Your CV of New Order gig attendance

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.