002-07-13 Manchester (Move Festival 2002)
4.	2005-11-14 Manchester (Apollo)
5.	2006-10-29 Wolverhampton (Civic Hall)
6.	2012-04-26 Manchester (Apollo)
7.	2015-12-05 Manchester (Warehouse Project)
8.	2016-07-09 Manchester (Castlefield Bowl)
9.	2021-09-10 Manchester (Heaton Park)
10.	2023-10-07 Leeds (First Direct Arena)
11.	2024-08-24 Manchester (Wythenshawe Park)

Peter Hook & The Light 1. 2014-03-22 Hull, Fruit 2. 2017-05-11 Hull, University 3. 2022-08-06 Blackpool, Rebellion Festival

Monaco 1. 1997-08-17 Leeds, V Festival 2. 2000-08-29 Manchester, University

Oh yeah, Bad Lieutenant! I saw them once. Preston 53 Degrees venue i think it was called? Must have been around 2010? I do still have a ton of photos on my laptop from that night (March 2010?) Missy Jem, Rocket Mick, Banshee and more. Can't recall much except Bernard and band just switched to New Order songs like Temptation towards the end of the night. I had a B&B somewhere god knows in Preston. And i experienced the art deco(or Brutalism, depends on your perception ) that is Preston Bus Station.

Like No Other wrote: When did the gigs stop getting raucous, seemed to think they were still lively after Hooky left, maybe when they added the visual backdrop?

Well the first gigs post Hooky were the October 2011 ones in Brussels and Paris. And they were the first time , if i'm correct, that they used video/visual backdrops and which they've used every gig ever since. There were no gigs post Hooky where they didn't have video/visual backdrops. I think Bernard and band were advised before their 2011 comeback gigs that video/visuals backdrops at gigs were and are expected in the 21st century live experience, for better or worst.The new De Rigueur.Long gone are the old days of just a moody blue still light back drop.

Fotz wrote: I think Bernard and band were advised before their 2011 comeback gigs that video/visuals backdrops at gigs were and are expected in the 21st century live experience, for better or worst.

Plus, those 2 gigs were fundraisers for Michael Shamberg, who’d produced a number of their videos. I remember at the time there was uncertainty as to whether they’d be allowed to use the New Order name.

Like No Other wrote: When did the gigs stop getting raucous, seemed to think they were still lively after Hooky left, maybe when they added the visual backdrop?

1989. After that maybe a few minor skirmishes but most people had settled down. By the reformation most people were in their 40s propping up the bar or talking to their pal Charlie in the toilets. For whatever reason I always preferred to observe quietly (or tape) and was admonished by a fellow fan at Hac 86 during EGG for not getting down haha.

Brixton Academy Nov 2005 was pretty bloody raucous in the moshpit. That's why it is one of my favourite ever New Order gigs. It was just mad down at the front that night. Probably the last time i had the energy for sustaining it the whole gig, i was mid 30s then.

One raucous gig of New Order I witnessed in person is their second Osaka visit in 1987. During Blue Monday, Bernard threw away the Stratocaster on the stage floor to his right side, turned to the drum kit, took a stick and started hitting the cymbal hard, showing his back to the audience. The crowd went nuts. He then picked up the guitar from the floor and played against the amp behind, causing ear-piercing feedback noise all around, before finishing the main set. A brutal performance.

Returning to the stage for the encore, Bernard, not hiding a good mood, called out, “This is Perfect Kiss, and —.” The crowd enthused, drowning out his next words to follow, to which he responded, “Oh thank you, thank you.” An unforgettable night.

Speaking of raucous Finsbury Park 2002 was pretty violent in the mosh pit, and Manchester Apollo 2005 was the best I’ve ever seen them. Band and audience properly in sync and had the place absolutely rocking!!

tapebias wrote:

Like No Other wrote: When did the gigs stop getting raucous, seemed to think they were still lively after Hooky left, maybe when they added the visual backdrop?

1989. After that maybe a few minor skirmishes but most people had settled down.

Reading 1993 was MENTAL. I think a 'sliding doors' version of me died that night, crushed under the trainers of many a fan.

The Japanese One wrote: One raucous gig of New Order I witnessed in person is their second Osaka visit in 1987. During Blue Monday, Bernard threw away the Stratocaster on the stage floor to his right side, turned to the drum kit, took a stick and started hitting the cymbal hard, showing his back to the audience. The crowd went nuts. He then picked up the guitar from the floor and played against the amp behind, causing ear-piercing feedback noise all around, before finishing the main set. A brutal performance.

Returning to the stage for the encore, Bernard, not hiding a good mood, called out, “This is Perfect Kiss, and —.” The crowd enthused, drowning out his next words to follow, to which he responded, “Oh thank you, thank you.” An unforgettable night.

Cool story. Might give that gig a listen later.

EmileStrunz wrote: Speaking of raucous Finsbury Park 2002 was pretty violent in the mosh pit

Think we were further back getting ready to dodge more rain (what a miserable day until New Order came on)

1. 1987-9-18 Berkeley (Greek Theatre) Went with my girlfriend Katherine (who's eyes did the green/blue/gray changing), and her friend Michele, who I had a crush on. They used to joke about looking like sisters, but unfortunately I thought Michele was prettier. It was about a 3 hour drive from where we lived in Central California. Awkward.

I had speculated what they would play for months before the gig. New Order opened with "Touched by the Hand of God", which did my head in. In those pre-internet times, I had no idea that song existed. I tried to use mnemonic devices to try and remember the setlist (no smart phones, obviously, and didn't think to bring a notepad). At first they made it easy with a string of songs that could be linked with religion: TbtHoG, Ceremony, Angel Dust, Paradise...but then Your Silent Face commenced. It is still the most impactful experience i've ever had at a gig. The swelling synths, emotive bass and melodica and the gorgeous atmosphere provided by the elegant lighting and beautiful weather at a lovely venue shot through me. It felt more emotional than mere goosebumps. Having never been religious (my mother tried to raise us as Catholic, but told me I was kicked out of Catechism for being disruptive/calling bullshit as a child), I realized that, if anything, music was my religion. The next song was True Faith, which fit with my theme, but having been shaken by Your Silent Face, I stopped trying to memorise everything and just reveled in the rest of the gig.

Gene Loves Jezebel opened and they were alright, but the crowd weren't having it and wanted New Order and Echo & the Bunnymen far more. The Bunnymen were excellent, but wouldn't make as strong of an impression as New Order. I do treasure seeing the classic lineup with Pete de Freitas on drums, though. BerkeleySetlist

2. 1989-4-30 Santa Barbara (County Bowl) I was still with Katherine, but she was planning on moving to L.A. soon so it was a weird time for us (never did hook up with Michele) on another 3+ hour drive. My friend Darrell was there. He had turned me on to New Order (and later, Joy Division) back in 1984 with a compilation tape he made for me. He knew I had fallen hard for synthpop, listening to Yazoo, Depeche Mode, Alphaville, Ultavox, etc but told me "You should be listening to New Order". Thanks, Darrell. My mother hadn't let me go with him to his first New Order gig in L.A. back in 1985 (she called him Shithead), and starting my new (dream) job at record store Licorice Pizza had nixed my chance at going to New Order's previous gig in Santa Barbara in 1986. He had gone with a couple of friends and bootlegged it for me in sympathy. But one of them said he could EQ the horrible sounding tape, but ended deciding to rearrange the songs in a better order, complete with fade-ins & outs. Not cool, Charles. Darrell and I saw Hooky hanging around the mixing desk before the show, and walked over while trying to think what we could say to him. While he probably appreciated our request for "Dreams Never End", I'm sure he was more interested in chatting to the lovely girls that had congregated around him.

Throwing Muses opened, but I wasn't really into them. I was living and breathing Technique, believing it to be one of the best albums by anyone, ever. A tape or even a setlist has never emerged of this gig. Pretty sure they opened with "Touched by the Hand of God" again, as I seem to remember the sound being off. Bernard's vocals were very loud and off key (more than usual). Things improved for second track "True Faith". At that point I was gagging to hear something from the new album (or anything I'd not heard live at my first gig), and I believe they played "Dream Attack" and "Ceremony" next (but I'm not certain which order), with Gillian strapping on her guitar. They definitely play a stomping version of "Mr. Disco" (great dancing from Stephen) and also "Round & Round", but the only other Technique track I remember was final song "Fine Time". It sounded amazing live, but was a bit of an anticlimax. The two track encore had begun with Bernard sitting at Stephen's drum kit as they returned to the stage. Hooky intoned into the microphone, "As you can see, Bernard plays the drums on this track". Stephen then kicked off "Blue Monday" and the crowd went apeshit. Bernard just sat at the drums until it was time to sing, a silly grin on his face. Fantastic. NotSantaBarbaraSetlist

3. 1989-6-16 Irvine (Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre) The last time I'll mention Katherine. She had moved to Sherman Oaks, and I stayed at her place before we drove in heavy traffic to the venue. It was the second U.S. leg of the Technique tour, and much of this traffic was for this higher profile outing featuing Sugarcubes and Public Image LTD as support. We missed most of the Sugarcubes set but heard it from the parking lot on the way in. P.I.L. did a great set, but I was still putting New Order far above any other act, seeking out every track I could find on CD from them and Joy Division, and buying vinyl when a digital release wasn't available.

New Order's set kicked off with "Ceremony", dedicated to the Bunnymen's Pete de Freitas, who had just been killed in a motorcycle accident. The show had a somber tone, despite the crowd being totally up and loud as fuck. I later learned that this was the first gig they'd played after a group meeting where Bernard had demanded they take a break from each other. It's been said Barnard later complained about the traffic on the way to the gig and someone had to explain it was due to so many fans on their way to see them. I can understand Hooky's disappointment and frustration over this situation. The gig definitely wasn't a total downer, thanks to a rousing setlist. Although they did try to add some gravitas with the first encore track "All Day Long", which hadn't been played in a while. The second, and final song of the encore was again "Fine Time", but its party vibe felt strange after ADL. IrvineSetlist

4. 1993-7-24 Mountain View (Shoreline Amphitheatre) After a long wait, New Order finally were returning to the States! But the excitement was short-lived as I was pretty disappointed (!), by the lukewarm Republic, much preferring Electronic's output. I went with my friend/bandmate Vince and girlfriend Margaret, who wasn't a big fan but loved dancing. Keeping an eye out for anyone at the mixing desk, I noticed Rob Gretton there, chomping on a cigar. No doubt pleased he had secured the band's services for another lucrative tour, I got his attention by calling his name and letting him know he was doing a great job. He gave me a smile back, teeth still clenched around that cigar, but didn't reply. 808 State supported, but the seats were relatively empty for their set. It seemed half the venue were standing around socialising or waiting in lines for beer, food and merch.

The gig started off after the group walked on to the P.A. playing Elektric Music's "TV". "Ruined in a Day" set the tone for the show. While they only played four tracks from their latest, lackluster LP, its troubled production wasn't the only indication that the group's relationships were strained. It was difficult to understand how a gig featuring some of their best tunes was so downbeat, even compared to my previous gig that had been dedicated to a lost friend of theirs. But they really just seemed to be soldiering through it. I can appreciate that fans coming into loving the band at the time of Republic hold it in greater esteem (I have a special feeling for Low-Life for the same reason), but it's a good thing the group stopped again after that short 13 date tour. It was clear that no one was particularly happy. Except for Rob, of course.

By the way, Margaret loved the gig, and was baffled by the critical discussions between Vince and I on the way home. MountainViewSetlist

5. 1993-7-26 Hollywood (Hollywood Bowl) Two days later, Margaret and I were down in southern California for the next gig. Thanks to a phone call from the owner of the independent record store I was now working at, New Order's stateside manager, Tom Atencio had offered up two choice boxseat tickets to me! I was really hoping the Mountain View gig was a blip on the radar of gigs over the years that I'd heard could be hit or miss from the band. 808 State and local heroes X were the support, and both were received enthusiastically. New Order returned to the stage (I don't recall any walk-on music) and proceeded to do the exact same set in the exact same order as their previous gig. Margaret began to understand my disappointment after having heard me rave about previous gig I'd attended. But we still enjoyed the dancing and she pointed out the lighting was tremendously impressive compared to other gigs she'd seen (Andrew Liddle saves the day). Literally the only things I can think of that made this gig distinctive to the previous one were the lovely atmosphere of the Hollywood Bowl and the fact that Hooky had imbibed so much that by the end of the set he was slurring his words. I did notice Rob Gretton out and about again, but this time after the gig had finished. He was walking up the steps towards the top of the venue, no doubt pleased that he'd orchestrated another tour against all odds. I wanted to approached him, but unfortunately couldn't think of anything positive to say. Sadly, I'd never get another chance. HollywoodSetlist

tbc...

Had to take a break. Apologies for all the exposition!

That’s one hell of memoirs, Andy![eek2] Epic post.

...continued (I will try to be more brief from here on).

6. 2001-7-31 Mountain View (Shoreline Amphitheatre) After another long break from touring the U.S., New Order was returning as part of Moby's Area: One Festival. I much preferred Get Ready to Republic, so knew I couldn't miss this tour. I was now living with a girlfriend of 5 years, Theresa, in Charleston, South Carolina (though we'd met in California. I knew she was right for me early on when, still living with her parents well into her twenties, she related over a phonecall "I wish I had a place I could call my own" and I continued "Have a conversation on the telephone". Once she replied "New Order". Things were on). The move to the East/Southern part of the country was an ill-fated attempt on her part to reconnect with a sister who lived in nearby Mount Pleasant, SC. They had plans to start up a wine retailing business, and I went along for the ride, packing my belongings (which at this point included about 3,000 compact discs, at least 200 of which were New Order bootlegs). Their plans never materialised, so after a year on the east coast, our return to California was orgainized to occur between a Depeche Mode gig in Atlanta, Georgia in early July and the New Order gig in Mountain View, California at the end of the month. Priorities. I honestly wasn't particularly interested in the festival. Outkast were the only other act I really liked. Moby was alright, but we left in the middle of his set to beat traffic.

The new look New Order with Phil Cunningham (and for this tour only, Billy Corgan) was a different animal. They seemed more a bit more businesslike but the atmosphere (that song was the set opener, actually) of the gig was more loose and easygoing than the downbeat Republic dates. As it seemed after Electronic and Monaco were put to bed, Bernard and Hooky appeared determined to make things work with New Order. It was Theresa's first New Order gig, so I was annoyed about the sound mix not being up to scratch, but the gig was a step in the right direction compared to the experiences in 1993. Though I don't follow them anymore, I did like The Smashing Pumpkins back then. But Billy's inclusion was really only needed for "Turn My Way". He really seemed at a loss for what he should be doing during "Blue Monday", for instance. But I suppose it was better than dragging Bobby Gillespie around and playing "Rock the Shack". MountainViewSetlist

7. 2005-4-29 Oakland (Henry J. Kaiser Convention Center) A far-flung satellite gig before their first Coachella appearance. The festival imposes restrictions on how near by distance and time a booked act can make other appearances. The drive from this venue to Coachella is over 500 miles, so perhaps my plan to drive overnight between the two was ill-advised, but Theresa was (initially) up for it. Having The Chemical Brothers as support was fantastic as they were one of my favourite electronic acts to emerge in the recent years, and their gigs never disappoint. This gig seemed to continue the upward trajectory of improvement over the lowlight of 1993. Though the structure of the setlists was starting to go in the all too familiar direction we've now grown to tire of, the injection of Waiting for the Sirens' Call tracks masked the complacency. The Joy Division tracks weren't quite as well-worn, either. This was an outstanding gig but was unfortunately not without jeopardy. Barney sprained his ankle while dancing to "Bizarre Love Triangle", and had to have it wrapped up for the next gig at Coachella. Also, during the encore, Bernard broke into a brief a capella rendition of "San Francisco" by Scott McKenzie. They would later revisit this song in a full cover as the final encore of their 2014 performance at San Francisco's Bill Graham Civic Auditorium.

With me being more active on this site, this gig was the first time I'd decided to make an attempt to meet some of the legendary Vikings. I arrived too late for a meetup before the gig, but recognized Tour Manager Andy Robinson with a gang of people in the foyer after the gig. Security was trying to herd everyone out, but I did finally meet JG, Al and LeggyD for the first time. I believe Norbert was there as well, but we have a long standing tradition of me recognizing him, but not being sure if he recognizes me, so I never say anything to him. As for Andy Rob, I didn't talk to him, but noticed him giving Theresa an Elevator Ride, which was amusing. OaklandSetlist

8. 2005-5-1 Indio (Coachella Festival) After an overnight drive from Oakland, We arrived to Coachella late in the day after sleeping well past noon. Fortunately, New Order weren't on until the second day of the Festival (back then, it was only a two day event, not repeated the following weekend). The festival seemed pretty stacked considering it was only Saturday and Sunday compared to now, as what's currently popular is less likely to interest me. But in 2005, to think that U.N.K.L.E., The Chemical Brothers, The Prodigy, Arcade Fire, Mercury Rev, Spoon, Wilco, Weezer, Coldplay, Gang of Four, Bauhaus, Nine Inch Nails and New Order (and many more!) were all at the same festival is pretty wild. Unfortunately, New Order weren't topping the bill, so their set time was so short, they couldn't include "Temptation". This really made the show seem incomplete to me. Also, every track (bar opener "Atmosphere") had been played in Oakland, so the other acts are really the only reason I felt attending was worthwhile. And Bernard's wrapped foot? He explained away the injury to the crowd as having come from being bitten by a shark while he was surfing. CoachellaSetlist

tbc...

Brilliant!

...continued. (Clearly I've not been trying hard enough to be brief.)

9. 2012-10-5 Oakland (Fox Theatre) My first chance to see them after they'd reformed the previous year (without the dearly departed Hooky, but at that point, it was either no Hooky or no New Order). We now had young buck Tom Chapman (or Chappy, as no one ever calls him) and the welcome return of Gillian Gilbert (or Mrs. Stephen Paul David Morris, as no one ever calls her). A bar near the venue hosted the pre-gig meetup and I met a few more uberfans (hello 50poundnote). Friendly Viking JG offered to introduce me to Andy Robinson at the gig, but JG was already smashed from the pre-gig festivities and introduced me as "the biggest New Order fan in L.A. (I've never lived there). I then made the awkward encounter worse by relating what I'd told Rob Gretton about doing a great job for giving me a chance to see the band in 1993, and the same was true for Andy. He was not impressed.

Opening act Run Run Run was good, but i wasn't really engaged. I was just excited to see New Order again after another lengthy gap. Hey, maybe Reading 1993 was far better than the two 1993 gigs I attended, but I definitely feel that for me, gigwise 2012>2005>2001>1993. While again, the setlist structure was solidifying, three Joy Division tracks was just about ok when the new rendition of "Isolation" was so great. Also at this gig, we got "Close Range", "Here to Stay" and the retooled "586", which I'd never experienced live. Also, Mr. Liddle was still finding new tricks to enhance the show. A fantastice gig. OaklandSetlist

10. 2013-4-18 Santa Barbara (County Bowl) A return to the gorgeous site of that magical gig from the first leg or the Technique tour. They'd spent some money upgrading the site so it was even more lovely than I'd remembered (Google It!). This was also a satellite gig for that year's Coachella, But I wasn't going to bother with that Festival ever again. And Johnny Marr was on hand to kick off the gig. He always puts on a solid show but never seems to pack the emotional punch that can be achieved by Morrissey and his band performing those classics from The Smiths. I hate to say it, but it's true. But this was another good New Order gig, but not necessarily any better than the previous year's Oakland show. The visuals weren't much different and the setlist was starting to stagnate. "Age of Consent" was great to have back but didn't have the same energy as it did in the eighties (key and tempo downgrades can do that). "I'll Stay With You" and "World" were in the set but neither have ever been to my taste. The former was obviously there to promote Lost Sirens, but just sounds to me like a weak cousin of "Regret" mashed up with "Here to Stay". But I was beginning to understand the Vikings more. It's not necessarily about the differences of the gigs. It's about enjoying the experiences and camaraderie that go along with them. SantaBarbaraSetlist

11. 2014-7-11 San Francisco (Bill Graham Civic Auditorium) Unfortunately, I didn't attend a meetup, as now longtime girlfriend Theresa had to work that day. I believe we even missed most of La Roux's set as we opted to eat somewhere other than the venue. But there was excitement surrounding this gig as a couple of weeks earlier the band had started to debut brand new tracks. "Singularity" and "Plastic" definitely invigorated the tired structure of the setlist, as did "Californian Grass", to a much lesser extent. I put "Singularity" in my top 20 New Order tracks of all time. Despite it being flogged at nearly every gig from 2014 to the Euro tour of 2019, I would welcome it back to the set. "Plastic", which I've heard rightfully described as "weapons grade" electronic music, sounds fantastic live but really needed a stronger chorus, in my opinion. It really is in that fine New Order tradition of taking a form of dance music and running with it, though. No different than "586", "Blue Monday", "Confusion", "Fine Time", etc. The great surprise of the night was definitely an extra encore in the form of "San Francisco" by Scott McKenzie. Though not a complex track, I'm still baffled by how well rehearsed it was, considering it would never be performed again. SanFranciscoSetlist

tbc...

American Saga continues…

2012-02-27 Vector Arena Auckland, NZ

The only one.

I managed to tape it, but bad quality unfortunately.

And I got a merch t-shirt.

OT: How do I upload an image here?

Here’s my list of gigs, 51 might seem a lot, probably a good number to stop on, only just realised that! but it’s nothing compared to Alex, Kev, John and Rog, the guys I used to go with, theirs will be well over 100, I’d have thought!

Wythenshawe would have been gig 52, but my wife had already got tickets for Peter Kay at the AO arena in Manchester, never mind!

It’s New Order by numbers nowadays, I miss the gigs where the equipment failed and Barney made up different lyrics!

I taped most of the gigs from Blackburn 85 up to 89 with some successful results and some mediocre!

1. Manchester Haçienda July 20, 1983
2. Bradford Caesar’s Palace March 19, 1984
3. Cornwall Coliseum, St Austell August 23, 1984
4. Blackburn King George’s Hall, January 26, 1985
5. Leeds Tiffany’s January 27, 1985
6. Salford University April 17, 1985
7. Doncaster Rotters April 18, 1985
8. Macclesfield Leisure Centre April 19, 1985
9. Manchester Haçienda July 16, 1985
10. Preston Guild Hall, October 22, 1985
11. Sheffield Octagon Centre, October 26, 1985 12.Manchester Haçienda 1st, December 3, 1985
12. Manchester Haçienda 2nd, December 3, 1985
13. Liverpool Royal Court Theatre, February 8, 1986
14. Manchester Festival of the 10th Summer July 19, 1986
15. Newcastle Mayfair September 10, 1986
16. Edinburgh Playhouse, September 11, 1986
17. Glasgow Barrowland, September 12, 1986
18. Dundee Caird Hall, September 13, 1986
19. Birmingham Tower Ballroom, October 2, 1986
20. Malvern Winter Gardens, October 3, 1986
21. Manchester Haçienda, October 13, 1986
22. London Finsbury Park, June 6, 1987
23. Sheffield Roxy, June 8, 1987
24. Glasgow Barrowland, June 9, 1987
25. Manchester Haçienda, June 10, 1987
26. Reading University June 30, 1987
27. London Wembley Arena, December 10, 1987
28. Manchester G-MEX, December 17, 1988
29. Montpellier Zénith, January 20, 1989
30. Lyon Le Transbordeur, January 21, 1989
31. Brixton Academy, London February 26, 1989 (Big World Cafe recording)
32. Glasgow SECC March 25, 1989
33. Birmingham NEC, March 26, 1989
34. Reading Festival August 25, 1989
35. Manchester Apollo, July 16, 1998
36. Liverpool Olympia, July 18, 2001
37. Manchester Apollo, October 4, 2001
38. Manchester Apollo, October 5, 2001
39. Glasgow Barrowland, October 7, 2001
40. Glasgow Barrowland, October 8, 2001
41. Paris Olympia, November 11, 2001
42. Paris Olympia, November 12, 2001
43. Manchester Apollo, November 14, 2005
44. Liverpool Big Top Arena, July 8, 2006
45. Blackpool Empress Ballroom, October 16, 2006
46. Manchester Apollo, April 26, 2012
47. Liverpool Olympia, November 21, 2015
48. Manchester Warehouse Project, December 6, 2015
49. Manchester Castlefield Bowl, July 9, 2016
50. Manchester International Festival 2017 June 29, 2017

A good read, your gigs, Andy. Great stuff.

And lazlo 2, that's quite a list. Some crackers there.

I’m glad you caught New Order live even just for once, chronovisor.

And lazlo 2, that’s a whopping great list, so impressive.

That being said…

The difference between 0 and 1 is bigger than between 1 and 51.

Manchester Apollo 98 (My long overdue debut, front row, crushed to bits, best night ever.) Manchester Albert Square Sept 98 (Commonwealth Hand-over, Temptation only) Reading Festival August 98 Manchester MEN Arena Dec 98 Ally Pally Dec 98 Liverpool Olympia 2001 Old Trafford (Move Festival) 2002 Finsbury Park 2002 Blackpool Oct 2006 Liverpool Olympia 2015 Manchester (Castlefield Bowl) 2016 Manchester (Granada MIF17) 2017 Bluedot Festival Jodrell Bank July 2019 Manchester (Heaton Park) 2021

Only 'Side-Project' I've seen is Monaco: kinda by default at R98 and again at Manchester Uni in 2000 (had a few drinks with Peter Hook & Twinny before the gig.)

lazlo 2 wrote:

I miss the gigs where the equipment failed and Barney made up different lyrics! I taped most of the gigs from Blackburn 85 up to 89 with some successful results and some mediocre! 23. London Finsbury Park, June 6, 1987

Did you use to trade live tapes? I've got the Finsbury Park tape and someone saying "this is a Lazlo production"

NotAMod wrote:

08/07/2006 Summer Pops, Liverpool

10/08/2012 Olympic Closing Ceremony Concert, Hyde Park, London

Over the decades I've bought tickets for at least 4 or 5 New Order shows which got binned for various reasons, all of which seemed very important at the time but those reasons have since faded into the mists of time. Of them all, I really wish I'd done Reading '98 in the end, which would've been my first proper gig. I made tape copies of the Radio 1 FM feed when it was being transmitted, which was the closest I got. I had tickets for Wythenshawe 2 weeks ago but to be honest, aside from the monetary loss, I wasn't too fussed as the live show looked to be identical to what I saw in 2023 (bar Nothing But A Fool).

Difficult to pick a favourite as all of them have such memories attached. Conversely, I really didn't enjoy Summer Pops in Liverpool because the venue was shit and some members security staff policing it (a seated gig) were arseholes. Least favourite for sure, but not the band's fault. From memory, Hooky valiantly told the security to get their act together.

Ah, the Hyde Park 2012 Olympics Closing Concert, i did attend that but had forgotten when i posted my list. Knew there'd be one or two i forgot to list. I actually left before the headliners Blur. Wasn't fussed about seeing them and wanted to catch last train home without any panic.

The Liverpool Summer Pops gig, July 2006. Can't remember if i really enjoyed that one. Obviously not if i can't remember. Only thing i really recall was Hooky raging at security because they wouldn't let people get out of their seats and dance. Think Rocket Mick even got ejected for dancing.

I guess a couple of my regrets are , as i mentioned in previous post, my friend and i being refused entry because underage for the Birmingham Powerhouse gig June 1984. I was only 15 and it was over 18s only. Was devastated as had been looking forward to what would have been my first ever New Order gig. There was nothing on the tickets about age restrictions.

Another regret was not getting a ticket for the Hammersmith Palais gig Nov 1985. Sent off a cheque in the post for 2 tickets but got a letter and the cheque back telling me it had sold out. I guess i could have still gone along and got a ticket from a tout or something but i was a bit too young still maybe in those days to take the gamble of going all the way down to Hammersmith without.

Also regret having to leave the Birmingham Tower Ballroom Oct 86 gig halfway through. Missed all the fun later on!

Ah well, you win some you lose some.

Some great lists here!

I also bought a ticket for a gig I didn't end up going to:

06/11/2021 The O2 Arena, London

Think that was the one that was delayed by a year due to Covid, wasn't it?

Although I'd done the trip to London for the Ally Pally gig three years previous (*), I really didn't fancy that whole ball-ache/expense of getting to London again; long train journey, finding accommodation, catching the Tube etc. So, I just decided to give it a miss. Can't say I really regret not going. Kind of wish I'd not paid for the ticket though, which is a regret.

Incidentally, I also lost money on the Ally Pally gig as decided to buy 2 tickets, hoping I could persuade a mate. I couldn't, so flogged the extra one to a tout. Got about half face value. Oh well, you live and learn.

Crikey, was Ally Pally almost 6 years ago? Feels like 3 years, tops.

tapebias wrote:

lazlo 2 wrote:

I miss the gigs where the equipment failed and Barney made up different lyrics! I taped most of the gigs from Blackburn 85 up to 89 with some successful results and some mediocre! 23. London Finsbury Park, June 6, 1987

Did you use to trade live tapes? I've got the Finsbury Park tape and someone saying "this is a Lazlo production"

Yes, that’ll be one of mine!

lazlo 2 wrote: Here’s my list of gigs, 51 might seem a lot, probably a good number to stop on, only just realised that! but it’s nothing compared to Alex, Kev, John and Rog, the guys I used to go with, theirs will be well over 100, I’d have thought.

Are these people forum members here and posting under monikers? Or did they stop going to gigs and leave fandom?

The Japanese One wrote:

lazlo 2 wrote: Here’s my list of gigs, 51 might seem a lot, probably a good number to stop on, only just realised that! but it’s nothing compared to Alex, Kev, John and Rog, the guys I used to go with, theirs will be well over 100, I’d have thought.

Are these people forum members here and posting under monikers? Or did they stop going to gigs and leave fandom?

Alex probably is a member, if there are any Vikings members here, I would have thought that they would know him, I doubt that the other 3 are members though. They still go to gigs, I know Kev went to Wythenshawe last week, not seen the other 2 in quite a while.

lazlo 2 wrote:

The Japanese One wrote:

lazlo 2 wrote: Here’s my list of gigs, 51 might seem a lot, probably a good number to stop on, only just realised that! but it’s nothing compared to Alex, Kev, John and Rog, the guys I used to go with, theirs will be well over 100, I’d have thought.

Are these people forum members here and posting under monikers? Or did they stop going to gigs and leave fandom?

Alex probably is a member, if there are any Vikings members here, I would have thought that they would know him, I doubt that the other 3 are members though. They still go to gigs, I know Kev went to Wythenshawe last week, not seen the other 2 in quite a while.

Hi thanks.

Your post also reminds me of Dec Hickey and the “Bedford New Order Clan”. I wonder how many of them are still around and active as fans.

I met Dec in 2017 and had a chat at a pub. He told me that he had seen New Order live around 100 times, many of which in their heyday through the 80s. Didn’t seem to bother about catching their show any more, though.

lazlo 2 wrote:

tapebias wrote:

lazlo 2 wrote:

I miss the gigs where the equipment failed and Barney made up different lyrics! I taped most of the gigs from Blackburn 85 up to 89 with some successful results and some mediocre! 23. London Finsbury Park, June 6, 1987

Did you use to trade live tapes? I've got the Finsbury Park tape and someone saying "this is a Lazlo production"

Yes, that’ll be one of mine!

Cheers! What's your best and or/favourite tape?

tapebias wrote:

lazlo 2 wrote:

tapebias wrote:

lazlo 2 wrote:

I miss the gigs where the equipment failed and Barney made up different lyrics! I taped most of the gigs from Blackburn 85 up to 89 with some successful results and some mediocre! 23. London Finsbury Park, June 6, 1987

Did you use to trade live tapes? I've got the Finsbury Park tape and someone saying "this is a Lazlo production"

Yes, that’ll be one of mine!

Cheers! What's your best and or/favourite tape?

Probably the one I listen to the most, not one of my recordings, Mcr Hacienda 20/7/1983, epic version of Thieves Like Us.

Great post with all the stories from gigs far and wide, old and recent. Been lucky enough to have seen them 44 times since Brixton Academy in 1983 up to Leeds Arena last year. I started out hitch-hiking to gigs as a teenager and sleeping on railway station benches and ended up flying abroad and staying in over-priced hotels, funny ol' world. Here are some selected high and lowlights;

Best gig – Bradford Caesars 1984 Worst gig – London O2 2021 Most raucous atmosphere – Sheffield Roxy 1987 (those that were there will know) Best post-Hooky gig – Manchester MIF 2017 Most packed – London Heaven 1984 Weirdest incident – Slim The Roadie coming on stage to sing Love Reaction / Blue Monday, Brixton Academy 1983 (or the palm trees at Birmingham Tower Ballroom or the mass “Happy Birthday” to Gillian at Leeds Tiffanys!?) Celebrity spot – Arthur Baker, Bad Lieutenant London Heaven 2009 Best JD song – Warsaw, London Queen Elizabeth Hall 2005 Worst JD song – LWTUA during the Barney “c’mon” years

Daws wrote: Worst JD song – LWTUA during the Barney “c’mon” years

Yeah, it’s not an anthem is it?

Is the well drying up now? Some folks here may have been to their gigs so many times that they can’t remember them all, dates, places, venues, whatever. Incomplete lists would do if at all possible.

In the meantime, from my recollection —

First time I saw New Order live, Koseinenkin Kaikan, Osaka, May 4, 1985, the main set closer was the then unreleased As It Is When It Was. As he finished all the singing part, Barney turned to the drums, gripping the neck of the Stratocaster with one hand, tossed it against the cymbals in a vicious manner, kicked the guitar body with his knee, and then walked off sulkily. We were gobsmacked. Apparently he didn’t like something. The other members followed, and while Talking Heads’ Burning Down The House was played through the PA, we kept clapping hands for an encore in a dampened mood. After a rather long pause, they returned to the stage and launched into Temptation. Barney, saying nothing other than singing, left the stage without waiting for the end of the song.

The floor of the 2,400 seater was about 85% full, but when they came back to the same venue two years after, I recognized it was less than half full to say the most. I wondered if the group’s non-interacting, non-committal attitude to the audience on their first visit may have resulted in a poor draw the second time around.

Despite the meagre attendance, Osaka 1987 was a hot show and one of the most memorable for me like I posted upthread. Temperamental artists they were back then. And that was New Order for you.

Trying to recall about the Sheffield Roxy gig 8th June 1987. The nightclub venue was above a multi storey car park or something? Once i'd queued and got in i vaguely recall some fans saying all 4 members of New Order had walked past the queue outside and even stopped to chat and sign autographs. I never saw them myself but who knows.

Recall Beastie Boys' 'No Sleep Til Brooklyn ( i think, was that track released before June 87?) getting played over the PA half hour or so before and a load of Northern lads much cooler and better dancers than me throwing some admirable moves. There was then a support band with a girl singing but i've long forgotten their name.

I recall the Roxy nightclub had a balcony on three sides overlooking the stage but i took a position downstairs towards the back of the dancefloor. Guess i must have downed a few pints even before the start. NO came on and TPK was the first song if i recall correctly ( damn i've actually got the boot cassette somewhere still in my attic). Memory very vague now, so many years on but fuzzy memory of the dancefloor being utter madness, a whole moshpit. BLT and Barney doing that weird thing with his right arm he often did around that era. I remember Do The Ostrich at the end (encore?) and it pummeling on, seemingly forever and me asking people what the fuck is this song? At the end i seem to recall Gillian was the last to leave the stage and i and many others repeatedly shouting her name. Did she give us a wave finally as she eventually left? Possibly.Stumbled out into the Sheffiled June night, dazed but elated. I wandered towards Sheffield train station but knew i'd missed the last train.

I recall slumping down near the station thinking, fuck, i've got hours now to wait til the first train in the morning. But a short while later 3 or 4 New Order fans came along. They recognised my face from the moshpit and we got talking. They'd missed their last train too but they didn't live so far away, Chesterfield, about 12 miles away.We decided, instead of trying to sleep outside Sheffield station, to walk the 12 miles to Chesterfield. What? !! Yeah, i know. But it was a better option. I could get breakfast at one of the lads' house then catch the train from Chesterfield back to the Midlands in the morning. So that's what we did. Took us hours but it went ok as we exchanged stories and opinions on New Order, life and the universe. Finally got to this lad's place in Chesterfield around dawn, downed a few brews and then thanked & bade my farewells and set off to Chesterfield train station and got a train home. I didn't keep in contact with those 3 (4?) fans, unfortunately and never saw them again at a gig. If any of them reading this then a big hello if yer remember me.

Fotz wrote: Trying to recall about the Sheffield Roxy gig 8th June 1987. Finally got to this lad's place in Chesterfield around dawn, downed a few brews and then thanked & bade my farewells and set off to Chesterfield train station and got a train home. I didn't keep in contact with those 3 (4?) fans, unfortunately and never saw them again at a gig. If any of them reading this then a big hello if yer remember me.

Great stuff. On a similar Sheffield note, we went to the City Hall 1986, Anti-Apartheid concert. First up, our Salford/Macc heroes and if I remember, the most out of tune synths in STYT opener. Played a short set then Billy Bragg next then the London Gospel Choir. So after 3 hrs of music I thought it a good idea to go downstairs to the Ballroom to watch Cabaret Voltaire at their full industrial peak. Probably lasted an hour then remembered we had the van and were a long way from home so drove 10 miles outside Sheff and parked on a grassy knoll. It rained overnight so our spot was swamped and had to flag down a tractor in the morning to tow us out, so thanks to the Yorkshire farmer - they're not all bad. lol.

Other random gig memories. I went with my brother and a mate to Reading 98. Just drove down and attended the Sunday of that year's festival. This was many years before it became the Reading and Leeds festival it is these days that is frequented by school leavers celebrating their exam results.I'd been to New Order at Reading 93 , again just for the Sunday, but we had tickets that we could use for the Sunday at 98 because we were allowed entry with the ticket for the cancelled Phoenix festival near Stratford Upon Avon. It was a dissapointment the previous month's Phoenix fest was cancelled as it wasn't far from where we lived.

Anyway. The Reading festival site is probably the worst location of all festivals i've ever been to. It's basically in the middle of an industrial estate.

On the afternoon there were a LOT of New Order fans in Recycle tees. At that time it really did seem as though the Recycle CD singles box set would happen. Alas, it never did, at least not in that form.

I recall Monaco performing in the afternoon but they didn't do much for me or my brother and mate either. "They're like a crap New Order reserve side" my brother remarked. Ouch.

Excitement built throughout the late afternoon and into early evening.Many trips to the bar for overpriced crap lager but we were all getting into the mood.In one of the Marquees I recall us watching Theaudience, then fronted by a very young Sophie Ellix Bextor! One or two tunes i did quite like.

New Order finally appeared on the main stage around ... well i don't recall what time now but it was gone sunset so it can't have been too early. Garbage were actually the headliners after NO so they must have played really quite late.

I remember Barney's "Hello! We're New Order, you're the audience, let's rock the fucking house!" then storming into Regret.That field went crazy right from the off. We were quite a way back but i think it was the second or third song, Ceremony, i decided fuck this and i said to my brother and mate see yer later i'm getting down the front and somehow managed to get through the crowd to to near stage front.I think the thing with New Order at Reading 98 is it was a release of pent up frustration of waiting for 5 long years of no new music or gigs from the band and all the will they/won't they ever get back together or perform live again. We'd had to tolerate all things Britpop throughout the mid 90s.

The Joy Divvision songs in the set like Isolation and Heart & Soul sounded fantastic, partly because they'd been reworked and partly because they were the first time i think i'd seen New Order play them. True Faith was a revelation because it was also the first time i'd witnessed live the version based on the Perfecto Mix. Think the same with BLT? First time live version based more on the Pettibone 12" remix? Was it the July 98 Manc Apollo gig ( which i hadn't attended or even been aware of til after the event) and Reading 98 the first times they'd done those live versions of the remixes? Guess it must have been. Temptation was its colossal juggernaut of a live version as always. Then i think it was during first song of the encore, Blue Monday, that some kind of big cloaked box was manoeuvred onto stage or was it already there at start of encore? Not sure.From where i was near the front during Blue Monday i could see Gillian was giggling and looking at the box, i figured someone was in there fooling around. I think i'd read a rumour or heard, can't recall now that World In Motion was going to get played live for the first time. Before the cloak dropped from the big mysterious box i think i'd figured out it would be Keith Allen and he'd be guesting on WIM. Sure enough it turned out i was correct. Keith Allen emerged from the box and World In Motion began.Allen gurning and goofing around the stage and the crowd fairly delirious by this point. And then it was all over. Think i spotted Tony Wilson side of stage right at the end.

What a night, it was a million times more ecstatic than i've put in words there. My descriptive capabilities in the written word pale in comparison to what that night was actually like seeing New Order live again after those 5 long 90s years.

Somehow, afterwards i found my brother and mate. We got a last pint or two and tried watching headliners Garbage for a while but i just couldn't get into them. Strange, because i did actually like Garbage and Shirley Manson around that era, had bought a couple of their albums. But we wandered off after a few songs.

Finally we headed back to my car sometime early hours to try get some sleep. After an hour or two though we awoke to a steward banging on the windows. He was yelling that we had to get out of the car and run immediately. There was a vast, sprawling haystack near the car park and it had caught fire.We ended up wandering around the festival site, freezing cold til dawn when the haystack fire was eventually put out and made safe. We did actually then manage to get some sleep finally in the car before hitting the road for the journey home around midday.

That night, back at home, flicking through MTV, they aired a video clip of the performance of True Faith from the night before.So a nice end to the weekend. I managed to record a repeat of the clip the, i think, next night.

I did see New Order again later that year, the MEN Arena show just after Christmas but it was nowhere near the dizzy, ecstatic heights of that Reading festival night.

Lots of great stuff on this thread! Here’s mine:

Reading 1993 Reading 1998 Alexandra Palace 1998 Brixton Academy 2001 Move Old Trafford 2002 Hyde Park 2005 Brixton Academy 2005 Bournemouth 2006 Wembley Arena 2006 Brixton Academy 2012 Brixton Academy 2015 Alexandra Palace 2018 Victorious Portsmouth 2019 Wythenshawe Park 2024

Only side projects were like many Monaco Reading 1998 😀 and Peter Hook & The Light Sub 89 Reading 2013.

...continued.

12. 2016.3.19 Los Angeles (Shrine Auditorium) I was very excited for this gig as it was my first since the release of Music Complete (their only U.S.appearance in 2015 had been at the Day for Night Fest in Texas). I was hoping for a reenergized set with the inclusion of more new tracks. They indeed performed 6 tracks from their new (-ish by this point) album, which was generous. But I'd already seen them do "Singularity" and "Plastic" in 2014. "Academic" and "Restless" remain great tracks, and I was delighted to hear them live, but they are never going to be received as strongly live as some of the classics they supplanted. While I'm totally fine with that, I could see how people that hadn't been to previous gigs would be disappointed by them not playing tracks x, y or z. Also new for me were "Tutti Frutti" and "People on the High Line", the pleasure of seeing them play something new overshadowing my discomfort with so many prerecording vocals wafting out of the P.A. (the opinion on this has definitely shifted over the years). But alas, the structure of the set (a bit mix-n-match towords the early part with electro bangers always at the end of the main set and a JD encore) remained unchanged. But "Singularity" and "Temptation" were certainly bookends that are tough to beat. I remember it was very enjoyable at the time, but in retrospect, these static setlists make the gigs less memorable as there isn't enough variety to distinguish them from each other.

DJ Whitney Fierce and Run, Run, Run were the support but I believe I only saw a bit of the latter as longtime girlfriend Theresa and I were mingling in the enormous lobby area (The Shrine is where many of the Gala events in the U.S. are held such as the Academy Awards, Grammy Awards, etc). I distinctly recall running into FAC51 (local Steve and his wife Kelly) and the venerable JG. Norbert was possibly also looming around. Theresa had been less enthusiastic about the 5 hour drive down to L.A. for the gig with a return trip the following day to accomodate our work schedules. I was up to meet with the Vikings after the gig, but she wasn't, and I opted instead to accompany my grumpy gal back to our hotel. We stayed together another 3+ years, but the drifting apart had already begun. Anyhoo!: LosAngelesSetlistLosAngelesSetlist

13. 2017.4.21 Berkeley (Greek Theatre) Thirty years on from my first New Order gig at this very same venue, and I was back. The atmosphere of the Greek was still fantastic. Two new song experiences for me were "Superheated" and a powerful version of "Decades" (Theresa even commented on the emotional impact of Joy Division track afterwards, not being as familiar with JD's work as NO). I say afterwards because I went down towards the front without her and found a spot next to Viking, Dr. NO (aka Rocky) and adjacent to Norbert. Rocky and I agreed that we shouldn't try to move further towards the middle as it would introduce the possibility of being behind the big man, which would be suboptimal. However, this was my first expericence being near the enthusiastic Doctor. When the songs started kicking in, his passion was infectious, but (and I hope he's not reading this because I've mentioned it to him several times) he's essentially a one man moshpit, where no neighboring people's toes are safe. While it's getting redundant to mention the setlist structure, on a positive note, 17-18 songs per set is much more than you'd get in the old days. And I hadn't felt like I wasn't getting my money's worth. BerkeleySetlist

14. 2017.9.18 Hollywood (Hollywood Bowl) A few months later in 2017 and 24 years after seeing the soul destroying nadir of New Order concerts here 1993, I was back in one of the most beautiful venues in California (either this or the Santa Barbara Bowl ranks tops for me). I traveled to this gig alone. Between the 5 hour drive, and the fact Theresa doesn't like Los Angeles (despite the size of the city, she's one of the few people I've met that have lived and was actually born there), I decided not to bother convincing her to go with me. Thankfully, the MIF gigs were still at this point having an influence on setlists. I was thrilled to hear "Disorder" early in the set, with "Ultraviolence" following it. I appreciated that they weren't just phoning it in with the hits for the L.A. crowd. Even a track from the usually ignored Technique appeared with the "Bizarre Love Triangle" segue into "Vanishing Point". Another vivid highlight was the enormous roar of the crowd once they recognized the intro to "Sub-Culture". It was epic. This was probably my favourite concert (so far?) of the current lineup and 19 tracks was quite generous. Also, Goldfrapp were the support. Great concert and experience all around. I still owe FAC51 a meal after being treated to tacos by him before the gig. HollywoodSetlist

15. 2018.9.29 Long Beach (Music Tastes Good Festival on the Marina Green) An interesting festival purporting to blend the best of music and food. And the Long Beach coastline is a lovely destination (the Queen Mary was just across the harbour). The decent lineup also featured another favourite group of mine, The Church, performing their 1988 album Starfish. Theresa was even up for it. It was, however, our last New Order gig together (we broke up in 2019 after over 20 years together). The group did not disappoint. They were on top form but unfortunately only had time to perform an 11 song set. Leave 'em wanting more, I guess. LongBeachSetlist

I believe they only came to the U.S. once the following year, for one gig on the east coast (Miami, Florida), discounting the Tibet House appearance. They also returned to Miami for a 4 gig residence in early 2020 that I was so very close to booking. I still regret not going considering the wait until the next opportunity.

tbc...

^Great stuff, Andy.

Another favourite of mine was Brixton Academy 10th November 2005. No great stories about getting to and home from the gig but it was simply just a bloody great night.From Alan Wise's "Ladies and Gentlemen i give you... The Four Tops!" intro to the very end and Barney's "Joy Division New Order Forever! Get that tattooed on yer arse!" . A rainy, November night in London town but a LOT of fun down the front in the moshpit. Interestingly, or at least to me was that there was quite a young contingent down at the front joining in with the moshpit madness. Not just 30-40 something veteran fans but 18 year old lads and lasses getting really into the craziness.

I was at this (amongst some others that have been listed already). Only two songs. Does it count? No one else has mentioned it. It was 2005, at Ally Pally - although it's barely recognisable.

We also got Eurythmics doing Sweet Dreams - I had always wanted to see Eurythmics live but it had never happened. Apart from this. I don't think they've played anywhere or done anything together since.

Original line up of Back Sabbath did a couple as well, i think.

In terms of rare gigs, I was also at the John Peel tribute gig at Queen Elizabeth Hall in the same year.

Wow, cool you made it to that UK Music Hall Of Fame thing, D. And the John Peel gig.

I've never made it to any rare gig, i guess.

At that Hall of Fame thing, i remember that the "Go on Hooky!" from someone in the audience just before Hooky's " Fuck me, i'm famous" was actually a guy who used to post on the old NOOL forum. Recall a bit about it on the board afterwards. Can't remember the guy's name , except that he was from Stoke.

Great idea for a topic some serious hardcore fans out there.

Can’t remember exact dates

1989 NEC Birmingham 2001 Manchester Acpollo 2005 London Hyde park 2006 Blackpool empress ball room 2011 London Troxy 2012 Birmingham The Ballroom 2013 Jodrell Bank 2015 Liverpool Olympia 2015 Manchester Warehouse 2016 Manchester Castlefield bowl 2017 Manchester MIF Granada 2018 London Alexandra palace 2019 Bristol harbour side 2021 Manchester Heston Park 2021 London 02 2023 Denmark Copenhagen Royal Arena 2024 Cardiff CANCELLED Gig.

Other new order related

1990 Revenge - Derby Dial

2009 Bad Lieutenant - Manchester The Ritz 2010 Bad Lieutenant - Sheffield The Leadmill

2010 Peter Hook Derby Assembly rooms with Howard Marks

Peter Hook and the light - Joy Division

Manchester Factory club Manchester The Lowry Nottingham - Rescue Rooms Sheffield The forum Buxton Opera house

The light doing new order Movement and PC&L Manchester Cathedral Nottingham rescue rooms Buxton Opera house

The light doing lowlife brotherhood Manchester The Ritz Derby The Venue

The light doing substance Manchester The Apollo Nottingham Rock City

The light doing Technique and Republic Manchester Albert Hall

The light doing PC&L and JD closer Manchester Albert hall

Also seen t(e light support the Jesus and Mary Chain / Echo and the Bunneymen Harbourside Bristol

Been to Bernard sumner book signing

Never saw Electronic or Monaco OR The Other Two and way to young for JD.

Best gigs hard to choose. For me best gigs are a mixture of the rest of the night, who ur with, how smashed ur etc etc. Best gig for being nicely smashed and seeing NO reform with get ready Manchester in 2001. I was gutted I missed the 98 shows so this made up for it. Very raucous crowd, well it was where I was anyway.

Blackpool 2006 I / we who went had an inkling this may be the last time as rumours of the band n9t getting on. Put in an electrifying performance and Blackpool really celebrated New order being in town.

Post hooky Troxy 2011- never thought NO would get back together all be it without hooky. Never thought I hear my favourite songs again, really thought 2007 breakup was it. Great night to see them again

Jodrell Bank in 2013 as went with wife and then young daughter on a beautiful sunny day. Really special. As was the MIF in 2017. They have become a bit too predictable in recent times and last time on fire for me was Alexandra place in2018. Although it was great to see them in another country when I went to Denmark.

neatly forgot 2015 Liverpool hearing new songs again that could stand up next to their classic back catalogue

Worse gig is easy 2021 London O2 shit venue and atmosphere.

Really enjoyed BL in Sheffield as not very packed and you could wander to the front, even a quick chat and handshake with Bernard.

Seeing Revenge in Derby 1990. Hardly anyone there. Got to watch England semi final match with Hooky. Chatted with him. All too much for a then 17 year old. Hard to comprehend at the time. New order were number 1 and about 20 people watching Revenge and got meet one of my heroes.

The light many great gigs, favourite being both Buxton gigs and hearing seldom played Brotherhood songs in Manchester was special. Also seeing 2 of the best albums ever side by side; PC&L with closer in the wonderful Albert Hall in Manchester.

So many great memetories shared with some of my best friends, wife and daughter. Priceless memories.

^ Great post, Shadow.

You listed the Hooky with Howard Marks thing at Derby Asssembly , 2010. Reminded me i did attend one of those . Some venue in Birmingham i can't even remember the name of. April 2010 i think, guess it must have been same tour. Hooky and Marks chatting on stage for a couple hours. Can't even recall they talked about. At the end Hooky strapped on his bass and they did that track with Marks doing his spoken word . Can't recall the name of that either! There was a selection of Hook and/ or Hacienda memorabilia to view also.

Re Hooky / Howard Marks, I saw them at Norwich University in 2010. The HM track was Dark Star and Hooky also did a solo rendition of Elegia and The Happy One.

As for rare gigs, I went to the recording of the Channel 4 programme, Big World Cafe, at Brixton Academy, Feb 1989. The venue had been transformed into a TV studio with a couple of other mini stage sets (though NO played on the main stage), bit like the Later With Jools Holland format. The Academy itself was unrecognisable from its usual layout and you couldn't walk or gather in the usual places due to the cameras etc.

Apart from G-Mex in December 1988 they hadn’t played the UK since Wembley Arena in December 1987 and they had only done a couple of French dates since the album came out in January so we were all a bit starved. As well as the live debuts of Round and Round and Run, they did Dream Attack and Vanishing Point.

Also featured was Cleveland Watkiss, Diamanda Galas and Edward II & the Red Hot Polkas (no, me neither).

^Ah ok, Daws. Interesting to get a bit of background on that Big World Cafe appearance. Thanks.

First ever gig was Electronic, I remember going for the tickets in Grouchos in Dundee

Electronic

1. Glasgow Barrowlands 12.9.91

First NewOrder gig was late December in 1998. Hearing 'Love will tear us apart' for the first time was fantastic

NewOrder

1. Manchester ENA 29.12.98
2. Glasgow barrowlands 7.10.01
3. Manchester Carling Apollo 14.11.05
4. Glasgow Carling Academy 18.10.06
5. Glasgow Carling Academy 19.10.06
6. Glasgow O2 Academy 5.5.12
7. Edinburgh Usher Hall 6.5.12
8. Glasgow O2 Academy 19.11.15
9. Manchester Mif 15.7.17
10. Glasgow OVO 5.10.23

I've also seen Bad Lieutenant in Glasgow and Hooky in Dundee...

Col72 —

How was your experience of Manchester Evening News Arena ‘98 as an event?

The Japanese One wrote: Col72 —

How was your experience of Manchester Evening News Arena ‘98 as an event?

Hello From what I can remember, it was decent. It was my first NewOrder concert though so it could have been terrible and I'd have thought it would have been great !

I think they had to start one song twice though as they'd made a bit of a meal of it !

There were bands & djs on before and after NewOrder but I didn't stay for those..

Good times...

Col72 wrote:

The Japanese One wrote: Col72 —

How was your experience of Manchester Evening News Arena ‘98 as an event?

Hello From what I can remember, it was decent. It was my first NewOrder concert though so it could have been terrible and I'd have thought it would have been great !

I think they had to start one song twice though as they'd made a bit of a meal of it !

There were bands & djs on before and after NewOrder but I didn't stay for those..

Good times...

Hi, thank you for the comment.

I asked you this since a few people on this thread recollect they were rather unimpressed by the all night event. However, as you say, New Order’s set in itself was decent, at least. I felt their show was great that night and that’s how I remember, has stayed that way in me after all these years.

What matters is, the 1998 shows were their first in five years since 1993, only four in all, and so far the last occasions the group was together onstage in its original lineup including Hooky and Gillian. The MEN Arena show was one of them and it was the only chance for you to catch the old order in motion. After these, they entered a hiatus again for another three years, and when they reconvened in 2001 sans Gillian with additional players and embarked on a tour, things changed and have never been the same since then.

FYI the number they flubbed the intro for and started all over again is Guilty Partner, an obscure track off Technique and it was the live debut. They delivered it a second time two days after at Ally Pally on New Year’s Eve and shelved it thereafter. Another bonus point.

Good times? Maybe. Given the foul relationship between Barney and Hooky in the 21st century, perhaps we will never see the classic lineup again. Oh wait, see what happened to the Gallagher brothers. You never know…

...continued

16. 2022.10.7 Hollywood (Hollywood Bowl) After about a year's delay, the much anticipated Unity Tour, co-headlining with Pet Shop Boys kicked off in Canada September of 2022. The tour itinerary ended up getting shuffled a bit with the post-pandemic rescheduling. I opted to go to all three of the dates in California, with the cherished venue of the Hollywood Bowl being the finale. The reshuffle instead put the two Hollywood dates before the San Francisco date. This was a little disappointing because in S.F. they were playing at a modern basketball arena that merely doubles as a concert venue. Not much ambience. But regardless of that detail, I was pumped to finally be seeing New Order for the first time in four years, at a venue I adore. As in 2017, I was again able to book a room at the nearby BLVD Hotel on Highland. Pro-tip for all of you attending gigs at the Bowl: It's within walking distance of the the venue (so no worries with traffic or parking fees). And if you walk in the opposite direction, you're equidistant from the glamour and grime of Hollywood and Sunset boulevards (and probably only about a 20 minute walk to Amoeba Music on Hollywood Blvd.). I believe I mentioned listening to the soundcheck in the Unity Tour thread, so won't bother repeating that aspect here.

As for the gig, Paul Oakenfold kicked off the festivities. His set was decent but it wasn't particularly adventurous. Pet Shop Boys were up next, and were fantastic. They had choreographed and engineered their set very well. So well, apparently, they didn't bother to deviate from it for the following gigs (even the between song banter). PSB are definitely a one and done tour proposition. Of course their approach is that of a show more than a gig. And it works very well for them. The sound quality was good but the volume of the gig seemed a little muted to me. But I'd not been to an amphitheatre gig in some time, so just accepted it. New Order were the headliner and threw a bit of a curveball with their intro: Instead of the standard "Das Rheingold: Vorspiel" Olympic diver footage, we were treated to the instrumental "Times Change" intro with footage of Hollywood and other Southern California locales. A nice touch. From there, "Regret", "Age of Consent", "Restless", etc. followed, pointing to business as usual, setwise. I hadn't had huge hopes, and they were limiting themselves to 14 tracks on account of the co-headling times, but they did seem energized and happy to be there. So the small victory of hearing something live for the first time (despite it being "Be a Rebel"), was enough to satisfy me. But after the still potent finale of "Temptation", the crowd and yours truly were indeed surprised by the band returning to encore with "California Dreamin'" by The Mamas the Papas. In retrospect even more surprising than playing "San Francisco" in San Fransisco in 2014, given the limited set time. They wrapped everything up with "Love Will Tear Us Apart" and everyone went home happy. This was a very successful partnership and I have distinct memories of the jubilant crowd lining up for more merch post-gig before filing out of the venue. HollywoodSetlist

17. 2022.10.8 Hollywood (Hollywood Bowl) Night two at the same venue. Aside from it being the Pet Shop Boys turn to headline, would things be different enough to give me value for money? Well, after Oakenfold's set (I swear he played a lot of the same tracks as the previous night. Seemed lazy for a D.J.), New Order was up. The "Das Rheingold: Vorspiel" intro showed that they were at least going to make an effort. In the end, three out of the fourteen tracks were swapped. Not only that, "Temptation" did not end the set on this night (highly unusual these days). Instead, they wrapped up the main set with "Decades". This was, of course, more surprising than the repeat encore of "California Dreamin'" and "LWTUA", but I was well and truly satisfied. Also of note, the sound quality was improved and much louded on this second night. Despite the Pet Shop Boys headlining with their repeated set, I would say this was the better of the two shows. HollywoodSetlist

18. 2022.10.12 San Francisco (Chase Center) With a few days inbetween my Unity Tour triple play, I did head home for a couple of days (I live in the Monterey Bay area between Los Angeles and San Francisco though much closer to the latter). The day started with another attempt to get a taste of the night's set by eavesdropping on the soundcheck near the rear doors of the venue. This wasn't as easy at Chase Center as it's an indoor arena, but I was happy to hear runthroughs of three tracks not played the previous night's gigs, so things were looking up. After returning to the venue for the gig, I did a quick recon to check out the night's vantage point from my seat, but otherwise ignored Oakenfold's set. Being a new venue, the seating was tight, with as many crammed into the space as possible. I would be sandwiched between some young Latinas on my right, and an elderly gentleman (complete with oxygen bottle!) on my left. So I opted to spend less time there and more walking around the venue checking out the enthusiastic crowd, many going all-in, fancy dresswise. There were even a couple of guys dressed as PSB circa 1993, Very bodysuits with the helmets to match. Impressive. I was also hoping to run into some friends, this being my third gig in a row attended solo. I was disappointed in myself for not making more of an effort to connect with others at the Hollywood gigs. I had run into some familiar faces before the gigs, but as there wasn't General Admission standing on offer, we couldn't hang out at the gig together. I later saw footage of them in the front row, Jeff (of New Order tribute band Substance) with Barney's mic thrust in his face, singing a portion of either "True Faith" or "Bizarre Love Triangle. Lucky bastards! In San Francisco, the only New Order diehard I recognized was Sam (TheHappyOne, for those well-versed in bootlegs), and it was nice to catch up with him. Despite the headline spot set to alternate each night, New Order were on next. The rescheduling of the tour had shuffled the dates, but the headliners remained as originally advertised for reasons unbeknownst to me. Setlist.com doesn't list the intro music, but my recollection is that it was once again "Das Rheingold: Vorspiel". As the previous two gigs, "Regret" kicked things off, with thirteen more tracks to follow. But fortunately, another 3 differing tracks were in the set that I'd not heard at either of the previous two gigs. So despite the shorter sets, I was treated to 20 different songs in all. On this occasion, these were a strong "Transmission" a shambolic "Superheated" and the lovely "Vanishing Point" segued from "Bizarre Love Triangle" ("BLT" having only been performed on its own at the other gigs I attended). As covered in the Unity Tour thread, they actually played 25 different songs throughout the tour. As far as the real Pet Shop Boys, somehow I think the indoor setting suited them better. The set was identical but I believe their stage setup and lighting were more impressive in the more defined space of the arena as opposed to the open air of the Bowl. SanFranciscoSetlist

tbc...

Andy - what a place to live Monterey Bay Area. Been on holiday there and loved the wildlife, sea otter what an amazing cute animal. Whale watching was great and the aquarium is something else. Everyday the temperature is always in the 20’s. Really enjoyed my time spent in this area.

I have never heard New Order play anything off Movement at the gigs I attended. In fact, the one and only time they delivered the material on the first album onstage in Japan is Denial at the Tokyo show, May 1st, 1985 — their Japanese debut.

By the time they released PC&L, the group seems to have grown weary of Movement. They may regard it as a product of the transitional period from JD to NO, perhaps.

I heard Revenge play Dreams Never End for the encore in Osaka, January 30th, 1991, though. And Hooky & The Light performed the whole Movement and PC&L albums at Manchester Cathedral on January 18th, 2013, which I attended.

The Japanese One wrote: I have never heard New Order play anything off Movement at the gigs I attended. In fact, the one and only time they delivered the material on the first album onstage in Japan is Denial at the Tokyo show, May 1st, 1985 — their Japanese debut.

By the time they released PC&L, the group seems to have grown weary of Movement. They may regard it as a product of the transitional period from JD to NO, perhaps.

I heard Revenge play Dreams Never End for the encore in Osaka, January 30th, 1991, though. And Hooky & The Light performed the whole Movement and PC&L albums at Manchester Cathedral on January 18th, 2013, which I attended.

I've not heard anything from Movement live either. But that's likely due to not seeing them until 1987. At least "Ceremony" still gets regular outings. When you consider the success of "Temptation" (not necessarily commercially) in forging a new direction, you can understand why they left so many of those early tracks in the past. I maintain "Chosen Time" would be the best candidate for a modern rework, but there are so many later tracks to choose from, why would they bother?

Andy wrote:

The Japanese One wrote: I have never heard New Order play anything off Movement at the gigs I attended. In fact, the one and only time they delivered the material on the first album onstage in Japan is Denial at the Tokyo show, May 1st, 1985 — their Japanese debut.

By the time they released PC&L, the group seems to have grown weary of Movement. They may regard it as a product of the transitional period from JD to NO, perhaps.

I heard Revenge play Dreams Never End for the encore in Osaka, January 30th, 1991, though. And Hooky & The Light performed the whole Movement and PC&L albums at Manchester Cathedral on January 18th, 2013, which I attended.

I've not heard anything from Movement live either. But that's likely due to not seeing them until 1987. At least "Ceremony" still gets regular outings. When you consider the success of "Temptation" (not necessarily commercially) in forging a new direction, you can understand why they left so many of those early tracks in the past. I maintain "Chosen Time" would be the best candidate for a modern rework, but theres so many later tracks to choose from, why would they bother?

My first New Order concert was Osaka 1985. The frequency they played the songs on Movement had already dropped considerably in 1983.

Maybe they felt like distancing themselves from the album’s “JD sans Ian Curtis” vibe once they established a new identity and direction with Temptation and PC&L, while keeping Ceremony and In A Lonely Place as the almost only testimonies of their connection with the past.

https://www.setlist.fm/stats/albums/new-order-63d6b237.html

The Japanese One wrote:

Andy wrote:

The Japanese One wrote: I have never heard New Order play anything off Movement at the gigs I attended. In fact, the one and only time they delivered the material on the first album onstage in Japan is Denial at the Tokyo show, May 1st, 1985 — their Japanese debut.

By the time they released PC&L, the group seems to have grown weary of Movement. They may regard it as a product of the transitional period from JD to NO, perhaps.

I heard Revenge play Dreams Never End for the encore in Osaka, January 30th, 1991, though. And Hooky & The Light performed the whole Movement and PC&L albums at Manchester Cathedral on January 18th, 2013, which I attended.

I've not heard anything from Movement live either. But that's likely due to not seeing them until 1987. At least "Ceremony" still gets regular outings. When you consider the success of "Temptation" (not necessarily commercially) in forging a new direction, you can understand why they left so many of those early tracks in the past. I maintain "Chosen Time" would be the best candidate for a modern rework, but theres so many later tracks to choose from, why would they bother?

My first New Order concert was Osaka 1985. The frequency they played the songs on Movement had already dropped considerably in 1983.

Maybe they felt like distancing themselves from the album’s “JD sans Ian Curtis” vibe once they established a new identity and direction with Temptation and PC&L, while keeping Ceremony and In A Lonely Place as the almost only testimonies of their connection with the past.

https://www.setlist.fm/stats/albums/new-order-63d6b237.html

Chosen Time is my fav from Movement, I can live without the rest. There were so many other better songs they had that could have been on Movement such as C&W/Mesh/Procession. I though it was cool at the time not to put singles/B sides on albums but Movement would have been much better with the B sides rather than the samey dirges that ended up on it.

I don't think I'm the only one who would rather hear "Everything's Gone Green" live more that any other Movement era track.

tapebias wrote:

Chosen Time is my fav from Movement, I can live without the rest. There were so many other better songs they had that could have been on Movement such as C&W/Mesh/Procession. I though it was cool at the time not to put singles/B sides on albums but Movement would have been much better with the B sides rather than the samey dirges that ended up on it.

I for one prefer Movement to PC&L. And my favorite NO albums are Low Life and Brotherhood.

Procession is a great, under-appreciated song. But C&W and Mesh are no better or worse than the average tracks on Movement IMHO. Had In A Lonely Place been included in the Movement album instead of being released as a single B-side, I’d say it would have sounded another ‘dirge’. Context matters.

Andy wrote:

I don't think I'm the only one who would rather hear "Everything's Gone Green" live more that any other Movement era track.

EGG is a powerful tune. Belongs to its own and wouldn’t fit Movement as an album track.

The Japanese One wrote:

tapebias wrote:

Chosen Time is my fav from Movement, I can live without the rest. There were so many other better songs they had that could have been on Movement such as C&W/Mesh/Procession. I though it was cool at the time not to put singles/B sides on albums but Movement would have been much better with the B sides rather than the samey dirges that ended up on it.

I for one prefer Movement to PC&L. And my favorite NO albums are Low Life and Brotherhood.

Procession is a great, under-appreciated song. But C&W and Mesh are no better or worse than the average tracks on Movement IMHO. Had In A Lonely Place been included in the Movement album instead of being released as a single B-side, I’d say it would have sounded another ‘dirge’. Context matters.

Andy wrote:

I don't think I'm the only one who would rather hear "Everything's Gone Green" live more that any other Movement era track.

EGG is a powerful tune. Belongs to its own and wouldn’t fit Movement as an album track.

tapebias was the one suggesting an alternate Movement tracklisting.

I agree that "Procession" and "Everything's Gone Green" would not suit being shoehorned onto the album. The former is a bit lighter and the latter is perhaps too disconnected/forward thinking to fit. Movement can't help but be more tied to their past. And there's nothing wrong with someone preferring that to the direction "EGG", "Temptation", "Blue Monday" and Power, Corruption and Lies took the group. Speaking of PC&L, though you don't prefer it, what are your thoughts on "We All Stand" and "Ultraviolence"? These tracks (and outtake/single "Murder") are the only ones on the album that I feel still have a foot in the past. Does this aspect make you look on them more fondly?

Andy wrote: Speaking of PC&L, though you don't prefer it, what are your thoughts on "We All Stand" and "Ultraviolence"? These tracks (and outtake/single "Murder") are the only ones on the album that I feel still have a foot in the past. Does this aspect make you look on them more fondly?

Not necessarily. I didn’t give a spin to PC&L that much when it came out and I only have an impression of the album as an entirety rather than individual songs. The overall lighter and brighter sound-making undermined the darker tone of these tracks for me.

I haven’t heard Murder for decades.

I really wish the band would revisit Movement tracks in a live environment.

I love every track on the album now, although it took me a long time to really get to like it. I'd agree that Chosen Time is the best of the bunch and the one I would most love to see them resurrect live.

As for Everything's Gone Green, I never miss an opportunity to say that this is the track I most want to return to the setlist.

The thing about the Movement tracks is that they didn't really move the band forward (pardon the pun). EGG, however, was the building blocks of everything that came afterwards. They really need to start acknowledging its importance.

Besides, it always sounds awesome live.

perspexorange wrote: I really wish the band would revisit Movement tracks in a live environment.

I love every track on the album now, although it took me a long time to really get to like it. I'd agree that Chosen Time is the best of the bunch and the one I would most love to see them resurrect live.

As for Everything's Gone Green, I never miss an opportunity to say that this is the track I most want to return to the setlist.

The thing about the Movement tracks is that they didn't really move the band forward (pardon the pun). EGG, however, was the building blocks of everything that came afterwards. They really need to start acknowledging its importance.

Besides, it always sounds awesome live.

The "Street Hassle" version of "Temptation" they're been playing has had a long life. It's time for it to be replaced with an "Everything's Gone Green"/"Temptation" medley.

Chosen Time is a good tune — lyrics aside, it sounds to my ears like a cousin to C&W in its sense of urgency. However, Senses, The Him and Doubts Even Here compare favorably or even better IMHO. The last two are my faves on Movement.

I sometimes feel album opener Dreams Never End doesn’t gel well with the remainder of the songs for its brightness and generally positive vibe. Might be more fitting on PC&L?

The only time I heard EGG live was in Tokyo, January 28th, 1987, and it remains the song’s only live exposure in Japan to this day. Third song on the set and not an extended, grand performance AFAIR.

Bit late to this party…

1998 Flew to the UK for the Phoenix Festival. It was cancelled. Does that count? 2002-01-20 Gold Coast AU - Big Day Out 2002-01-23 Sydney AU - Hordern Pavilion 2012-03-03 Brisbane AU - Future Music Festival 2016-06-04 Sydney AU - Opera House / Vivid 2016-06-05 Sydney AU - Opera House / Vivid 2020-03-11 Sydney AU - Hordern Pavilion

Hooky / Light

2010-09-27 Brisbane AU - The Tivoli 2015-02-18 Brisbane AU - The Tivoli 2017-10-08 Brisbane AU - The Tivoli 2022-11-25 Brisbane AU - The Tivoli 2024-05-22 Brisbane AU - The Tivoli

My only regret is not catching them on their 1987 Brotherhood tour through the colony. I’m kicking my 17yo self as we speak.

Dennis Remmer wrote:

Bit late to this party…

Better late than never. Thanks Dennis.

There’s no deadline for the CV submission. Anyone else?

...continued

19. 2023.3.18 New Orleans (Orpheum Theater) The previous year's Unity Tour of the U.S. was not kind to the south and southwest. To make amends (and the most of their stateside visit for the SXSW Festival appearance), a short, satellite tour of cities in Texas (plus New Orleans in Louisiana) were scheduled. Unusually, no cities on the coasts were booked. Fun fact: The tour didn't really have a name. So I started calling it TexNOLA*23 on Setlist.fm and it stuck. If I wanted to see them this time around, I would actually have to travel out of California and see them on "foreign soil" in another state for the first time. I had already been through Texas a couple of times. And the political climate has made that state less appealing (If you believe the media, many Texans would be happy to split from the U.S., with the liberal views like those of Californians being a major reason). Although Austin differs from that mindset, and is a city I'd like to visit, I wasn't really up for seeing the group at a festival that didn't feature much else that appealed to me. I did fancy New Orleans. Despite living in South Carolina for a year, I'd never made it down there so the NOLA gig was the focus. I tried to work out the logistics of also seeing them in Houston, Texas a couple of nights before it, but it was not to be. Yes, these places are in the same country, but being over 2,000 miles and a couple of time zones away from home meant travel time would be a factor. I opted to spend more time in New Orleans instead. My local airport in Monterey didn't have any direct flights, so a layover in San Francisco would be slowing things down. Upon arriving in New Orleans the first night, I was greeted with total chaos at the airport. Unbeknownst to me, this week was also their Spring Break in the region. There were legions of college kids, all vying for taxis and ride shares. I eventually got a ride nearly two hours later. Having left home Thursday morning, it was the early hours of Friday before I'd made it to where I would be staying.

After a full Friday of dining and sightseeing (I'd gotten tips from a friend who'd once lived there), I can heartily recommend New Orleans as a destination. And though it's not really my scene, the nighttime trip down Bourbon Street lived up to its reputation: Excessive street drinking, nudity, a dominatrix whipping college kids...fun for the whole family. Once Saturday arrived, there were some whispers on social media of who would be in town. But despite my efforts this time, I wasn't able to find or organize a pre-gig meetup with anyone. The Orpheum being such a small venue (fewer than 2,000 capacity!) meant I knew to arrive early to get in line, and fortunately had the opportunity to meet some other great fans. I also was able meet a few people I'd only spoke to online previously (hello NüOrdrMan and Sandroid77). Once in the venue, the first priority was to snap up a couple of the black on black Substance New Orleans shirts that were exclusive to this gig (limited to 200). I didn't mean to be greedy but I wanted an extra so I wouldn't be reluctant to it occasionally. Mission accomplished, I headed towards the stage and was able to secure a spot near the center quite close to, but not quite on the barrier with a couple of friends. The support was from ZAS and Bernard joined Zachery onstage to sing "No Texting on the Dancefloor". While New Order's setlist offered few surprises, I'd not heard "The Perfect Kiss" for a while and it sounded magnificent. Overall, the expense and everything I went through on my travels were worth it to see the band up close in such an intimate venue. And after the gig, Viking Colin kindly gave me a badge for my efforts, despite my never actually travelling abroad for a gig. Fortunately, I was able to repay him with one of my Substance shirts, as he'd missed out before the gig. NewOrleansSetlist

After the gig, I said goodbye to some of my friends, and headed to an unofficial afterparty across town. One of the people I had met in the line (DJ Rice Cube) had booked a bar and was DJing. Fortunately, another one of the New Order fans I'd met was a local who knew the ins and outs of the area. He not only was aware of the bits to avoid, he showed the way to a late night market that served up the most amazing Muffalettta sandwich that I will ever eat. I mentioned that I said goodbye to some of my friends at the gig. Several of them had invites to the official afterparty in the exclusive club under the venue. No fake Vikings allowed. In the words of Stephen Morris "I'm not a bitter man". On the bright side, despite Sandroid77 heading north to Canada as I was heading west to go back home, we both had the same flight to a layover in Texas (unexpected Rom-Com situation alert). It was fantastic to see her again, and she told me about the afterparty and her discussions with Gillian, etc. Even though I wasn't at the official shindig, I was able to say hello to Tom Chapman in the New Orleans airport. We were both waiting in an enormous zig-zagging line, and as it circled around and I was nearby, I called out to him and held up my phone to show him its screen background image of the tour poster. He replied with a weary thumbs up. I opted not to trouble him further.

tbc...

...continued

20. 2023.11.15 Inglewood, California (YouTube Theater) Cast your mind back to 2023, when the news of the Darker Waves festival broke. Certainly there have been many great festivals over the decades. But the announced lineup focused on just these genres seemed dubious to many: New Order, Tears for Fears, The B-52s, Echo & the Bunnymen, DEVO, Soft Cell, The Psychedelic Furs, The Human League, Orchestral Manouvres in the Dark, Violent Femmes, X, Clan of Xymox, The Chameleons (and, as they say, many more) at the same one day festival raised some eyebrows. The seemingly amateurish gig poster didn't help assuage doubt. But once the bands themselves made their announcements, it became all too real. The speculation began: Would New Order schedule a tour to make the most of their visit (the West Coast, North America, South America?), or would it be a one-off like Texas 2015? It turns out it was neither. They merely scheduled one additional gig: In Inglewood, which is about 40 miles from the beach that would host the Darker Waves fest. Annoyingly, that satellite gig would occur three days before the festival, which is a 5+ hour drive from Monterey Bay. I wasn't going to drive there and back twice (and flights seemed like overkill), so it meant a Wednesday to Sunday trip was the plan. I had been chatting a bit with the lovely Canadian Viking, Sandroid77. But as the festival drew nearer, she had too many other things going on and opted out of attending. I took consolation with the thought that a long distance relationship (yes, I was getting way ahead of myself) was probably more than I could take on anyway. On the bright side, in anticipation of seeing her (and the possibility of attending an all day gig on the beach with sweltering heat), I put myself on a fitness regimen in case going topless was a consideration. Yes, I am vain.

I hit the road Wednesday and surveyed the area in Inglewood between the venue and motel once I'd arrived. Inglewood had a bit of a rough reputation back when I'd seen The Cure at the Forum in 1987 and Depeche Mode there a few years later. It looks alright these days, but I opted for a ride share instead of walking. Unfortunately, the driver seemed confused about where to drop me off at the massive entertainment complex, which also includes SoFi Stadium. So I ended up having to walk about 15-20 minutes before I found the entrance of the theatre. Despite my months long assumption of typical Southern California weather, Manchester was in the house. It began to rain on my walk. And it continued to sprinkle down as we waited for the staff to belatedly open the gates and let us in to the venue. Sadly, the merch on offer was not as enticing as the special Substance T from New Orleans. I had sort of been hoping for something unique. Perhaps featuring the orange Republic floatie that had been on the tour poster, but it was not to be. From there it was off to check out my vantage point and meet up with Screwball, a SoCal-based Viking. He offered up a pog (like a Poker Chip, with a design to commemorate the gig). This seems to be the North American equivalent of the Viking badges, NüOrderMan had given me one in New Orleans.

But then it was time for support act Blossoms. I actually really like their take on pop music, which doesn't necessarily follow pop trends. Though I wasn't expecting them to be stellar live, I was happy to finally get the chance after backing out of attending a 2019 gig with my Ex (we had bought the tickets before the breakup). Unfortunely, the sound mix was appalling. The bass was super boomy which was worrying. This was quite a new venue, and I'd have thought acoustics would have been a focus in the design. My recollection is that the sound didn't really improve during their set, which although strong, didn't include my favourite song of theirs (gem "How Long Will This Last"). Fortunately, by the the time the Wagner/"Touched by the Hand of God" intro began to ring out, the sound was sorted. But with "Crystal", "Regret", "Age of Consent", "Ceremony" and "Restless" following, it was clear the band wasn't reimagining the setlist. The return of a slightly reworked (as compared to the 2011 version) of "Isolation" being the only track that was somewhat surprising. I was happy to hear the "Bizarre Love Triangle"/"Vanishing Point" medley though. It had been absent from the New Orleans set. Strangely, a photo of a physical setlist that was posted listed the encore as "Decades/Atmosphere, Transmission, LWTUA". I wouldn't think they were considering a medley of the first two, more likely deciding to make a decision between them in the moment. But we will never know, a time curfew meant they only ended up encoring with "Atmosphere" and "Love Will Tear Us Apart". All in all, it was still a great show. Despite the setlist quibbles, I'm always delighted that they are still performing well. Not only for my enjoyment, but for the multitudes of people that are invariably seeing them for the first time. Emboldened by the sounds still pounding in my head, I opted to not wait a ridiculously long time for a ride share and walked back to the Motel. Perhaps I was a bit disappointed that Inglewood had been cleaned up, and wanted to tempt fate. Regardless, the walk was uneventful, I was already thinking about heading out of there in the morning. InglewoodSetlist

I now had Thursday and Friday to kill before heading to Huntington Beach for Darker Waves. I'd decided to spend those days based in Hollywood. A massive amount of dining options and proximity to Amoeba Music were paramount. I also spent some time hiking around Griffith Observatory, which is a great experience. Early Saturday, I checked out in Hollywood and hit the road for the beach. Well, Huntington Beach. I again left my car at the motel and used ride sharing to avoid parking fees and other potential issues. While the weather was slightly better, amazingly there was still the threat of rain. Certainly that translated to hope for the multitudes of Goths that were descending into this uncharted territory of surf and sand. I saw very few people in short pants (like those I'd packed, but not worn), but many in full Gothic regalia. It wasn't quite Cruel World, being tempered with more postpunk, synth pop and, frankly, more normal looking fans, but people watching was definitely top of the scale. I won't go into the other acts as there were far too many, but I must say that it's very disappointing that this festival doesn't seem to be returning.

21. 2023.11.18 Huntington Beach, California (Darker Waves) As expected, New Order's Darker Waves set was merely an edited version of YouTube Theater's. One improvement that did stand out was their slotting in "Be a Rebel" after "Your Silent Face". I understand they want to feature their "newest" song, but using it to up the tempo after "KW1" was a much better place for it than being sandwiched between beloved bangers "The Perfect Kiss" and "Substance". I hate to say it, but these shorter festival sets really seem to suit the band. As with the Music Tastes Good festival in 2018, they really knocked it out of the park. The promoters wisely offset the stagetimes of New Order and other headliner Tears for Fears, which meant there was a massive crowd on hand. And it gave me a chance to catch most of the TfF set afterwards. Upon leaving the festival, there was again a massive demand for ride shares. I instead set off on foot, the music and memories swimming in my head. DarkerWavesSetlist

I wouldn't want a short festival set to be my swansong of New Order gigs. But only time will tell...

Andy—

Many thanks for your taking time to deliver the great series of your detailed memoirs for us New Order nuts. It was all fun to relish and soak them up. An American Viking Saga.

Your tale of New Order and Tears For Fears co-headlining Darker Waves jogged my memory of Summer Sonic Osaka 2012. For this event, New Order were to headline the sub-stage. A thunderstorm hit the area in the afternoon, and the festival organizers decided to hold the performances on the outdoor stages for safety until the weather improved. The torrential rain stopped after a couple of hours and the festival resumed, but from then on, the timetable was rearranged and every act had to shorten their set, New Order and the sub Garbage included. We had to resign ourselves to a seven-song, mini-headlining set of New Order that lasted a tad shy of 50 minutes. The performance was compact but strong and very focused, though. Barney sung the first verse of Krafty in Japanese. Short length aside, not a bad show at all.

The delay of the schedule went with some unexpected merits. The foul weather somehow affected the proceedings of the indoor stage at the some five thousand-capacity gymnasium, pushing back the set times and resulting in the later finish than planned. This offset the partial clash of indoor headliner Tears For Fears with New Order’s set on the original time table and enabled me to catch the whole 1 hr and 15 mins set of TFF, their second ever visit of Japan since 1985 and their last so far (I had seen them at the Festival Hall, Osaka, on their first tour). Sometimes bad events have silver linings.

An addendum to my CV:

I realized with the announcement of the Cruel World lineup that I would finally get to see Stereo M.C.s. They were to be the opening act at the 1991 Electronic gig I had a ticket for in San Franicisco before that tour was cancelled. I had missed Revenge coming to the city the year before. Hadn't heard about that gig until a co-worker mentioned he had been. Oh well.

Monaco - 1997.8.11 San Francisco (The Fillmore) My girlfriend and I were at The Fillmore to see The Cardigans (surprisingly good live) a few months earlier, and when she nipped off to get a drink, she returned not only with the drink, but tickets for this Monaco gig that was advertised. Nice! Monoco were very good live. The band was tight, and the trade off of lead vocals between Hooky and Pottsy worked well. I had always misconstrued a comment made by Potts after "Billy Bones". To me, this was the most Joy Division-like track on their debut. So when he said "Sorry, Ian" at the gig, I thought it was him being reverential to Ian Curtis. Hooky and Leadfoot set me straight on Twitter by saying their sound man was also named Ian, and the comment was actually likely directed at him. I can't find this setlist online, but I remember the encore being Warsaw's "Failures".

In 2010, we had tickets to see Bad Lieutenant, once again in San Francisco. A volcano in Iceland disrupted those plans. We were also in town to see Delphic, who I'd seen a couple of times before. Both groups were playing S.F. as satellite gigs to Coachella appearances. But their flight was also cancelled, so we were doubly disappointed.

Peter Hook & The Light - 2014.11.21 San Francisco (Mezzanine) By this time, it was clear that there would be no reconciliation between the two warring factions, so I succumbed to the lure of a Peter Hook & The Light gig (I'd seen him DJ a few years earlier. Nevermind.). This was a tour with a Joy Division opening set, followed by Low-Life and Brotherhood sets. They also performed various singles and it was a fantastic show. I did think it was a missed opportunity that Pottsy only took lead vocals on one song ("Sooner than You Think"), but this was Hooky's group, after all. My girlfriend was less impressed and vowed never to go see him sing those songs again! SanFranciscoSetlist

Peter Hook & The Light - 2022.9.10 San Francisco (The Warfield) Eight years later, and that girlfriend is history. So why not go see Peter Hook & The Light performing primarily a Joy Division set this time (Unknown Pleasures and Closer). Another fantastic gig. His vocals certainly suit those songs better, and this would be a contrast to the New Order heavy setlist from my previous show. There were some New Order tracks, of course. But thankfully, Monaco's "What Do You Want From Me?" was also performed. I always hope for a tour performing those two Monaco albums, but suspect he thinks it wouldn't draw as many punters as the JD/NO gigs. SanFranciscoSetlist

So I guess that's it.

Oh wait, I forgot about that Cruel World show. And it looks like there's even more to come...

Andy wrote: ...continued.

12. 2016.3.19 Los Angeles (Shrine Auditorium) I was very excited for this gig as it was my first since the release of Music Complete (their only U.S.appearance in 2015 had been at the Day for Night Fest in Texas). I was hoping for a reenergized set with the inclusion of more new tracks. They indeed performed 6 tracks from their new (-ish by this point) album, which was generous. But I'd already seen them do "Singularity" and "Plastic" in 2014. "Academic" and "Restless" remain great tracks, and I was delighted to hear them live, but they are never going to be received as strongly live as some of the classics they supplanted. While I'm totally fine with that, I could see how people that hadn't been to previous gigs would be disappointed by them not playing tracks x, y or z. Also new for me were "Tutti Frutti" and "People on the High Line", the pleasure of seeing them play something new overshadowing my discomfort with so many prerecording vocals wafting out of the P.A. (the opinion on this has definitely shifted over the years). But alas, the structure of the set (a bit mix-n-match towords the early part with electro bangers always at the end of the main set and a JD encore) remained unchanged. But "Singularity" and "Temptation" were certainly bookends that are tough to beat. I remember it was very enjoyable at the time, but in retrospect, these static setlists make the gigs less memorable as there isn't enough variety to distinguish them from each other.

DJ Whitney Fierce and Run, Run, Run were the support but I believe I only saw a bit of the latter as longtime girlfriend Theresa and I were mingling in the enormous lobby area (The Shrine is where many of the Gala events in the U.S. are held such as the Academy Awards, Grammy Awards, etc). I distinctly recall running into FAC51 (local Steve and his wife Kelly) and the venerable JG. Norbert was possibly also looming around. Theresa had been less enthusiastic about the 5 hour drive down to L.A. for the gig with a return trip the following day to accomodate our work schedules. I was up to meet with the Vikings after the gig, but she wasn't, and I opted instead to accompany my grumpy gal back to our hotel. We stayed together another 3+ years, but the drifting apart had already begun. Anyhoo!: LosAngelesSetlistLosAngelesSetlist

13. 2017.4.21 Berkeley (Greek Theatre) Thirty years on from my first New Order gig at this very same venue, and I was back. The atmosphere of the Greek was still fantastic. Two new song experiences for me were "Superheated" and a powerful version of "Decades" (Theresa even commented on the emotional impact of Joy Division track afterwards, not being as familiar with JD's work as NO). I say afterwards because I went down towards the front without her and found a spot next to Viking, Dr. NO (aka Rocky) and adjacent to Norbert. Rocky and I agreed that we shouldn't try to move further towards the middle as it would introduce the possibility of being behind the big man, which would be suboptimal. However, this was my first expericence being near the enthusiastic Doctor. When the songs started kicking in, his passion was infectious, but (and I hope he's not reading this because I've mentioned it to him several times) he's essentially a one man moshpit, where no neighboring people's toes are safe. While it's getting redundant to mention the setlist structure, on a positive note, 17-18 songs per set is much more than you'd get in the old days. And I hadn't felt like I wasn't getting my money's worth. BerkeleySetlist

14. 2017.9.18 Hollywood (Hollywood Bowl) A few months later in 2017 and 24 years after seeing the soul destroying nadir of New Order concerts here 1993, I was back in one of the most beautiful venues in California (either this or the Santa Barbara Bowl ranks tops for me). I traveled to this gig alone. Between the 5 hour drive, and the fact Theresa doesn't like Los Angeles (despite the size of the city, she's one of the few people I've met that have lived and was actually born there), I decided not to bother convincing her to go with me. Thankfully, the MIF gigs were still at this point having an influence on setlists. I was thrilled to hear "Disorder" early in the set, with "Ultraviolence" following it. I appreciated that they weren't just phoning it in with the hits for the L.A. crowd. Even a track from the usually ignored Technique appeared with the "Bizarre Love Triangle" segue into "Vanishing Point". Another vivid highlight was the enormous roar of the crowd once they recognized the intro to "Sub-Culture". It was epic. This was probably my favourite concert (so far?) of the current lineup and 19 tracks was quite generous. Also, Goldfrapp were the support. Great concert and experience all around. I still owe FAC51 a meal after being treated to tacos by him before the gig. HollywoodSetlist

15. 2018.9.29 Long Beach (Music Tastes Good Festival on the Marina Green) An interesting festival purporting to blend the best of music and food. And the Long Beach coastline is a lovely destination (the Queen Mary was just across the harbour). The decent lineup also featured another favourite group of mine, The Church, performing their 1988 album Starfish. Theresa was even up for it. It was, however, our last New Order gig together (we broke up in 2019 after over 20 years together). The group did not disappoint. They were on top form but unfortunately only had time to perform an 11 song set. Leave 'em wanting more, I guess. LongBeachSetlist

I believe they only came to the U.S. once the following year, for one gig on the east coast (Miami, Florida), discounting the Tibet House appearance. They also returned to Miami for a 4 gig residence in early 2020 that I was so very close to booking. I still regret not going considering the wait until the next opportunity.

tbc...

2016.3.19 Los Angeles (Shrine Auditorium): Temptation

2017.4.21 Berkeley (Greek Theatre): Berkeley1 Berkeley2

2017.9.18 Hollywood (Hollywood Bowl):

Andy wrote: ...continued

16. 2022.10.7 Hollywood (Hollywood Bowl) After about a year's delay, the much anticipated Unity Tour, co-headlining with Pet Shop Boys kicked off in Canada September of 2022. The tour itinerary ended up getting shuffled a bit with the post-pandemic rescheduling. I opted to go to all three of the dates in California, with the cherished venue of the Hollywood Bowl being the finale. The reshuffle instead put the two Hollywood dates before the San Francisco date. This was a little disappointing because in S.F. they were playing at a modern basketball arena that merely doubles as a concert venue. Not much ambience. But regardless of that detail, I was pumped to finally be seeing New Order for the first time in four years, at a venue I adore. As in 2017, I was again able to book a room at the nearby BLVD Hotel on Highland. Pro-tip for all of you attending gigs at the Bowl: It's within walking distance of the the venue (so no worries with traffic or parking fees). And if you walk in the opposite direction, you're equidistant from the glamour and grime of Hollywood and Sunset boulevards (and probably only about a 20 minute walk to Amoeba Music on Hollywood Blvd.). I believe I mentioned listening to the soundcheck in the Unity Tour thread, so won't bother repeating that aspect here.

As for the gig, Paul Oakenfold kicked off the festivities. His set was decent but it wasn't particularly adventurous. Pet Shop Boys were up next, and were fantastic. They had choreographed and engineered their set very well. So well, apparently, they didn't bother to deviate from it for the following gigs (even the between song banter). PSB are definitely a one and done tour proposition. Of course their approach is that of a show more than a gig. And it works very well for them. The sound quality was good but the volume of the gig seemed a little muted to me. But I'd not been to an amphitheatre gig in some time, so just accepted it. New Order were the headliner and threw a bit of a curveball with their intro: Instead of the standard "Das Rheingold: Vorspiel" Olympic diver footage, we were treated to the instrumental "Times Change" intro with footage of Hollywood and other Southern California locales. A nice touch. From there, "Regret", "Age of Consent", "Restless", etc. followed, pointing to business as usual, setwise. I hadn't had huge hopes, and they were limiting themselves to 14 tracks on account of the co-headling times, but they did seem energized and happy to be there. So the small victory of hearing something live for the first time (despite it being "Be a Rebel"), was enough to satisfy me. But after the still potent finale of "Temptation", the crowd and yours truly were indeed surprised by the band returning to encore with "California Dreamin'" by The Mamas the Papas. In retrospect even more surprising than playing "San Francisco" in San Fransisco in 2014, given the limited set time. They wrapped everything up with "Love Will Tear Us Apart" and everyone went home happy. This was a very successful partnership and I have distinct memories of the jubilant crowd lining up for more merch post-gig before filing out of the venue. HollywoodSetlist

17. 2022.10.8 Hollywood (Hollywood Bowl) Night two at the same venue. Aside from it being the Pet Shop Boys turn to headline, would things be different enough to give me value for money? Well, after Oakenfold's set (I swear he played a lot of the same tracks as the previous night. Seemed lazy for a D.J.), New Order was up. The "Das Rheingold: Vorspiel" intro showed that they were at least going to make an effort. In the end, three out of the fourteen tracks were swapped. Not only that, "Temptation" did not end the set on this night (highly unusual these days). Instead, they wrapped up the main set with "Decades". This was, of course, more surprising than the repeat encore of "California Dreamin'" and "LWTUA", but I was well and truly satisfied. Also of note, the sound quality was improved and much louded on this second night. Despite the Pet Shop Boys headlining with their repeated set, I would say this was the better of the two shows. HollywoodSetlist

18. 2022.10.12 San Francisco (Chase Center) With a few days inbetween my Unity Tour triple play, I did head home for a couple of days (I live in the Monterey Bay area between Los Angeles and San Francisco though much closer to the latter). The day started with another attempt to get a taste of the night's set by eavesdropping on the soundcheck near the rear doors of the venue. This wasn't as easy at Chase Center as it's an indoor arena, but I was happy to hear runthroughs of three tracks not played the previous night's gigs, so things were looking up. After returning to the venue for the gig, I did a quick recon to check out the night's vantage point from my seat, but otherwise ignored Oakenfold's set. Being a new venue, the seating was tight, with as many crammed into the space as possible. I would be sandwiched between some young Latinas on my right, and an elderly gentleman (complete with oxygen bottle!) on my left. So I opted to spend less time there and more walking around the venue checking out the enthusiastic crowd, many going all-in, fancy dresswise. There were even a couple of guys dressed as PSB circa 1993, Very bodysuits with the helmets to match. Impressive. I was also hoping to run into some friends, this being my third gig in a row attended solo. I was disappointed in myself for not making more of an effort to connect with others at the Hollywood gigs. I had run into some familiar faces before the gigs, but as there wasn't General Admission standing on offer, we couldn't hang out at the gig together. I later saw footage of them in the front row, Jeff (of New Order tribute band Substance) with Barney's mic thrust in his face, singing a portion of either "True Faith" or "Bizarre Love Triangle. Lucky bastards! In San Francisco, the only New Order diehard I recognized was Sam (TheHappyOne, for those well-versed in bootlegs), and it was nice to catch up with him. Despite the headline spot set to alternate each night, New Order were on next. The rescheduling of the tour had shuffled the dates, but the headliners remained as originally advertised for reasons unbeknownst to me. Setlist.com doesn't list the intro music, but my recollection is that it was once again "Das Rheingold: Vorspiel". As the previous two gigs, "Regret" kicked things off, with thirteen more tracks to follow. But fortunately, another 3 differing tracks were in the set that I'd not heard at either of the previous two gigs. So despite the shorter sets, I was treated to 20 different songs in all. On this occasion, these were a strong "Transmission" a shambolic "Superheated" and the lovely "Vanishing Point" segued from "Bizarre Love Triangle" ("BLT" having only been performed on its own at the other gigs I attended). As covered in the Unity Tour thread, they actually played 25 different songs throughout the tour. As far as the real Pet Shop Boys, somehow I think the indoor setting suited them better. The set was identical but I believe their stage setup and lighting were more impressive in the more defined space of the arena as opposed to the open air of the Bowl. SanFranciscoSetlist

tbc...

2022.10.7 Hollywood (Hollywood Bowl)

2022.10.8 Hollywood (Hollywood Bowl)

2022.10.12 San Francisco (Chase Center) Pet Shop Boys headlined

Andy wrote: ...continued

19. 2023.3.18 New Orleans (Orpheum Theater) The previous year's Unity Tour of the U.S. was not kind to the south and southwest. To make amends (and the most of their stateside visit for the SXSW Festival appearance), a short, satellite tour of cities in Texas (plus New Orleans in Louisiana) were scheduled. Unusually, no cities on the coasts were booked. Fun fact: The tour didn't really have a name. So I started calling it TexNOLA*23 on Setlist.fm and it stuck. If I wanted to see them this time around, I would actually have to travel out of California and see them on "foreign soil" in another state for the first time. I had already been through Texas a couple of times. And the political climate has made that state less appealing (If you believe the media, many Texans would be happy to split from the U.S., with the liberal views like those of Californians being a major reason). Although Austin differs from that mindset, and is a city I'd like to visit, I wasn't really up for seeing the group at a festival that didn't feature much else that appealed to me. I did fancy New Orleans. Despite living in South Carolina for a year, I'd never made it down there so the NOLA gig was the focus. I tried to work out the logistics of also seeing them in Houston, Texas a couple of nights before it, but it was not to be. Yes, these places are in the same country, but being over 2,000 miles and a couple of time zones away from home meant travel time would be a factor. I opted to spend more time in New Orleans instead. My local airport in Monterey didn't have any direct flights, so a layover in San Francisco would be slowing things down. Upon arriving in New Orleans the first night, I was greeted with total chaos at the airport. Unbeknownst to me, this week was also their Spring Break in the region. There were legions of college kids, all vying for taxis and ride shares. I eventually got a ride nearly two hours later. Having left home Thursday morning, it was the early hours of Friday before I'd made it to where I would be staying.

After a full Friday of dining and sightseeing (I'd gotten tips from a friend who'd once lived there), I can heartily recommend New Orleans as a destination. And though it's not really my scene, the nighttime trip down Bourbon Street lived up to its reputation: Excessive street drinking, nudity, a dominatrix whipping college kids...fun for the whole family. Once Saturday arrived, there were some whispers on social media of who would be in town. But despite my efforts this time, I wasn't able to find or organize a pre-gig meetup with anyone. The Orpheum being such a small venue (fewer than 2,000 capacity!) meant I knew to arrive early to get in line, and fortunately had the opportunity to meet some other great fans. I also was able meet a few people I'd only spoke to online previously (hello NüOrdrMan and Sandroid77). Once in the venue, the first priority was to snap up a couple of the black on black Substance New Orleans shirts that were exclusive to this gig (limited to 500). I didn't mean to be greedy but I wanted an extra so I wouldn't be reluctant to it occasionally. Mission accomplished, I headed towards the stage and was able to secure a spot near the center quite close to, but not quite on the barrier with a couple of friends. The support was from ZAS and Bernard joined Zachery onstage to sing "No Texting on the Dancefloor". While New Order's setlist offered few surprises, I'd not heard "The Perfect Kiss" for a while and it sounded magnificent. Overall, the expense and everything I went through on my travels were worth it to see the band up close in such an intimate venue. And after the gig, Viking Colin kindly gave me a badge for my efforts, despite my never actually travelling abroad for a gig. Fortunately, I was able to repay him with one of my Substance shirts, as he'd missed out before the gig. NewOrleansSetlist

After the gig, I said goodbye to some of my friends, and headed to an unofficial afterparty across town. One of the people I had met in the line (DJ Rice Cube) had booked a bar and was DJing. Fortunately, another one of the New Order fans I'd met was a local who knew the ins and outs of the area. He not only was aware of the bits to avoid, he showed the way to a late night market that served up the most amazing Muffalettta sandwich that I will ever eat. I mentioned that I said goodbye to some of my friends at the gig. Several of them had invites to the official afterparty in the exclusive club under the venue. No fake Vikings allowed. In the words of Stephen Morris "I'm not a bitter man". On the bright side, despite Sandroid77 heading north to Canada as I was heading west to go back home, we both had the same flight to a layover in Texas (unexpected Rom-Com situation alert). It was fantastic to see her again, and she told me about the afterparty and her discussions with Gillian, etc. Even though I wasn't at the official shindig, I was able to say hello to Tom Chapman in the New Orleans airport. We were both waiting in an enormous zig-zagging line, and as it circled around and I was nearby, I called out to him and held up my phone to show him its screen background image of the tour poster. He replied with a weary thumbs up. I opted not to trouble him further.

tbc...

2023.3.18 New Orleans (Orpheum Theater) I believe I mispoke about this shirt in the original post. Limited to 200 not 500 Bonus shot by Warren Jackson. Spotted myself enjoying the gig.

Andy wrote: ...continued

20. 2023.11.15 Inglewood, California (YouTube Theater) Cast your mind back to 2023, when the news of the Darker Waves festival broke. Certainly there have been many great festivals over the decades. But the announced lineup focused on just these genres seemed dubious to many: New Order, Tears for Fears, The B-52s, Echo & the Bunnymen, DEVO, Soft Cell, The Psychedelic Furs, The Human League, Orchestral Manouvres in the Dark, Violent Femmes, X, Clan of Xymox, The Chameleons (and, as they say, many more) at the same one day festival raised some eyebrows. The seemingly amateurish gig poster didn't help assuage doubt. But once the bands themselves made their announcements, it became all too real. The speculation began: Would New Order schedule a tour to make the most of their visit (the West Coast, North America, South America?), or would it be a one-off like Texas 2015? It turns out it was neither. They merely scheduled one additional gig: In Inglewood, which is about 40 miles from the beach that would host the Darker Waves fest. Annoyingly, that satellite gig would occur three days before the festival, which is a 5+ hour drive from Monterey Bay. I wasn't going to drive there and back twice (and flights seemed like overkill), so it meant a Wednesday to Sunday trip was the plan. I had been chatting a bit with the lovely Canadian Viking, Sandroid77. But as the festival drew nearer, she had too many other things going on and opted out of attending. I took consolation with the thought that a long distance relationship (yes, I was getting way ahead of myself) was probably more than I could take on anyway. On the bright side, in anticipation of seeing her (and the possibility of attending an all day gig on the beach with sweltering heat), I put myself on a fitness regimen in case going topless was a consideration. Yes, I am vain.

I hit the road Wednesday and surveyed the area in Inglewood between the venue and motel once I'd arrived. Inglewood had a bit of a rough reputation back when I'd seen The Cure at the Forum in 1987 and Depeche Mode there a few years later. It looks alright these days, but I opted for a ride share instead of walking. Unfortunately, the driver seemed confused about where to drop me off at the massive entertainment complex, which also includes SoFi Stadium. So I ended up having to walk about 15-20 minutes before I found the entrance of the theatre. Despite my months long assumption of typical Southern California weather, Manchester was in the house. It began to rain on my walk. And it continued to sprinkle down as we waited for the staff to belatedly open the gates and let us in to the venue. Sadly, the merch on offer was not as enticing as the special Substance T from New Orleans. I had sort of been hoping for something unique. Perhaps featuring the orange Republic floatie that had been on the tour poster, but it was not to be. From there it was off to check out my vantage point and meet up with Screwball, a SoCal-based Viking. He offered up a pog (like a Poker Chip, with a design to commemorate the gig). This seems to be the North American equivalent of the Viking badges, NüOrderMan had given me one in New Orleans.

But then it was time for support act Blossoms. I actually really like their take on pop music, which doesn't necessarily follow pop trends. Though I wasn't expecting them to be stellar live, I was happy to finally get the chance after backing out of attending a 2019 gig with my Ex (we had bought the tickets before the breakup). Unfortunely, the sound mix was appalling. The bass was super boomy which was worrying. This was quite a new venue, and I'd have thought acoustics would have been a focus in the design. My recollection is that the sound didn't really improve during their set, which although strong, didn't include my favourite song of theirs (gem "How Long Will This Last"). Fortunately, by the the time the Wagner/"Touched by the Hand of God" intro began to ring out, the sound was sorted. But with "Crystal", "Regret", "Age of Consent", "Ceremony" and "Restless" following, it was clear the band wasn't reimagining the setlist. The return of a slightly reworked (as compared to the 2011 version) of "Isolation" being the only track that was somewhat surprising. I was happy to hear the "Bizarre Love Triangle"/"Vanishing Point" medley though. It had been absent from the New Orleans set. Strangely, a photo of a physical setlist that was posted listed the encore as "Decades/Atmosphere, Transmission, LWTUA". I wouldn't think they were considering a medley of the first two, more likely deciding to make a decision between them in the moment. But we will never know, a time curfew meant they only ended up encoring with "Atmosphere" and "Love Will Tear Us Apart". All in all, it was still a great show. Despite the setlist quibbles, I'm always delighted that they are still performing well. Not only for my enjoyment, but for the multitudes of people that are invariably seeing them for the first time. Emboldened by the sounds still pounding in my head, I opted to not wait a ridiculously long time for a ride share and walked back to the Motel. Perhaps I was a bit disappointed that Inglewood had been cleaned up, and wanted to tempt fate. Regardless, the walk was uneventful, I was already thinking about heading out of there in the morning. InglewoodSetlist

I now had Thursday and Friday to kill before heading to Huntington Beach for Darker Waves. I'd decided to spend those days based in Hollywood. A massive amount of dining options and proximity to Amoeba Music were paramount. I also spent some time hiking around Griffith Observatory, which is a great experience. Early Saturday, I checked out in Hollywood and hit the road for the beach. Well, Huntington Beach. I again left my car at the motel and used ride sharing to avoid parking fees and other potential issues. While the weather was slightly better, amazingly there was still the threat of rain. Certainly that translated to hope for the multitudes of Goths that were descending into this uncharted territory of surf and sand. I saw very few people in short pants (like those I'd packed, but not worn), but many in full Gothic regalia. It wasn't quite Cruel World, being tempered with more postpunk, synth pop and, frankly, more normal looking fans, but people watching was definitely top of the scale. I won't go into the other acts as there were far too many, but I must say that it's very disappointing that this festival doesn't seem to be returning.

21. 2023.11.18 Huntington Beach, California (Darker Waves) As expected, New Order's Darker Waves set was merely an edited version of YouTube Theater's. One improvement that did stand out was their slotting in "Be a Rebel" after "Your Silent Face". I understand they want to feature their "newest" song, but using it to up the tempo after "KW1" was a much better place for it than being sandwiched between beloved bangers "The Perfect Kiss" and "Substance". I hate to say it, but these shorter festival sets really seem to suit the band. As with the Music Tastes Good festival in 2018, they really knocked it out of the park. The promoters wisely offset the stagetimes of New Order and other headliner Tears for Fears, which meant there was a massive crowd on hand. And it gave me a chance to catch most of the TfF set afterwards. Upon leaving the festival, there was again a massive demand for ride shares. I instead set off on foot, the music and memories swimming in my head. DarkerWavesSetlist

I wouldn't want a short festival set to be my swansong of New Order gigs. But only time will tell...

2023.11.15 Inglewood, California (YouTube Theater)

2023.11.18 Huntington Beach, California (Darker Waves)

Great to read all these stories and amazing memories. Sadly I've never seen the classic line up live, though I did get a wave from Gillian watching from the wings at the Adelaide Big Day Out ;)

2002 Sydney BDO 2002 Adelaide BDO 2012 Toronto - Sony Centre 2016 Sydney Opera House (w Orchestra) 2016 Sydney Opera House (band) 2020 Melbourne - Sidney Myer Music Bowl Tickets for 2025 Sydney - Opera House Forecourt

Hooky: 2010 Adelaide - Her Majesty's Theatre 2015 Adelaide - The Gov 2017 Adelaide - The Gov 2019 Melbourne (JD Orchestrated) - Plenary Hall 2022 Adelaide - The Gov 2024 Adelaide - Hindley St Music Hall

Thanks M1.

Let me repeat once again, there is no deadline for the CV submission, folks! It’s never too late to post your gig list, anecdote etc.

Now that my New Order gig attendance has hit 20, I post an updated list.

New Order

1. 1985-05-04 Osaka (Koseinenkin Kaikan [Welfare Pension Hall] )
2. 1987-01-27 Tokyo (Nakano Sun Plaza)
3. 1987-01-28 Tokyo (Nakano Sun Plaza)
4. 1987-01-29 Osaka (Koseinenkin Kaikan [Welfare Pension Hall] )
5. 1987-01-30 Nagoya (Kokaido [Civic Assembly Hall])
6. 1998-12-29 Manchester (Manchester Evening News Arena)
7. 2005-07-31 Naeba (Fuji Rock Festival)
8. 2012-04-26 Manchester (Apollo)
9. 2012-04-27 Manchester (Apollo)
10. 2012-08-18 Osaka (Summer Sonic Festival)
11. 2012-09-16 Portmeirion (Festival No. 6)
12. 2013-07-07 Jodrell Bank (Observatory site)
13. 2015-12-06 Manchester (Warehouse Project)
14. 2016-07-09 Manchester (Castlefield Bowl)
15. 2017-07-13 Manchester (Old Granada Studios)
16. 2019-07-21 Jodrell Bank (Bluedot Festival)
17. 2021-09-08 Halifax (Piece Hall)
18. 2021-09-10 Manchester (Heaton Park)
19. 2023-10-05 Glasgow (OVO Hydro)
20. 2025-02-25 Osaka (Zepp Namba)

Revenge

1. 1991-01-30 Osaka (IMP Hall)

Peter Hook & The Light

1. 2012-05-18 Manchester (FAC251 - The Factory)
2. 2013-01-18 Manchester (Manchester Cathedral)

This thread has hit 20,000 views. Hurray!

This is a ‘never ending’ thread. Is anybody there to add a gig list or an anecdote? It doesn’t matter whether you have seen 1 or 51 shows. Your contribution will be much appreciated.

New Order 1989 Irvine Meadows 1993 Hollywood Bowl 2001 Area:One Festival (Blockbuster Pavilion in San Bernardino) 2017 Hollywood Bowl 2022 Hollywood Bowl

Electronic 1990 Dodger Stadium (their very 1st first concert)

Monaco 1997 El Rey Theater (Los Angeles)

I've been a New Order fan since day 1 (eagerly waiting for John Peel to play their debut single), but to my shame I've only ever seen them in concert once:

1984-08-19

Sunday 19th August 1984 - Gloucester Leisure Centre

I did tune in for the Rock Around the Clock performance the following Saturday 25th August too, and taped it off the radio! 😎

Subvulture wrote: New Order 1989 Irvine Meadows 1993 Hollywood Bowl 2001 Area:One Festival (Blockbuster Pavilion in San Bernardino) 2017 Hollywood Bowl 2022 Hollywood Bowl

Electronic 1990 Dodger Stadium (their very 1st first concert)

Monaco 1997 El Rey Theater (Los Angeles)

I was at Irvine Meadows and all of those Hollywood Bowl gigs (both of the Unity Tour ones in 2022). I went to the Area: One Festival but up at the Shoreline Amphitheatre. Unfortunely, the 1990 Depeched Mode gig I went to was also at Shoreline. I didn't know at the time of purchase that Electronic would be support in L.A. I also saw Monaco on the 1997 tour, but in San Francisco.

It's a small world (of New Order related gigs in California).

Hi all, especially to those who haven’t posted your CV.

As I’m sure you all know, New Order Online will close down at the end of 2025 — i.e. in about three weeks and a few days.

For these last days of our beloved website, how about sharing your gig list with other forum members, telling us, “I was there”, before this place is passing into history?

All the best, The Japanese One

P.S. Saw Section 25 live for the first time, the Voodoo Room, Edinburgh, 7 September. Now a duo of Vin Cassidy and Steve Stringer, they are still going strong.

The Japanese One wrote: Hi all, especially to those who haven’t posted your CV.

As I’m sure you all know, New Order Online will close down at the end of 2025 — i.e. in about three weeks and a few days.

For these last days of our beloved website, how about sharing your gig list with other forum members, telling us, “I was there”, before this place is passing into history?

All the best, The Japanese One

P.S. Saw Section 25 live for the first time, the Voodoo Room, Edinburgh, 7 September. Now a duo of Vin Cassidy and Steve Stringer, they are still going strong.

About 30 concerts.Probably pissed out my head in all of them. Thrown out of Liverpool Pops 06 for Aggressive Dancing..wtf Late 80s when Happy Mondays played and i lost my shoe in the mosh pit at the Gmex..Fine time..wow. Know all the Vikings and shout out to Muffy Johnny 2 Sheds Hibster Mark Rutter Don..King Al Jarvis...Shug John Sludden and Lorraine Norbert..Alex Stasko..Diggy Mike..Colin Torr..Missy Jem..Liv..Don ..Jason and Ren. Mad Darren..Dave and Sandra..the Milkies..Dave Tandy..Ron...Maya..Dave Hibell..Steve Smith..Banshee..Huntsman..Monty..Gary Mac and OurKid. Plus the numerous stars like Colin Torr aka BiginOil Alistair..Burt Reynolds and probably about 100 others i pissed off.. Several times in the Big Smoke Manchester Blackpool Wolves and so many others that i would rather forget Freebase at 251..is it?

Bad Lieutenant with Phil at Preston..Ritz and around. Met Hooky and Gillians sister and Steve...who said.. So youre Rocket Mick? Plus Sandra and Dave..jetsetters...again The Leeds fan Jim and his lovely wife

Gazman...all the American lads...plus more i owe beers too. I was around b4 Joy Division got famous and was at Preston when Blackburn Youth kicked off in 85..i think.

Great times and dont forget Gary Crawford and Major Taratino Jeff who sadly died and loads who said Hello but ran..

Plus Neil .Leeds fan and major NUTTER Ricardo Julio and the South American gang German Order

Nick King That mad Sunderland dude and K Stand TiM JAUNCEY

Finally…thank you so much!

Where are all these people now?

For my first ever New Order gig I took a four-day return trip from Zagreb to Turin of some 1,500 kilometers which cost my life savings at the time. I had been a fan for almost 20 years by then but they never played close. The gig was a part of the Traffic festival linking Turin with Manchester ahead of Turin winter Olympics, it was a free open air affair at a city park holding close to 10,000 people I think. As it was a last-minute decision, I travelled with no idea where I will spend the night or how will I find the concert, my internet access was limited at the time and I had no credit card. Nevertheless I was lucky in finding a nice hotel on the evening of the 14-hour journey, and next afternoon I simply followed someone in a Joy Division shirt to a tram. At the festivals site, I made friends with a group of Italians who travelled from Milan, and we shared drinks throughout the afternoon, since I arrived early because I had had a dream days earlier that I missed the concert and ended up at a mariachi performance. Not joking. Twilight landed, and the concert started. As it was a Manchester-themed festival. 808 State opened for New Order, although I spent most of their set queuing for the bathroom (a single ladies bathroom, honestly), but the sound was good an I heard most of the set, and I was in time for the climax, which was followed shortly by the great Tony Wilson announcing New Order. That was my one and only chance to see him in flesh, as he passed away two years later. New Order opened the set with Crystal, as they did at the time, and although it is not among my favorite songs it was enough to build the excitement. I managed to push myself to the second row and they followed with Regret, Ceremony and Love Vigilantes, that was more like it. That was the time they played Everything's Gone Green after eons, which was my highlight of the concert. I also loved both WFTSC and Krafty, although the album is poorly rated among fans, but WFTSC especially was glorious to watch under starlit sky. Joy Division songs worked well, especially the LWTUA singalong. I do recall Barney's whooping but did not mind, also Hooky's stance although he was at the opposite side of the stage alongside the Vikings. Blue Monday wrapped the concert up, setlist can be found here (it does not mention ceremony, although I's reasonably sure it was played). The people from Milan drove me back to the hotel, and next morning I started the return trip which extended to two days after I missed one of the trains in Venice. However, as I walked around Venice the next morning, I came across a t-shirt store which of all things had a Joy Division Here are the Young Men shirt in the window, so I bought it, considering it a sign.

My second and last NO gig so far took place at InMusic festival in Zagreb in 2012, it was far less interesting and not as good, but I will still write a report tomorrow if anyone's interested-

Hi Jul,

Sorry I haven’t visited here for a few days. You know, I almost gave up, had little hope someone would post a CV or recollection. Many thanks for your post. I enjoyed reading your memoir. To catch New Order live, your passion to travel a long way across the border to make it happen is so touching. I appreciate that.

Of course, I’d love to read your other New Order experience.

They are shit live now. Dont kid yourself

ROCKET MICK wrote: They are shit live now. Dont kid yourself

They were shit live then and they are shit live now for that matter. In different contexts.

I enjoyed them live then and I enjoy them live now. In different contexts.

My first post on NOOL (#14 from the top). Posted the day after the gig (2015-12-06) — almost exactly ten years ago.

And the gig was shit.

WHP: http://forums.neworderonline.com/default.aspx?g=posts&t=3220#post21834

Three days to go. The views of this thread have just hit 50,000! Hooray! A little achievement in the last days of NOOL. Thank you, everybody.

And You still have a chance to submit your CV, to give testify of your attendances, to tell folks here your New Order anecdotes, or simply, you were there.

C’mon.

The Japanese One wrote: My first post on NOOL (#14 from the top). Posted the day after the gig (2015-12-06) — almost exactly ten years ago.

And the gig was shit.

WHP: http://forums.neworderonline.com/default.aspx?g=posts&t=3220#post21834

Shit New Order gigs happen, even when the venue isn't to blame. I'm afraid I didn't submit a write-up of the last gig I attended (Cruel World Fesitival this past May). It was thoroughly mediocre, and I didn't want to end on a sour note. If this site somehow gets a new lease on life, I'll reconsider sharing my thoughts.

I should have put, “I loved them live then and I love them live now.”

New Order live in the 20th Century, the 1980s in particular, was shit for the lack of professionalism, but at the same time that was their undeniable charm, even strength. New Order live in the 21st Century is shit for its slickness and predictability, but you can’t deny they are more professional and there is a certain merit in it.

Both are good in their own respective ways.

One day to go and I may still post something, but for now, farewell everybody. Especially Andy, ROCKET MICK and Jul for constant thanks you all three gave to my posts.

Jul, I have visited Zagreb in April 2014, during my transit to Dubrovnik. I flew in from Osaka and strolled city centre in the daytime for a few hours. Nice place.

The Japanese One wrote: One day to go and I may still post something, but for now, farewell everybody. Especially Andy, ROCKET MICK and Jul for constant thanks you all three gave to my posts.

Jul, I have visited Zagreb in April 2014, during my transit to Dubrovnik. I flew in from Osaka and strolled city centre in the daytime for a few hours. Nice place.

Thank you.

And your posts were always welcome.

C'est la vie.

This thread has now hit 51,000 views despite NOOL is not supposed to exist any more. Afterlife.

And now, this thread has hit 51,300 views — 51,310 views to be exact as I am visiting here, beating the Uk 2023 tour thread’s 51,304 views and coming out on top on page 1 of the Topics of the Ceremony forum. Fantastic.

Does anybody feel like posting another CV?

I was "much too young" to see them perform during their Factory era (and I was born in the wrong country). So my first experience was in 2001. Yes, the Billy Corgan era. Well, you can call it what you want... I'd like to share a few of my memories from that time. So, Google, please help me out.

2001: A Naeba Odyssey...

It was mid-summer (now it's winter), at a ski resort in the mountains. They were headlining the second-biggest stage. The biggest stage was Neil Young (who's that? haha). I was able to secure a spot in front of Hooky while protecting myself from Alec Empire's bloody sonic attack. Then, when the time was right, I put a piece of magic mushroom in my mouth (om nom nom). Get ready.

The first song was Atmosphere. Even though it was a slow song, the tremendous pressure from behind caused my newly bought glasses to come off. Miraculously, I caught it near my knee and escaped the worst, but from then on I had to keep my hands firmly on the frames of my glasses. Back then, Joy Division's songs didn't sound as cheap as they do now. There were no giant pictures of Ian or profane slogans like "Forever Joy Division". Nowadays, it looks like a souvenir from a tourist spot.

At that point, only Crystal had been released just before, Get Ready had not been released yet. There was no online leak like there was with Waiting For The Sirens' Call. I remember being honestly disappointed when I heard Crystal (as well as Brutal). But this song had enough power when played live. When I heard it live, I even thought that this might be a modern version of Temptation. It had such destructive power.

When I heard the intro to Love Vigilantes, I was so happy that I joined the young stranger next to me and said, "Wow! They're going to play a song like this!" and shared my joy with them. Of course, be careful with your glasses! To be honest, I thought Isolation's completely outdated Drum & Bass-style arrangement was a little weird, but the beautiful melodies of Your Silent Face that follow made it no longer a matter of concern.

The next two songs were from Get Ready, which I had never heard before. One of my dreams was to hear New Order's new songs live before they were released, so one of my dreams has come true.

After the obligatory BLT, next was Close Range. This really shocked me. This is the kind of song I was looking for! The hooky bass solo at the climax blew my mind. That's why Close Range is still one of my favorite. I was happy to learn from an interview at the time that it was a favorite song for the members as well. I don't usually hear heavy sub-bass from New Order records. But at their live performance, I could really feel the deep bass that reverberated in my stomach. That was also a new experience. I think it's so different when it's live.

Temptation was also one of the highlights of the night. Later, this song was aired on a pro-shot video (along with 60MAH and Blue Monday). Although the video is low quality, I still enjoy watching it from time to time. They probably have all the songs recorded. I hope they release it all someday without messing with it (Get Ready Definiteve Box?). At least "Close Range" please!

When the last song, Blue Monday, ended, I just sat there and couldn't move for a while. I was completely absent-minded. Well, the mushrooms probably had an effect as well. I'd like to think that I managed to catch the last train in time. Because four years later, when they came back to the same place (this time it was the biggest stage), it was so horrible (well, everyone has their own way of looking at it). I also wanted to write about that tragic memories of that time, but I can't seem to get the hang of it.

P.S. Thank you Google.

Anne Ballard,

Many thanks for posting your detailed memoir of New Order on their first appearance at the Fuji Rock Festival at this last minute NOOL is about to disappear into the ether. Hope you will catch more New Order gigs in the future even if the chances are rather slim at this moment of time.