Rolling Stones Magazine Article

from 'Rolling Stones' Magazine...

8/2/07, 4:11 pm EST

Bernard Sumner Says New Order ‘Mate Peter Hook “Needs to Chill Out”

Last week New Order bassist Peter Hook shocked fans by lashing out at his bandmates on his blog and announcing the group had broken up (in something resembling Courtney Love speak): “You are no more new order than i am! You may have two thirds but dont assume you have the rights to do anything NEW ordery cos you dont ive still got a third!”

New Order guitarist Bernard Sumner — who hasn’t seen Hook since the group toured South America last November — was as surprised as anyone who read the post. “I find it very distasteful for him to do that after all this time,” he says, checking in by telephone from England. “He should have had a meeting with us. I’m not having someone tell me that we’ve split up without consulting me first. I think that’s very arrogant.”

Sumner is unsure whether he and drummer Stephen Morris will continue on as New Order without Hook. “We haven’t got any plans to make any music under the guise as New Order,” Sumner says. “I’ve working on two other projects at the moment so I’m kind of busy for the next couple of years anyway.”

And Hook, he says, needs to take five: “I think that Hooky just needs to chill out a little bit and relax.” Sumner says he has no plans to reach out to his blogging bandmate to clear everything up. “He’s the guy who with the problem, so he should approach us,” he says. “We haven’t got a problem. I just don’t think he likes me, so what can you do?”

CRIKEY...

They are all at it.

Looks like the handbags are out...

sounds like a pretty reasoned response compared to cap'n hook

What are the other projects that bernard is working on does anybody know ?

I heard a rumor that he is producing the new DOVES album, but don't take my word for it.

His Holiness, The Pope wrote: sounds like a pretty reasoned response compared to cap'n hook

Yah, I kind of like this response. That's how I understood the first press release from Barney and Steve, that New Order hasn't split yet because they haven't decided on anything. It doesn't mean that Barney and Steve have plans for New Order without Hooky either. It simply means that Hooky can't decide by himself. I understood that all along.

Canuck21 wrote:

His Holiness, The Pope wrote: sounds like a pretty reasoned response compared to cap'n hook

Yah, I kind of like this response. That's how I understood the first press release from Barney and Steve, that New Order hasn't split yet because they haven't decided on anything. It doesn't mean that Barney and Steve have plans for New Order without Hooky either. It simply means that Hooky can't decide by himself. I understood that all along.

C'mon, you've seen that before with people in relationships... two people have disputes/conflicts...one person acts pissed in response and the other person then acts all innocent like "i don't know what the problem is, must be he doesn't like me, I'm above that, like whatever, i've got other prospects" etc...

Obviously communication has broken down between them for a long time.

so is not sure Barney and Steve will work as New Order

i was waiting for Barney's answer, well..no he confirms that all is about hooky's problems

We all can RELAX now: at least no new material, no concerts from New Order should be expected for years. Bad but that's another "hiatus".

Keep fingers crossed for a new Electronic album in 2008, a Freebass EP in 2009; and when we'll all be well in our 50s, we'll get a New Order box with unreleased demos. :\ohwell:

“I find it very distasteful for him to do that after all this time,” he says"

Right on the money.....After overcoming adversity and becoming New Order, to end their brotherhood in such an ugly fashion is depressing. I do think that in a few years they will all reconcile, however.....

J

His Holiness, The Pope wrote: sounds like a pretty reasoned response compared to cap'n hook

Ditto. Curious though that it was Rolling Stone, they don't pay much attention to New Order. Just hope it doesn't escalate into a real war of words, and thankfully it seems Bernard isn't too keen on elaborating further.

pumped full of drugs wrote: C'mon, you've seen that before with people in relationships... two people have disputes/conflicts...one person acts pissed in response and the other person then acts all innocent like "i don't know what the problem is, must be he doesn't like me, I'm above that, like whatever, i've got other prospects" etc...

Obviously communication has broken down between them for a long time.

I'm not saying that Barney is right and Hooky is wrong. I have no clue who's the good guy and who's the bad guy. I was strictly talking about the band's status. After the Barney-Steve press release, everyone thought that they'd decided to continue as New Order without Hooky. I knew that's not what they meant. They're just saying that whatever will happen to New Order should be decided by ALL of them. The reason behind the conflict is another story.

Blimey

If this is legit',it's just getting fookin' worse now,it's fookin' handbags.Like I've said before,this is affecting the bands' standing,from respected,cool & enigmatic to just being regarded as pathetic in some parts.Tho',again,as for slagging off Hooky,another perspective is don't you think it's easy,& plausible,for someone to load the gun,let someone else fire it,& then sit back & watch how much trouble it causes? There has to be a reason why Barney says that Hooky doesn't like him,& remembering what was going on in '93,I think there's more reason for believing the problem lies with Barney rather than Hooky,IMO.& with Hookys' character being the more volatile,there you go.I just don't know,it's all opinion & second guessing.& shit

What's the use in complaining when no one is listening.

What's the use in complaining when no one is listening.

I see some people saying that this article confirms that "it's all Hooky's problems". I have to disagree with that. Now it's clear to me that Steve and Bernard don't want to go on, they just didn't like that Hooky was the one to turn that public like it was just his decision.

Remember Hook said that everybody knew about the split since February. I sincerely think that he is not lying. To me it's just Bernard's ego saying "He can't finish my band, I finish my band!!!"

I DEFINITELY did.

Still do really.

"he doesn't like me"

well he does KNOW you very well.

Igor wrote: I see some people saying that this article confirms that "it's all Hooky's problems". I have to disagree with that. Now it's clear to me that Steve and Bernard don't want to go on, they just didn't like that Hooky was the one to turn that public like it was just his decision.

Remember Hook said that everybody knew about the split since February. I sincerely think that he is not lying. To me it's just Bernard's ego saying "He can't finish my band, I finish my band!!!"

Well its confirmed on my end that this is probably more Barney's fault. The one that acts pretentious about not knowing what is going on, is usually the one that caused the issue. Hooky's been honest (though to a degree I haven't liked), but Barney is full of shite.

Sounds like an arguement of "MY BALL!!!!"

But for the love of god hooky, don't follow up on yer blog with anything more!

To quote the only man who managed to leave the band and didn't have a load of bickering going on afterwards......

"who is right, who can tell and who gives a damn right now"

Whatever the rights and wrongs of what has been said by the band members, it's happened. We'll get over it. Absolutely no point in anyone from here blaming anyone or taking sides, there will be at least two "truths" out there. Let them sort it out in peace, if they want to.

ally wrote:

EdelBrock wrote: Well its confirmed on my end that this is probably more Barney's fault. The one that acts pretentious about not knowing what is going on, is usually the one that caused the issue. Hooky's been honest (though to a degree I haven't liked), but Barney is full of shite.

At the end of the day, everything you typed above is pure speculation. As Jack has repeated numerous times nobody really knows what went on. That cuts both ways and shouldn't serve to canonise Hooky while at the same time condemning Barney.

I didn't find Barney's statement pretentious, seemed pretty straightforward to me.

A small section of New Order fans seem to childishly think Barney is a wanker because he isn't as gregarious as Hooky when it comes to dealing with the fans (see Cambo's misguided reply). This whole "Hooky gave me a hug once and Barney's never done anything like that for the fans" attitude is simplistic bollocks and I suspect most of you know that.

It's certainly not enough of a reason to think you can accurately assign sole blame to either Hooky or Barney unless you're really in the know (I.e. Jack).

The sycophants are indeed taking over the asylum

Thanks for reminding me about everyone acting childish over this, considering I was the first one to bring that idea into this discussion....

but you can usually tell by how one acts, who is at fault in an arguement...granted I'm sure Hooky holds some part of the blame...but Barney's article screams of pretentious crap.

and no I don't side with Hooky for any other reason, as you stated above. People aren't that hard to figure out....you don't have to know ALL the info to figure out who is more to blame...thier reactions do that work for you.

New Order guitarist Bernard Sumner — who hasn’t seen Hook since the group toured South America last November — was as surprised as anyone who read the post

I wonder who fucked that one up, Barney and his teleprompter memory or the idiot journalist.

Nothing misguided in thinking Barney's hard to live with.

I'd have left in about 1979

I just think it's all a big wind up now. Given the way they've talked about the first hiatus with a lot of good humour, I just they're having a big laugh with the media (and consequently us) in general. It's like a reversal of their early days where they hardly said a thing all year but the journos wrote tons anyway. It all makes for extra sh1t-stirring leading up to Anton's film's UK release.

They can do whatever they like. Fall out. Kiss & Make Up. Wind us up. For all I care, Hooky can join Queens of the Stone Age, Bernard can race Ellen McArthur round the Isle of Man and back and Stephen can open a nightclub where he doesn't have to pay to get in. Anything received now after 30 odd years is a bonus.

But I do hope they all write autobiographies.