"It might be our last show ever" - Steve and Hooky´s interview!

reading Steve's and Peter's quotes I think they are just quite unsure how they should move on. seems they are now getting bored repeating their formula, with poor sales of WFTSC, and the general mood of being a has-been (in terms of influence and coolness). this just proves to me that they still recognize what's going on around them and that the idea of New Order is important enough for them not becoming a karaoke tribut band.

if they really want to think things over, get motivated and start anew, just look what Wire have done with "send". not that many sales, but what a sound. unheard of before.

Chris owen wrote: New Order no longer important or relevant?

Radio One said this about Depeche Mode in 2001. Their recent album sold over 3 million copies and they've just finished a 12 month world tour regularly playing to five figure audiences. While New Order can't manage those stats, I'm not particularly concerend if they're important or not anymore...so long as they continue to write great music, that'll do for me.

I totally agree with you.

Being a Depeche Mode/U2/New Order fan, I never compare those three bands... they are different. And for me, it doesn't matter if they sold out stadiums, arenas or only 10.000 tickets.

If they keep doing great music that moves me, then I'm a happy girl and I will continue listening to them.

I am thankfull, that I had the chance to see NO live. A year ago, when I started listening to them I said to myself: "I'll definitely never have the chance to see them live"... well, a year later I did, and in my country. I could never ask for more.

Ok, maybe I dare to ask another studio album and a new tour, asking doesn't hurt, right?

Given their recent run at success for WFTSC, touring, interviewing the nine yards I'm not too surprised. It is true how sad this would be...I've been a fan since I was 16 and now I'm 34! but, hey now, what about the material they have written that has not been released. Hopefully there will be at least that album ala "Strangeways Here We Come."

El Jarvo wrote:

Blunderer wrote: Listen to you all.

I posted about this the other week after the Blackpool show and got slated.

They are finished. Yesterday's Men. They ceased to be relevant after Acid House. Technique was the last record that meant anything. Even when Republic came out they had had their best days.

Shrinking gig attendances. Flagging record sales. Mediocre records. Expanding wastelines.

The sad thing is not that they are quitting now, the sad thing is they did'nt do it 15 years ago before besmirching the memories.

This comes from a 36 year old who has been a lifelong fan.

Bless.

Too many arguments to rip to shreds here but saying they haven't written anything that meant anything since Technique probably sums up where you're coming from. Regret and Crystal have both appeared since Technique and piss all over anything that appeared on that particular album, imho. Which tracks mean anything from Technique I'm still yet to fathom. But if, as you're 36, that's then possibly your first studio album I can see where you're coming from. Sort of.

Shrinking gig attendences? They've just headlined two festivals in South America and sold out two Sao Paulo shows of something like 8 or 9k. They also played to 8k in Brasilia despite the gig only being announced at 3 weeks notice. The recent UK tour was similar in size to their last sizeable UK tour of the 80's - in the summer of 87 - so I'm not entirely sure where that fits in with your logic either.

Flagging record sales? You'll have to remind me how many units everything from Movement to Brotherhood shifted cos even I can't remember. Don't recall those albums making huge dents in the top 10 but I'm sure you were around to correct me otherwise.

Expanding wastelines? (WTF is a waste-line?). 33 year old blokes are generally slimmer than 50 year old blokes. Well. I. Never.

And "ceased to be relevant after Acid House". What on earth is that supposed to mean? And what had Acid House got to do with New Order other than a silly stab at the genre with Fine Time, which thankfully lasted longer than most acieeed did.

Take off the rose-tinted spectacles, now there's a good lad.

If I ever read another post, it'll be too soon.

Class.

Blunderer wrote: "Precious fan boy" is exactly right.

You have to grow up.

New Order are now just another ageing rock act. Once brilliant. Now no longer.

I was a fan, now I am a grown man who is not a "fan" of any group.

And I stand by what I said. They are no longer important to the music scene. They no longer break any ground or do anything new.

Gig attendances are right down.

Record sales are right down.

They are 50 years old and should be making their living elsewhere.

Live with it, Fan Boy, and stop being so teenage about the whole thing.

Still doesn't seem to stop you being a cunt though, does it?

Jert wrote:

Blunderer wrote: "Precious fan boy" is exactly right.

You have to grow up.

New Order are now just another ageing rock act. Once brilliant. Now no longer.

I was a fan, now I am a grown man who is not a "fan" of any group.

And I stand by what I said. They are no longer important to the music scene. They no longer break any ground or do anything new.

Gig attendances are right down.

Record sales are right down.

They are 50 years old and should be making their living elsewhere.

Live with it, Fan Boy, and stop being so teenage about the whole thing.

Still doesn't seem to stop you being a cunt though, does it?

Well I got into new order about two years ago and their new stuff means as much to me as their 'old' stuff. I don't care how old they are. Look past that and listen to the music they are making. Although I understand they have to consider record sales, that doesnt mean I'll be any less upset if things come to an end. I love get ready and i love waiting for the sirens call and the songs on them move me as much as some of the older stuff.

They have by no means lost their talent, been outdated or anything in my opinion. I understand they are older now and dont want to be doing this forever, but these posts saying they are 'past it' are just crap. Maybe nostaligia of the 80s is getting in the way, but as a 'new' fan per se, I see a great band making great music. And if they split before I have the chance to see the live, I will be very upset cos I have missed out on seeing one of the best bands in history.

I doubt it's over yet... Remember that the likes of The Who, Pink Floyd, Madness and even Take That have done exactly the same thing...

Until they appear, as a group, issuing a statement that New Order is no more, it's invalid. NO has always had it's spats, fits, bursts and rests...

Admittedly they must be pissed off that WFTSC was a bit of a sales flop, but a full tour of sold out shows tells them that there's plenty of life in the old dog yet!

They've done a lot of gigs these last two years, the most since 1989, and we all know what effect the 89 tour had on them collectively. Time for them to take a little step back from New Order and do some other things for a while, and then come back in a couple of years maybe (if they still want to, it's a bit different now to how it was when they were 33) with some new songs and a whole new load of people desperate to see/hear them, plus the Viking true faith will still be here. In the meantime there will be Freebass, Hooky DJ sets, Digital and Re: Order for everyone to come along and get pissed together to.

Tim wrote: They've done a lot of gigs these last two years, the most since 1989, and we all know what effect the 89 tour had on them collectively. Time for them to take a little step back from New Order and do some other things for a while, and then come back in a couple of years maybe (if they still want to, it's a bit different now to how it was when they were 33) with some new songs and a whole new load of people desperate to see/hear them, plus the Viking true faith will still be here. In the meantime there will be Freebass, Hooky DJ sets, Digital and Re: Order for everyone to come along and get pissed together to.

Absojollylutely!!!

El Jarvo wrote:

Tim wrote: In the meantime there will be Freebass, Hooky DJ sets, Digital and Re: Order for everyone to come along and get pissed together to.

Yes, but Tim ...

• Are yourselves and Re-order 'cutting edge' and 'important'?
• Are you older than you were 20 years ago?
• Can you sell out stadia?
• Did Community 2 outsell Community 1?
• Can you still squeeze into your skinnyfit jeans?

Them's the questions.

Absolutely no idea about Will's impotence at all, and no real wish to find out! Jimbo's definitely cutting his hedge this weekend, we had to cancel the rehearsal because of it. I am twice as old as I was twenty years ago, if that counts. I can't sell out Blue Saturday, let alone stadia! Phil won't ever sell out, dunno about the others. You'll have to ask the sales force about Community II, I'm not interested as we're not on it. As for the jeans, I can actually fit comfortably into skinny fit jeans nowadays, moreso than I could ten years ago! The wonders of healthy living eh?

I blame the whoop fascists myself... it's gotta get a guy down eventually...

As with most things around here, its probably my fault.

Oh, btw, NME's at it again, by posting more news from that Argentine interview - this time about Control...

Lazy. Fcuking. Journalists....

Uncle Liam wrote: As with most things around here, its probably my fault.

its grey and wet outside AGAIN!!

your bleedin fault.

joe davola wrote: if they really want to think things over, get motivated and start anew, just look what Wire have done with "send". not that many sales, but what a sound. unheard of before.

Yes please! New Order sign to Colin Newman's Swim Records! And then play a full world tour together with Githead, put out an EP every half a year with just written "NEW" on the front-cover and surely don't take a notice of what the music press would say about it. This would be fun for us - but surely not for New Order 'cause they are too big in the business as a major band now, i guess.

They never never never would think of attempting commercial suicide. Don't even dream of it...

mil wrote: They have by no means lost their talent, been outdated or anything in my opinion. I understand they are older now and dont want to be doing this forever, but these posts saying they are 'past it' are just crap. Maybe nostaligia of the 80s is getting in the way, but as a 'new' fan per se, I see a great band making great music. And if they split before I have the chance to see the live, I will be very upset cos I have missed out on seeing one of the best bands in history.

I absolutely agree. I'm also a relatively new fan and haven't had the chance to see them live, and I've felt absolutely gutted since first reading about this. Even more so after finding out that I was thisclose to seeing them at the signing Tuesday.

I imagine I'll get attacked for opening my big mouth, but I don't care.

No reason at all why you'll be attacked, I think everyone bar one blundering unpopular agrees with you!

No way are they past it, simple as that. They constantly get bigger crowds than they did in the UK during the supposed halcyon days (Bournemouth was very much a one-off, there was zero publicity, and in any case I've seen them play to smaller crowds in the mid 80s). You only have to look at Old Trafford and Finsbury Park in 2002, or Hyde Park last year to see that they still have the crowd appeal, all bigger than any UK gig they'd ever done before (Reading and Glasto being festivals that people were going to regardless of who was playing, rather than being New Order gigs, ok Old Trafford was part of the Move Festival, but it wasn't advertised as a festival first before NO were announced, and Hyde Park was always an NO gig first and foremost). Sure the sales of WFTSC may not have been as high as Warners wanted, but since when have record sales mattered to this band? The band who put out records without their name on, when they want to.....

Neworder are to me, the single most important band I have ever come across in my life.

I am grateful for everything they've given me, even the not so good bits. ;)

They will call it a day someday. Maybe now, maybe later.

They're understandably tired right now. Let them work it out for themselves.

I'll be here waiting if they decide to record / gig again.

In the meantime, there's plenty to choose from in their discography.

Stop typing for a while and get listening. You'll feel better for it.

FINAL WORD on this crap.

WHO CARES!!! lets face it. it doesn't affect anyones day to day lives!

or does it?

J.A.K wrote: FINAL WORD on this crap.

WHO CARES!!! lets face it. it doesn't affect anyones day to day lives!

or does it?

it does. :(

I'm intrigued to know how it effects you Ronald. Not like you are even a semi regular face at gigs now is it?

its like the end of the world is comin

Was life really that bad between Republic and Get Ready? We had other stuff to keep us going.

J.A.K wrote:

its like the end of the world is comin

And i feel fine!

Tim wrote: No reason at all why you'll be attacked, I think everyone bar one blundering unpopular agrees with you!

No way are they past it, simple as that. They constantly get bigger crowds than they did in the UK during the supposed halcyon days (Bournemouth was very much a one-off, there was zero publicity, and in any case I've seen them play to smaller crowds in the mid 80s). You only have to look at Old Trafford and Finsbury Park in 2002, or Hyde Park last year to see that they still have the crowd appeal, all bigger than any UK gig they'd ever done before (Reading and Glasto being festivals that people were going to regardless of who was playing, rather than being New Order gigs, ok Old Trafford was part of the Move Festival, but it wasn't advertised as a festival first before NO were announced, and Hyde Park was always an NO gig first and foremost). Sure the sales of WFTSC may not have been as high as Warners wanted, but since when have record sales mattered to this band? The band who put out records without their name on, when they want to.....

2002 was 4 years ago. I think people were more willing to give them a fair go but relentlessly persuing the same tired old setlist with the occasional, often badly hashed 'suprise' has killed it for many. Hyde Park was on sale on ebay for 2 or 3 quid in a lot of cases, as touts dumped tickets on mass. As you say New Order were far from the only act at Move and Finsbury park as well.

That's not to say that they've been totally deserted by their fan base but as many on this thread have pointed out, it's often the same old faces in their late 30's and early 40's. Hardly a dynamic and changing audience. It hurts me to read the Rolling Stones called out to show an example of why a rock dinosaur hasn't become extinct or someone's mum touted as an example of their continuing appeal.

Of course contrary views are going to be heckled on a fan site but I think some are merited. It's not like it's something the ones who are barracking Blundere for, haven't often said similar to. Of course it hurts to see your heroes rubbished, especially if you've invested a huge part of your life supporting them but there's a reason dinosaurs are extinct.

Uncle Liam wrote: I'm intrigued to know how it effects you Ronald. Not like you are even a semi regular face at gigs now is it?

In fairness, Liam, he does live on the other fucking side of the world.

And it's "affects". And you need a hyphen in "semi-regular".

El Jarvo wrote:

J.A.K wrote: FINAL WORD on this crap.

WHO CARES!!! lets face it. it doesn't affect anyones day to day lives!

or does it?

5000 posts in 18 months, JAK?

You telling me you're only just popping here once a month, then? And not getting a daily fix of this?

thats why i need the weekend to recover.

really though. if the band do split for a while, then so what. on the end hand, if Spotnick packs it in tomorrow, then