David Farrier's full, uncut interview with Joy Division and New Order rocker Peter Hook
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I always felt that Hook was just doing what nobody else was willing to do at the time when it came to performing then touring Unknown Pleasures, regardless of what people are saying or have said. He's always said that it all started as a 30 year anniversary tribute to Ian Curtis and that one thing led to another. I think it's really that simple. In typical "Joy Division and New Order" fashion there probably wasn't a grand master plan behind the decision. It just sounded like a good idea at the time as opposed to letting the date/year pass without doing something special to commemorate it.
Might be mistaken but I don't recall Sumner or Morris making any special arrangements of their own to celebrate the anniversary. Again I could be wrong. Regardless, I think Rob Gretton and Tony Wilson would have ultimately supported Hook's efforts to celebrate Ian Curtis and the music of Joy Division.
Chris Romero wrote:
Might be mistaken but I don't recall Sumner or Morris making any special arrangements of their own to celebrate the anniversary. Again I could be wrong. Regardless, I think Rob Gretton and Tony Wilson would have ultimately supported Hook's efforts to celebrate Ian Curtis and the music of Joy Division.
Sumner and Morris have been too busy making new music and touring it to celebrate and album that's 20 years old and the death of a man who has already had two feature films made about him. Maybe they think it's best to do what artists do, keep on making new work and moving on.
To each their own. I am excited to see Hooky do UP here in NYC, for sure, but I don't think Sumner and Morris should be condemned because they aren't touring an old album. Personally, if it were me, I would rather be making new music than retreading old ground. I'd be more excited to see Bad Loo play their new songs here in NYC, but, of course, the best thing of all would be to see New Order proper.
As for Ian Curtis, he was only a man. He was a brilliant lyricist and a powerful singer. He was also a selfish man who cheated on his wife and became so self absorbed and drowning in self pity that he committed suicide and robbed is friends, family, and band mates of a human being they all cared about. Ian's story is tragic, but he was no martyr. If Hooky wants to tour UP with session men was a way to celebrate him, that's Hooky's entitlement, and if for one night, people want to hear Hooky and co. play UP and revel in the music, all the power to them.
Chris Romero wrote:
Might be mistaken but I don't recall Sumner or Morris making any special arrangements of their own to celebrate the anniversary.
Just because they aren't 'celebrating' it doesn't mean they don't care about Ian or that they forgot about him. Of course I know you didn't mean it in that way, but your statement sounds like you expect Bernard or Steve to do so. Different people have different ways of cherishing their memories etc...
If this is Hooky's way, then so be it. But if Bernard and Steve want to make music or whatever, then so be it too.
Zachery Starkey wrote: To each their own. I am excited to see Hooky do UP here in NYC, for sure, but I don't think Sumner and Morris should be condemned because they aren't touring an old album.
I'm not condemning Sumner and Morris because they're not touring the album, I just don't think Hook should be condemned or criticized for touring the album. What I was trying to say initially was that I think Hook's motives for starting all this were sincere.
I'm also a father to a teenage son and I think it's pretty cool that Jack and his father have this opportunity to celebrate his father's legacy together. It's a big deal regardless of how old the album is.
Chris Romero wrote:
Zachery Starkey wrote: To each their own. I am excited to see Hooky do UP here in NYC, for sure, but I don't think Sumner and Morris should be condemned because they aren't touring an old album.
I'm not condemning Sumner and Morris because they're not touring the album, I just don't think Hook should be condemned or criticized for touring the album. What I was trying to say initially was that I think Hook's motives for starting all this were sincere.
I'm also a father to a teenage son and I think it's pretty cool that Jack and his father have this opportunity to celebrate his father's legacy together.
I never thought Hooky's motives were insincere.....but at times it does seem like he is flogging a dead horse. My only real gripe about the shows is that he doesn't play his bass much.
It is cool that he and Jack can celebrate JD together.
I am a musician, I play keyboards, synths, bass, sing, write, and produce my own dance records (and have done pretty well for a one man outfit).
My father is a working musician, a drummer who performs with a wide variety of groups. Every once in a while, I'll go to a show and get onstage with my Dad's band and sing, with my Dad bashing the drums behind me (he is a great drummer, slmost a combination of Keith Moon and Steve Morris, if you can imagine).
I'll say that playing music onstage with my Father is and always will be one of the fucking most awesome things I can do.
I imagine it feels awesome for Jack and Hooky as well.
