Words and pictures by Rhona Murphy.
The term legend is (in my opinion) often overused in the music industry but there are some musicians/songwriters who have played such a pivotal role and influenced so many that the term is well deserved.
Peter Hook’s credentials and his continuing artistry and presence in the music scene makes him a true legend.
As with all musicians granted the legend title there’s some history and Hook or Hooky as he’s affectionately known has been a principal player in some of the best known bands playing the circuit since the mid-1970s. Hook was a founding member of Joy Division (1976-1980) which broke up after the suicide of Ian Curtis (lead singer). New Order was formed by the surviving Joy Division members with Hook on lead vocals for the first songs before handing that baton to Bernard Sumner. Much has been written about the relationship between Hook and Sumner and it’s fair to use the term ‘creative differences’ as a description. After several hiatuses for the band Sumner left New Order in 2009 with Hook also leaving to form Peter Hook and The Light. New Order reformed in 2011 without Hook.
Hook and his band have been a regular feature on festival line-ups, playing from the vast back catalogues from both Joy Division and New Order. The current tour focuses on New Order’s seventh album ‘Get Ready’ which is played in it’s entirety in the first set of the evening before moving onto a second set which is composed of some of the most iconic songs from Joy Division/New Order and also Monaco (formed as a side project by Hook and David Potts). Potts is a current member of Peter Hook & The Light and shares some of the lead vocals on this tour. In addition the band is made up of Jack Bates (bass and also Hook’s son), Paul Kehoe (drums) and Martin Rebelski (keys).
So that’s a very brief synopsis of why so many people have come out to a gig on a dark, rainy night to the 02 Academy Bournemouth which is a beautiful Grade 2 listed building (fabulous on the inside).
The first set of the evening is a full play through of ‘Get Ready’ plus New Order songs ‘Brutal’ and ‘Here To Stay’ to round off set one. The first track ‘Crystal’ is one of New Order’s big hitters and it sets the tone for the rest of the gig with it’s fast yet ethereal intro. In modern day terms it’s a banger and possibly my own favourite New Order tune.
After a short interval to allow the punters to buy some ‘Hooky 25’ tee shirts and other merch we’re back for the next set. The Bournemouth setlist for part two changed considerably from the setlist from the previous show in Worthing the night before and with the vast number of songs to choose from Hook could change it on a nightly basis for the remainder of the tour if he wished.
This band is extremely tight and they glide through the set ending with fan favourites ‘Blue Monday’, ‘True Faith’ and inevitably the Joy Division favourite ‘Love Will Tear Us Apart’.
Hooky and The Light had the crowd bouncing and singing along to every song. I myself would happily attend other shows on this same tour and it’s likely I would hear a different set every time. True Mancunian quality from Peter Hook.
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Get Ready (Released 2001)
Set 1
Crystal
60 Miles an Hour
Turn My Way
Vicious Streak
Primitive Notion
Slow Jam
Rock the Shack
Someone Like You
Close Range
Run Wild
Brutal
Here To Stay
Set 2
Dead Souls (Joy Division)
Leaders of Men (Joy Division)
Digital (Joy Division)
Isolation (Joy Division)
Something Must Break (Joy Division)
She’s Lost Control (Joy Division)
Shadowplay (Joy Division)
Komakino (Joy Division)
Transmission (Joy Division)
Atmosphere (Joy Division)
Ceremony (New Order)
Dreams Never End (New Order)
Procession (New Order)
Love Vigilantes (New Order)
Vanishing Point (New Order)
Blue Monday (New Order)
True Faith (New Order)
Love Will Tear Us Apart (Joy Division)
