What's next for Hooky?

With the unfortunate demise of Freebass what's next for Hooky? The Light tour can't last forever, and the spoken word tours can only appeal to a limited number - so is it back to djing and running Fac251?

Any thoughts?

Closer.

Before it gets to late

Make friends with Bernard and Steve and get on fuckin tour. Just watched Robbie Williams and Gary Barlow on the hero's concert.

It can be done!!

I think Tesco are about to start their seasonal recruitment drive.

There are worse things he could do

In the 12-Step programme they make you apologise to everyone for all your many wrongs and the really fucking stupid, degrading things you have done.

Either that, or his own late night talk show. No guests; just Hooky, talking.

Filmmaking.

Dancing on ice :)

I personally don't want New Order to reform and so I'd rather see Bernard and Hooky working separately.

As for my ideas, maybe Hooky could be a producer, or a musician collaborating with people, or maybe form a new band with his friends and play bass there.

He should set up a car-clamping firm.

Really, these are the twilight years. Tend the bar, play a show at your club with some friends every once in a while. Write a Joy Division book. Write a New Order book. Keep Missy Jem from away from your son. Slow down.

Denholm Reynholm wrote: That goes for Bernard too if he were to write an account of his time in JD/NO...

That would be an interesting book if it ever happened. He can't even remember the words to Blue Monday without an autocue.

People slag the relentless Hac nostalgia but the Club memoir was worth writing and releasing. It was critically well received and most of the fans (including me) enjoyed it. He could be onto something there. By Club memoir I mean the one priced under 15 quid and not the "deluxe" one you'd have to sacrifice a few months wages for...

...and now only £3 in Fopp, Manchester (the cheap edition obviously).

Denholm Reynholm wrote:

0_o wrote: Write a Joy Division book. Write a New Order.

Yes, this is the new "side project" I think. No more music, just books.

But... how unbiased will it be? No-one except the three of them will really know. Never underestimate an ex-bandmate with an axe to grind. That goes for Bernard too if he were to write an account of his time in JD/NO... we'll just have to wait and see how it pans out I suppose.

People slag the relentless Hac nostalgia but the Club memoir was worth writing and releasing. It was critically well received and most of the fans (including me) enjoyed it. He could be onto something there. By Club memoir I mean the one priced under 15 quid and not the "deluxe" one you'd have to sacrifice a few months wages for...

Well, yeah, but who would want to read an "unbiased" account? The current fractious state of affairs is nothing new: they've always been a bunch of fucking mard arses who seem to have spent most of their time either hating themselves or hating each other, or a combination of both.

Personally I'd quite look forward to a really scurrilous insider's account of the band's recreational excesses and interpersonal dysfunction over the years. It's where the music comes from, innit.

Clayhead Liberation Faction wrote:

Denholm Reynholm wrote:

0_o wrote: Write a Joy Division book. Write a New Order.

Yes, this is the new "side project" I think. No more music, just books.

But... how unbiased will it be? No-one except the three of them will really know. Never underestimate an ex-bandmate with an axe to grind. That goes for Bernard too if he were to write an account of his time in JD/NO... we'll just have to wait and see how it pans out I suppose.

People slag the relentless Hac nostalgia but the Club memoir was worth writing and releasing. It was critically well received and most of the fans (including me) enjoyed it. He could be onto something there. By Club memoir I mean the one priced under 15 quid and not the "deluxe" one you'd have to sacrifice a few months wages for...

Well, yeah, but who would want to read an "unbiased" account? The current fractious state of affairs is nothing new: they've always been a bunch of fucking mard arses who seem to have spent most of their time either hating themselves or hating each other, or a combination of both.

Personally I'd quite look forward to a really scurrilous insider's account of the band's recreational excesses and interpersonal dysfunction over the years. It's where the music comes from, innit.

Exactly, I hope Phil publishes his book "Close Range:My time being belittled by Bernard Sumner on stage". It'll be a new perspective.

Clayhead Liberation Faction wrote:

Personally I'd quite look forward to a really scurrilous insider's account of the band's recreational excesses and interpersonal dysfunction over the years. It's where the music comes from, innit.

That would make a great read, but I doubt any of them could remember it.

I want to Steve to write a book, it'll be fucking nuts. Probably look more like a Haynes manual to New Order.

As for Hooky producing etc - get in touch with Jed, I'm he could do with a tea boy.

michael preda wrote:

Clayhead Liberation Faction wrote:

Denholm Reynholm wrote:

0_o wrote: Write a Joy Division book. Write a New Order.

Yes, this is the new "side project" I think. No more music, just books.

But... how unbiased will it be? No-one except the three of them will really know. Never underestimate an ex-bandmate with an axe to grind. That goes for Bernard too if he were to write an account of his time in JD/NO... we'll just have to wait and see how it pans out I suppose.

People slag the relentless Hac nostalgia but the Club memoir was worth writing and releasing. It was critically well received and most of the fans (including me) enjoyed it. He could be onto something there. By Club memoir I mean the one priced under 15 quid and not the "deluxe" one you'd have to sacrifice a few months wages for...

Well, yeah, but who would want to read an "unbiased" account? The current fractious state of affairs is nothing new: they've always been a bunch of fucking mard arses who seem to have spent most of their time either hating themselves or hating each other, or a combination of both.

Personally I'd quite look forward to a really scurrilous insider's account of the band's recreational excesses and interpersonal dysfunction over the years. It's where the music comes from, innit.

Exactly, I hope Phil publishes his book "Close Range:My time being belittled by Bernard Sumner on stage". It'll be a new perspective.

Here in the UK, when you like someone, you take the piss out of them. It is a sign of affection, and the fundamental basis of all functional relationships.

Just thought I ought to clear that one up for our beloved autistic brethren across the pond.

I suppose Hooky will run Fac251 and dj. Look he has the rights to the likeness of The Hacienda, so Hooky can just let the cash flow in nicely. He'll be comfortable.

A New Order reunion is not happening. All four original members get a nice cut of the writing residuals and there is a great deal of animus on all sides.

Rob Gretton was the guy who read them the riot act in the first place back in early 1998 and kick started that reunion. He's dead so unless everyone needs cash, no reunion will happen.

Obviously, it's all about money by now. As both side projects sold close to nothing, I can't imagine any of them to continue. Frankly, and although I like some of BL'S material, their recent musical output is not that strong anymore to sell without the New Order tag, so maybe they will continue with New Order as a business after reconsideration. Don't know if I want to see that, to be honest.

Maybe Bernard Sumner gets a boost of ambition again as he did by creating Get Ready and come up with something fresh once more. But the musical decline into irrelevance from Get Ready to WTSC and finally NCAT, speaks for itself.

Denholm Reynholm wrote: Mind you, it depends how much money a promoter puts on the table for them and how said money is divided up...

There isn't going to be any 'too hard to resist' offers made anymore. That's the thing. Why would a promoter break the bank to get New Order on a festival bill or out on tour in 2011?

Fifteen years ago when there hadn't been a UK tour since the 80's and there was a defineate sense of 'unfinished business' then yes. But not now. Don't get me wrong, any promoter would jump at the chance to put NO on tour or add them to their festival lineup but none of them are going to offer anything spectacular to try and make it happen. There simply isn't the kind of demand that would make a stellar offer worthwhile.

Denholm Reynholm wrote: Realistically and after this very public implosion of Freebass, I'd be amazed if we hear anything in terms of "new" music from him for 2-3 years. We know from recent interviews that he's clearly wary of the recording fees vs profit conundrum involved in new music and has strong views on Internet piracy.

Freebass itself took five years gestation to come to anything and was over before it really began in terms of being a proper band. Only he and his management will know how much of an overall success it was but I'm guessing the whole project didn't set the world on fire. Reviewing fan reaction to it on this very forum - the largest New Order one on the internet - was generally mixed to poor reviews. That's just to anyone with two (or one) working eyeballs.

Hacienda Plc will trundle on catering for its own audience and he'll keep touring JD as long as there are gig offers. Aside from that

As time marches on I don't think there's going to be a miraculous and dreamlike New Order reunion on the cards after the past couple of years. I believe Bernard and Hooky when they say too much has been said to go back. Mind you, it depends how much money a promoter puts on the table for them and how said money is divided up...

See Ashcroft, R or McCabe, N.

or, even worse...

Kemp, G and M or Hadley, A.

I honestly predicted that he would spend some lucrative years as the session bassist of choice for established acts and upcoming bands. I thought his work on the Hybrid ep was excellent; his style of playing would complement almost any track. His Mr Brightside mix was very good as well, and another bit of liquid guest bass. Didn’t his collaboration with whatsername end in a row? What is her name, the American woman who was popular for a while? God my memory is awful... Anyway, her. What am I on about?

Pablo Bastardo wrote: What is her name, the American woman who was popular for a while? God my memory is awful... Anyway, her. What am I on about?

Gwen Stefani, I suppose? "The Real Thing"

Yes, it rings a bell that Hooky made some comment about being "used" or such like...odd that he got the hump though, because IIRC that track was supposed to feature both Hooky and Barney, and it was Barney's contribution that seemed to get, er, "buried in the mix" ....while HookyBass (TM) was sprayed all over the track.

Yes that's her. Seem to recall buying the cd, but don't remember listening to it.

It was this track Colin. I fucking love it actually. Brilliant song. Hooky's work (all four notes of it!) sits in really well. And yeah, I can see him picking up work as a 'gun for hire', his signature sound would work with loads of acts.

I have to say though, if you're refering to that remix of The Killers he posted on his Myspace then it is truly awful. Sounds like someone learning how to use their software. You might mean the Thin White Duke remix of 'Brightside' though that sounds like Hooky's playing on it? He isn't. It's Jacques Lu Cont behind that one. And it's very good.

You're probably right, G. Does the Lu Cont one have someone talking over it? Like a soldier's voice? Very Hooky-alike bass anyway, which sort of proves my point (to me).

Pablo Bastardo wrote: You're probably right, G. Does the Lu Cont one have someone talking over it? Like a soldier's voice? Very Hooky-alike bass anyway, which sort of proves my point (to me).

No, the rubbish one I was refering to is the one with the soldier sample on it. It's facking rotten!!!

The JLC's TWD remix is below. The Hooky 'homage' begins at 6:46.

Yes that Mr Brightside remix is super dupa good! I recall asking Jack to confirm or deny whether Hooky played on that mix a couple of years back now,so Jack checked it out with the old fella,and the answer came back no,not even incognito.

I still think he's lying.