Thanks to depthcharge for pointing it out, btw read the LAST LINE...
New Order might be widely regarded as one of the most innovative British pop groups of the last two decades, but they still have no idea what the secret of their success is. Holed up in drummer Stephen Morris's Macclesfield studio, they crack jokes about their ex-label mates, reminisce about their back catalogue and speculate about their future. For the record, Hooky would like to move to Ibiza whilst Bernard and Stephen can't imagine ever leaving Manchester. Determined to find out what's kept them together for seven albums, twenty-something singles and a World Cup anthem, PLAYLOUDER grilled them about everything from Smashing Pumpkins to Joy Division.
You've just released a brilliant box-set containing four CDs of singles, B-sides, rarities, remixes and live performances. Any personal highlights?
HOOKY: I think the best thing about Retro is it sounds like a set of car-tapes made by a mate. You wouldn't have chosen the same songs or put them in the same order, but they actually work really well. My favourite is the bonus disc that comes with the first three thousand box-sets because it's just a really weird collection of tracks.
BERNARD: Listening to Retro is a bit like watching 24 Hour Party People - it's hard to get a perspective because we've played those songs so many times. I don't mind listening to the early songs, but the quality of some of the live recordings really bug me. They're so tinny and metallic.
STEPHEN: I don't play box-sets, I just read the booklets. As a retrospective of our career however, I think it's a pretty good selection of songs.
Have you composed any new material since 2001's Get Ready?
BERNARD: We've just started work on the next album and it's going quite well. The first week's always a bit tricky but we seem to have got into the flow now.
HOOKY: I think it's easier than before: everyone seems very laid-back and relaxed. In the past that would have meant we haven't got a clue what we're gonna do, but we've been working really hard the last three weeks and we've got a few good ideas up and running. We haven't confirmed it yet, but we're hoping to work with Steve Osbourne again. He's a good producer and he understands where we're coming from.
BERNARD: The last album was very, very layered, so it'd be nice to do a more dense and empty sounding one this time.
How did you come to hook up with Billy Corgan on Get Ready?
HOOKY: Billy's been an old friend of mine for years. The first time I met him he was fifteen and thinking of starting a band. A few years later, a friend dragged me to see a new band called Smashing Pumpkins at International 2 in Manchester. I had no idea it was Billy's band until I saw him at the front of the stage and I was totally blown away. We've socialized on and off since then and when it came to recording Get Ready, Bernard told me "I keep hearing Billy Corgan on this track, how could we get in touch with him?" I patted him on the back and said "I'll just get my address book and phone him". Being an old New Order fan, he was over the moon to play with his heroes.
He's been vilified as a misanthropic control freak by the NME. What was he like in the studio?
HOOKY: I know he's supposed to be hell to work with because Flood told us he nearly gave up producing after Mellon Collie and The Infinite Sadness, but we never saw that side of him. He was just very focused and conscientious.
BERNARD: We don't invite many people to collaborate with us, but I'd definitely like to play with Billy again. I think he has a really distinctive voice and a great way with melodies. He's also pretty upfront about his hang-ups; he once told me he's so analytical he sometimes sits and analyses how analytical he is.
HOOKY: I can believe that. I'd like to work with him again too, but if Sharon Osbourne can't handle him no-one fucking can!
Speaking of global celebrities, what was it like touring with Eminem's public enemy (Moby) last summer?
BERNARD: It was good fun. Stephen and I had a great time, but Hooky caught a horrible fever and spent the entire tour feeling violently ill.
HOOKY: I lost two and a half stone in three days and just wanted to be at home tucked up in bed. Moby was very understanding, but the shows weren't up to our usual standard. In fact, we bombed most nights. His audience were very young and to tell you the truth, I don't think many of them even knew who we were. They were all there to see Outkast or Baldy!
BERNARD: The last concert in LA was the best because we got John Frusciante from Red Hot Chilli Peppers to come on stage with us and perform "New Dawn Fades". Unfortunately, Moby didn't play it until the end of the set and we got completely twatted whilst we were waiting. Did we get up to any mischief backstage? I've heard Moby's very frisky in the old trouser department but we didn't witness anything untowards.
Both Moby and Billy Corgan have been huge Joy Division fans since they were kids. How do you feel about the volume of artists that have cited Closer or Unknown Pleasures as their biggest influence?
BERNARD: It's not something we've ever thought about. I suppose it's flattering that people still mention those records, but to be honest we never really discuss our music or the impact it has on other people... That's the strange thing about New Order / Joy Division - we've been together over twenty-five years but we've never sat down and actually talked about our music or what direction we want it to go in. We just go in the studio and play.
Finally, what did you think of 24 Hour Party People?
STEPHEN: It's hard to say because I never thought anyone would make a film about a part of my life. I did find certain scenes entertaining, but I also sat there thinking "that never happened" and "why didn't they include such and such?" It was a strange experience.
HOOKY: The whole film was really strange and surreal. I think we enjoyed it as much as we could do considering the themes involved. There was a lot of artistic license used, but to be honest the whole Factory and Hacienda thing is still so close to us it's hard to be objective.
BERNARD: The bits about the Mondays and Tony Wilson made me laugh and it was good to see the story of the Hacienda being told in a way. I just wish the team behind it had spoken to us more beforehand... I'd like to see the full, unabridged version one day.
HOOKY: I think the one thing Michael Winterbottom fucked up was the final scene. It should have been Tony Wilson dressed up as Jesus not Steve Coogan. That would have been the perfect ending and the perfect cameo for Tony.
Words: SARAH-JANE
New Order's next album should be out late 2003. Retro is out now on WEA / London.
