What Gillian Brings to New Order.

This video for me perfectly illustrates what Gillian brought to the band.

Here are New Order doing Everything's Gone Green on the 1983 Summer 1983 PLC tour. The backbone of this song are the thick, arpeggiated Electronic bass and melody lines.

In most videos of NO doing this song live, The camera focuses on Bernard, Hooky, and Steve...

But this video is awesome because it focuses on Gillian alot, and you can see what she is doing...

And what she is doing is playing the arpeggiated synth parts LIVE. When you are playing arpeggiated synth parts live, you have to have very tight, almost perfect rhythm and timing.

In this video, you can see Gillian playing the arpeggiated synth and bass synth parts live, perfectly playing the ryhthm and switching notes, and never falling out of sync with the rest of the band.

If NO did the with Phil, the synth parts would not be live, they would be on the hard drive. This is a great example of what Gillian adds to New Order.

What else do you guys and ladies thinks Gillian brings to New Order, both in the studio and live?

clunge.

Well back in the eighties.

She can use two fingers at once? I hope she was at least competent at doing her role onstage. I suppose others could show a video where she screwed up. Modern New Order has had a different philosophy, they have not seemed to be interested in recreating those vintage 80s synths, going more for a predictable slick studio-like sound on stage.

Actually, do we really know what she brought to New Order? Was Gillian a synth wiz or did Steve and Bernard write most of it and set up the live show? Was she hired because she did not challenge the three guys? Was she too meek to voice her opinion? Or did she add an unique perspective?

Do know that New Order was unique and the synths in the 80s were often great, and Gillian was part of New Order.

Shows that Gillian played parts throughout a song, as opposed to simply waiting her turn.

The older I get, the more I appreciate Gillian's contribution. Actually, it's most evident in the early days, with Bernard struggling with vocals. Just making some noise with synth or guitar was a big help as he was clearly 'directing' while also trying to throw a decent vocal over the wall.

More legitimacy to the reforming of NO without Hooky.

If Barney and Steve tried to do it on their own, it would flop... both are too close to the fall of NO. But reenter Gillian and the reforming of the band is acceptable.
Quite brilliant really. People are so enthralled with knowing about her since her "disappearance" that it over shadows the gapping hole in the bass section. Once the novelty wears off, the band will have played enough that hooky being missing will be old news.

So I think its more a strategic move to reform NO, rather than her adding more to the concerts (but is a bonus of course).

Clean undies for Steve?

Genetic wrote: Clean undies for Steve?

Someone said that her coffee is delicious

Big Mouth Julio wrote:

Genetic wrote: Clean undies for Steve?

Someone said that her coffee is delicious

.....is that the 'Love Juice' that is alluded to in another thread possibly??

:p

EdelBrock wrote: More legitimacy to the reforming of NO without Hooky.

Bingo

Hooky will be back.

Tarbox23 wrote: Hooky will be back.

I certainly hope not.

seriously, having played arpegiated notes live I know what you mean, it's not easy, I doubt those that have said otherwise will have ever done it.

The bassline on the other hand is a peice of piss, but great fun to play.

I can't sing it though, I can't hit those notes in the chorus, possibly not screaming it enough!

Jed Stephens wrote: seriously, having played arpegiated notes live I know what you mean, it's not easy, I doubt those that have said otherwise will have ever done it.

The bassline on the other hand is a peice of piss, but great fun to play.

I can't sing it though, I can't hit those notes in the chorus, possibly not screaming it enough!

Exactly. Anyone who has used arpeggiated synths live knows how hard it is to play everything perfectly in time, it takes a lot of skill and concentration.

Tarbox23 wrote: Hooky will be back.

You've more chance of Ian returning the way its going.....

Genetic wrote:

Tarbox23 wrote: Hooky will be back.

You've more chance of Ian returning the way its going.....

Maybe even a Marr / Morrissey reunion....

EdelBrock wrote:

Genetic wrote:

Tarbox23 wrote: Hooky will be back.

You've more chance of Ian returning the way its going.....

Maybe even a Marr / Morrissey reunion....

I wouldnt bet against an eventual marr/morrissey reunion because id say they'll do something before morrissey retires ,as he claims he will.

A full smiths reunion wont happen.

If i were bernard and steve id let hooky go down in flames because not even the most bitter criticism of bernard's supposed control freakishness is as bad as what hooky is doing in the public domain to his own reputation and to the rest of his former bandmates. Life is too short to work with a prick ultimately and i say that from reading all that has been said now and not from the years of great music and artistic class that they produced.

Just listened to PLC for the first time in years. I'd love to see them dust off Ecstasy and play it live again. It's another song that having Gillian play live synths on really adds another dimension. Plus it gives them an instrumental to play mid-gig.

to state the obvious...a more keyboardy sound:\ohwell:

Gillian was the reason I got into New Order in the first place. I was an awkward 13 year old girl at the time, and it was so refreshing to see somebody making cool music who wasn't some kind of half-naked robobabe. I mean, she used to wear sweaters with sailboats on them.

(Yes, I know, Kim Deal, Tina Weymouth, etc., but while I like their bands' music, I didn't adore it the way I did NO.)

As for her musical contributions, I know that they just sound better when she's playing with them.

MODERATOR - please lock this vile thread. How many times can we read pure speculative filth like "can Gillian use two fingers at once?" or "I know that they just sound better when she's playing with them" without feeling sick to the stomach??!?

She is happily married with two beautiful children. People should be ashamed of themselves.

Yours,

A CONCERNED AND DISGUSTED CITIZEN.

She's a great knob-twiddler.

Clayhead Liberation Faction wrote: MODERATOR - please lock this vile thread. How many times can we read pure speculative filth like "can Gillian use two fingers at once?" or "I know that they just sound better when she's playing with them" without feeling sick to the stomach??!?

She is happily married with two beautiful children. People should be ashamed of themselves.

Yours,

A CONCERNED AND DISGUSTED CITIZEN.

What is wrong with what I said?

Housey wrote:

Clayhead Liberation Faction wrote: MODERATOR - please lock this vile thread. How many times can we read pure speculative filth like "can Gillian use two fingers at once?" or "I know that they just sound better when she's playing with them" without feeling sick to the stomach??!?

She is happily married with two beautiful children. People should be ashamed of themselves.

Yours,

A CONCERNED AND DISGUSTED CITIZEN.

What is wrong with what I said?

English sense of humour (humor), watch some benny hill on youtube, you'll get the idea.

For me Gillian brings a calmness to the all the egos and macho showmanship. Very under-rated and unassuming. Good to see her back and glad she's well and enjoying life again.

She can dress in black leather and stilettoes and crack that whip and call the shots any time....

Lovely that Gillian is back. Not a true NO line-up to me though until Cunningham and whatever the new bassist is leave and Hooky returns...

James Stephen Barnes wrote: Lovely that Gillian is back. Not a true NO line-up to me though until Cunningham and whatever the new bassist is leave and Hooky returns...

just curious... are there other bands that formed that long ago that are still playing with all the original members?

U2 comes to mind. REM until they just split up.

but other than those anomalies, it seems pretty unreal to have an expectation like that. most bands change lineups over time.

Tarbox23 wrote:

James Stephen Barnes wrote: Lovely that Gillian is back. Not a true NO line-up to me though until Cunningham and whatever the new bassist is leave and Hooky returns...

just curious... are there other bands that formed that long ago that are still playing with all the original members?

U2 comes to mind. REM until they just split up.

Rammstein :)

All six original members who formed the band in Berlin back in 1994 are still together today.

Um die ecke bringen wrote: Just listened to PLC for the first time in years. I'd love to see them dust off Ecstasy and play it live again. It's another song that having Gillian play live synths on really adds another dimension. Plus it gives them an instrumental to play mid-gig.

Ecstasy was never performed live.

I once read somewhere that Vanishing Point and Turn My Way are Gillian's creations, at least the first stages of those songs. And those are two of my favorites songs. So, my case is closed: Gillian is the best and it's great that she's back to the band.

condemnation wrote:

Um die ecke bringen wrote: Just listened to PLC for the first time in years. I'd love to see them dust off Ecstasy and play it live again. It's another song that having Gillian play live synths on really adds another dimension. Plus it gives them an instrumental to play mid-gig.

Ecstasy was never performed live.

A sad omission!

NotAMod wrote:

Level wrote: I once read somewhere that Vanishing Point and Turn My Way are Gillian's creations, at least the first stages of those songs. And those are two of my favorites songs. So, my case is closed: Gillian is the best and it's great that she's back to the band.

Vanishing Point yeah but Turn My Way doubtful as it's such a guitar and Hooky bass orientated track. I doubt for all her ability she was banging out guitar/bass riffs for a track on an album they wrote after she had gone on her sabbatical.

I think Gillian recently said in interview that she had no input whatsoever on WFTSC but I don't think the full extent of her input on Get Ready was ever really known. Any insiders lurking who could possibly clarify?

Personally I don't think she's on Get Ready but that's not to detract from thinking she was an integral part of the band previously some have said she's on the backing vox for Someone Like You but again, I don't think it's ever been 100% confirmed to be true. They went through a period of being very fond of female backing vocals after all.

Agreed though, it's great she's back

I don't know about Turn My Way....

But Vanishing Point, BLT, and World in Motion were primarily Gillian and Steve compositions, in terms of the backbone of the song and the melody.

Dream Attack was one of Gillian's numbers...its working title was "Gillian's Acoustic One" and Gillian actually plays most the lead guitar parts on the song. She was underrated as both keyboardist and guitarist in some cases.

Zachery Starkey wrote:

NotAMod wrote:

Level wrote: I once read somewhere that Vanishing Point and Turn My Way are Gillian's creations, at least the first stages of those songs. And those are two of my favorites songs. So, my case is closed: Gillian is the best and it's great that she's back to the band.

Vanishing Point yeah but Turn My Way doubtful as it's such a guitar and Hooky bass orientated track. I doubt for all her ability she was banging out guitar/bass riffs for a track on an album they wrote after she had gone on her sabbatical.

I think Gillian recently said in interview that she had no input whatsoever on WFTSC but I don't think the full extent of her input on Get Ready was ever really known. Any insiders lurking who could possibly clarify?

Personally I don't think she's on Get Ready but that's not to detract from thinking she was an integral part of the band previously some have said she's on the backing vox for Someone Like You but again, I don't think it's ever been 100% confirmed to be true. They went through a period of being very fond of female backing vocals after all.

Agreed though, it's great she's back

I don't know about Turn My Way....

But Vanishing Point, BLT, and World in Motion were primarily Gillian and Steve compositions, in terms of the backbone of the song and the melody.

Dream Attack was one of Gillian's numbers...its working title was "Gillian's Acoustic One" and Gillian actually plays most the lead guitar parts on the song. She was underrated as both keyboardist and guitarist in some cases.

I thought 'Vanishing Point' was a track that was originally done as part of a TV series Steve and Gillian did.

I don't think she is underrated at all, no-one knows her real input in the songriting regarding keyboards, but as a guitarist, she is on about average.

A great assortment of funny expressions. Really rivals Steve and Bernard there.

Hooky just looks like he's pooping these days.