Mid-80s punchups

Are any of the fights documented, on video, audio or photos ? I've grown up thinking they're a peaceful band, Barney's so cute and everyone at gigs is friendly ! Then again, I do live a bit far off.

Let's at least have some written accounts !

so u want a scripted soap opera of New Order

being a sadist ive always been interested in this too, i take it old hooky only ever got involved in the fistycuffs? i cant imagine steve grabbing his ride cymbal and winging it a member of the audience, chopping their bloody heads off

Originally posted by Spotnick > Originally posted by Drep Hemarsarkus> being a sadist ive always been interested in this too, i take it old hooky only ever got involved in the fistycuffs? i cant imagine steve grabbing his ride cymbal and winging it a member of the audience, chopping their bloody heads off

Hum, that avatar might be a little offensive, isn't it?

Nice, but why the profanity? a little censorship might be a good idea... F**K would look nicer ;) What's with you webmasters and censoring avatars? The most offensive avatars are quite often tamer than the posts within the threads. At least Robert's head isn't exploding.

i understand the problem, would be a damn pity for the site to be shut down over some arsehole complaining about my comments towards a certain robert smith, i personally wouldnt want fat bob on my doorstep demanding an apology or else he will electrocute me with his blubber. P.S sorry bob, i like you really but you cant sing and you're bands shit, i didnt say that did i?

Anyway, back to the thread.

I've seen several fights over the years, all confined to the audience only. I don't remember Hooky doing anything about any of them, even when they have broken out at the front - though he has made a few menacing comments at times. Biggest brawl I remember was at Portsmouth in 1984, though there have been scuffles of some sort at nearly every gig in the 80s. Macclesfield 85 and Preston 85 were big ones as well.

huge kick-offs at sheff uni and roxy gigs... the nastiest i witnessed was at macc leisure centre...the hookster was getting loads of stick off this guy..so he decided to retaliate by wading in to this lad with his bass..cue huge brawl amongst crowd..we were packed like sardines in what was nothing more than a large(ish) badminton hall..

Originally posted by PAUL TROWELL huge kick-offs at sheff uni and roxy gigs...the nastiest i witnessed was at macc leisure centre...the hookster was getting loads of stick off this guy..so he decided to retaliate by wading in to this lad with his bass..cue huge brawl amongst crowd..we were packed like sardines in what was nothing more than a large(ish) badminton hall..

So that's what started it ? Couldn't see it so well from away outside Gillian's side of the stage and quite a way back.

yes thats what happened...i was quite close and it got a tad nasty.. what sent you to gillians side???choice or crush.

i always used to head for somewhere between bernard and hookster...i am 5ft 8 in my high heels so if i could i would try and get a good slot early.

Originally posted by PAUL TROWELL yes thats what happened...i was quite close and it got a tad nasty..what sent you to gillians side???choice or crush.i always used to head for somewhere between bernard and hookster...i am 5ft 8 in my high heels so if i could i would try and get a good slot early.

We always used to go Gillian's side if there were lasses with us. When it was just the lads we would be right in front of Barney in the front row. Half the gigs I didn't go right down the front though, some I stood halfway back - depended who was taping !

At Slough Fulcrum centre Hooky whacked some bloke in the face with his bass. Looked painful!

Not so much an actual fight, but the threatened and much anticipated fight between Barney and the w**ker DJ at Birmingham Powerhouse 6/84. Listen to Barney at the start of TPK, and again at the start of the encore. I'm told around 50 people stayed behind after the gig to see if the punch up took place, but apparently it never did....

MID 80's...should have stopped fighting a lot YOUNGER than this. As for PRESTON 85 we have BLACKBURN YOUTH to blame for this.Naughty lads indeed.Bet they've all grown up now!

Originally posted by Rocket Mick MID 80's...should have stopped fighting a lot YOUNGER than this.As for PRESTON 85 we have BLACKBURN YOUTH to blame for this.Naughty lads indeed.Bet they've all grown up now!

did you go to the infamous guildhall gig mick ???

Originally posted by PAUL TROWELL > Originally posted by Rocket Mick> MID 80's...should have stopped fighting a lot YOUNGER than this.> As for PRESTON 85 we have BLACKBURN YOUTH to blame for this.Naughty lads indeed.Bet they've all grown up now!

did you go to the infamous guildhall gig mick ??? No due to working and also those bloody YOUTH bought all the tickets!I was shift working in IT and couldn't get the time off.Foolishly asked for HOLIDAY so i had blown my cover.My brother also missed out due to the fact that the tickets went REALLY quick then,seemed i missed quite a night!What about you PAUL...did you manage to get there? Cheers ROCKET MICK

I was there, as a sweet innocent 15 yr old. Fackin hell, that was a long time ago!

Great NO weekend, that. The Rock Around The Clock performance on Saturday TV, and the gig on Sunday. I was just on the outskirts of the ruck, however my nadgers did get caught by a stray Doc Marten...

Portsmouth will always be one of my favourite gigs - took little brother along for the first time. Probably the best show from that tour. The ruck was a bit of a big one !

Apologies for my ignorance: were said YOOF a football crew or just a clique of Order fans? And presumably this is the same group of lads from Blackburn that Hooky refers to at (I think) the GMEX '86 gig???

Originally posted by Al Jarvis > Originally posted by martin fradley> Apologies for my ignorance: were said YOOF a football crew or just a clique of Order fans? And presumably this is the same group of lads from Blackburn that Hooky refers to at (I think) the GMEX '86 gig???

I always thought they were strictly football, but I think Mick's said they were a bit further reaching in those days. I think they're just football today though, they're still in existence. They'd give it the YOUTH! YOUTH! YOUTH! chant at lots of gigs and a few of 'em had New Order tattoos, different song names up their arms. New Order always referred to them as LADS though (ie. GMex86), not sure why - they were the YOUTH.

Here a quick scan where they're mentioned in an NME interview.

NME I NME II

Thanks for that, Al - nice article. Slightly surprised by Barney's deadpan avowal of desire to move to EMI, but I guess that shows that the band's purism was as much a projection of the fans as anything. I liked the nostalgic throwback to the - ahem - good old days when chucking half-filled pints and bottles at bands was the norm. Pop Will Eat Itself gigs were insane for that kind of stuff......

Originally posted by Al Jarvis > Originally posted by Old Blue I was there, as a sweet innocent 15 yr old. Fackin hell, that was a long time ago!

Clive, I think Paul was referring to the Preston gig, not Portsmouth. (in)Famous for a pitched battle between Preston locals and the Blackburn Youth.

In which case, I wasn't there and my bollocks remained unscathed...

I remember the Warrington gig 01/03/1986 and there were Man U supporters on one side and Liverpool supporters on the other. The atmosphere was quite hostile. Life, the support band got slaughtered by the crowd but I thought they were ok. The Olympia gig had a much better atmosphere though.

Just read through the article that Allen linked above: did they actually read the message out from the manslaughtering Blackburn casual that they mention? Anyone in attendance or have a tap from the gig they refer to? And if so, what did it say????

Originally posted by Rocket Mick > Originally posted by PAUL TROWELL> > > > Originally posted by Rocket Mick> > quote]> > !What about you PAUL...did you manage to get there?> > Cheers ROCKET MICK>

no i missed out....my bro and my best mate went but i remember being offered a ticket but having to turn it down...( tuesday night in preston )...i cant remember why now..however they came back and reported all the mayhem..10 beefy songs,a packed venue and too much beer. it might have been a cash thing that stopped me as they both went to the ulu gig on the friday and i met them at the sheff uni gig on the saturday..( memorable set,packed,late on stage...yes you guessed it a bit of rucking as well ).. i think the guildhall hosts a bit of snooker and indoor bowls nowadays !!!

Originally posted by martin fradley Just read through the article that Allen linked above: did they actually read the message out from the manslaughtering Blackburn casual that they mention? Anyone in attendance or have a tap from the gig they refer to? And if so, what did it say????

Yeah, there was an announcement. I'll get the exact wording from the tape next time I dig it out.

hey i was at the guildhall gig,and yes there was a lot of scuffles going on in the front. new order got loads of stuff chucked at em as well,beer ect. in fact it must have been during TPK that barney got a good sloshing from the crowd coz he was plonking on his cow bell at the time,i can still see him now winding up like a baseball pitcher to toss the bell at the culprits at the front. he stopped mid throw unfortunately and i really wish he had thrown it,not because i wanted to see someone get clonked but in years to come people would be listening to tapes of the gig and thinking "christ u miss timed that gong barney" hehehe.

Originally posted by KnownPleasures > Originally posted by martin fradley> Just read through the article that Allen linked above: did they actually read the message out from the manslaughtering Blackburn casual that they mention? Anyone in attendance or have a tap from the gig they refer to? And if so, what did it say????

Yeah, there was an announcement. I'll get the exact wording from the tape next time I dig it out.

Cheers, Tim!