27 September 2018

A few days ago we learned that PETER HOOK, legendary bass player of iconic post-punk band JOY DIVISION is set to revisit the group’s repertoire with Manchester Camerata
for a special date at London‘s majestic Royal Albert Hall on Friday 5th July 2019.

A couple of days ago Peter Hook spoke to NME about the upcoming event
saying ‘I shouldn’t have to defend myself on this‘. Full interview here.

As a devoted (Belgian) Joy Division AND Peter Hook fan I entirely agree with Hooky‘s genuine reasons for setting up this highly challenging concert. Here are a five of my personal arguments why he has all the right in the world to do what he did in the past, does today and will do in the future with Joy Division‘s magical oeuvre. Here’s my S/O.

1/ Peter Hook was/is a revolutionary bass player, actually the first bassist that did my
head in back then when I heard his work for the first time. His sound was a huge and essential part of Joy Division‘s successful appeal. He wasn’t only a co-founder, but a bloody remarkable and awe-inspiring key and co-songwriter of probably the most influential post-punk band ever. That surely gives him, unquestionably, all the artistic freedom whatsoever to do what he wants to with JD‘s tremendously captivating music. All the more as we – the fans who saw him playing with The Light in the past and will keep following them in the future – know very well how Hooky treated/treats the JD legacy. With total respect, with gripping passion and with a massive heart and a committed soul.

2/ Instead of keep on making dull albums with money-machine New Order (mind you,
I was a huge NO fan. They made some brilliant LP’s – with Power, Corruption & Lies and
Low-Life as my favorites – and I saw them playing some ace gigs in the early years but their last great album was 1993’s Republic, afterward it was all about take the money and run) the bass icon chose another, more honest path. (ps: I agree we don’t know all the details about the bitter legal fight between Hook & NO, but anyway he didn’t take the easy way, the NO cash-in way…)

3/ Since 2010 Hooky re-energized the timeless Joy Division catalog on stage in grand style and with tons of intensity giving several generations of JD fans (including me, of course) fantastic moments when playing all those fabulous songs like this eternal one…

Also since starting solo with his band ‘The Light’ Peter Hook is working his ass off to travel non-stop all around the planet to play in mid-sized venues performing for thousands of HAPPY and GRATEFUL fans for modest ticket prices. I’m pretty sure many overrated mega-business artists/bands (don’t make me start…) earn more money by playing top of the bill on only one major festival – because organizers charge the spectators a fortune to get in – than Hooky earns with his band and crew after a whole fucking year on the road. It’s not like his fans need to rob a bank or get a mortgage to witness the beauty he has to offer.

4/ It takes balls to stage something truly special as The Sound Of Joy Division Orchestrated
in that majestic Royal Albert Hall in London as many pompous press sharks and selfish Joy Division purists are waiting to see him crash.

5/ And, for the record… Hooky is one cool motherrocker!

Me, eye-to-eye, with the man last year at W-Fest in Belgium…

And it’s not always Hooky in the middle…

Now let’s hope we can get a ticket for the big event!

PETER HOOK & THE LIGHT: Facebook / ROYAL ALBERT HALL: Ticket Info