Bassist Peter Hook plans to attend Joy Division / New Order’s Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction in November despite his animosity toward his former bandmates. In a new interview with Rolling Stone, Hook was asked about the prospects of an on-stage reconciliation. Those hoping for a warm and fuzzy reunion might not want to hold their breath, though he didn’t shut the door on the idea completely.
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When asked, “Are you willing, for one night, to stand with them at the podium and smile?,” Hook was initially quite firm and resolute: “No. No. Not after what they did to me and my family, no. No. I won’t stand with them,” referring to long-running nasty legal battle over the New Order name and band finances.
“I couldn’t give a shit. I’m not bothered. You’ve got to have morals,” Hook continued when pressed on whether the situation might make for an awkward night. He added, “We like tricky evenings, don’t we? Some of my best evenings have been tricky, right from going to see the Sex Pistols [in 1976] to this. [Laughs.] My god, whatever. It’s just one of them things, isn’t it?”
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The bassist also explained to Rolling Stone that he hasn’t spoken to New Order’s Bernard Sumner or Gillian Gilbert in some 15 years. (He added, “I didn’t even speak to [Sumner]. He spoke at me.”) Meanwhile, its been four to five years since he spoke with Stephen Morris, and “that wasn’t a friendly moment,” Hook noted.
That all said, when asked if he’d be inclined to “declare a truce” and play just a few songs with New Order that evening, Hook didn’t dismiss the idea outright.
“If Bernard pops his head around and goes, ‘Hey Hooky, sorry about that eight-year legal battle that cost you six years’ wages. I’m really sorry about it. We should maybe have just had a chat about it.’ So you never know, dear,” Hook said. “Life is full of surprises. I’m sure that could be a lovely one.”
When it was suggested that perhaps everyone can set aside their differences in honor of late Joy Division singer Ian Curtis, Hook responded, “There’s a lot of bad blood under that very big bridge. The detail of it is horrendous, which nobody knows. That’s the strangest thing. Listen, if they want to talk about it, they’ll do an interview, won’t they? When they see these interviews that I’m doing, they’ll do their own interviews. Maybe we’ll find out then.”
If a performance with New Order doesn’t happen, Hook said, “I think [fellow 2026 inductees] Oasis will play with me. Definitely. Without a shadow of a doubt, for that first gig I gave them in 1990. Do you know what? All I can say is that plans from my side are underway. I’m hoping they come to fruition.”
And if New Order decide to play separately from Hook, the bassist said, “I’d love to see them. I could do with a laugh. It’s funny. I’ll let you in on a little secret. My wife and I were watching TV one night. It was New Order playing ‘True Faith.’ Oh, my God, it was fuckin’ shocking. We were both like, ‘Oh, God. This is awful. How could they?’ And all of a sudden, I walked in from the wings. It was me! [Laughs hysterically.] How can I judge? I can’t even judge when I’m shit. I was so hoping it was them, but it was actually us.”
The relationship between Hook and New Order has been contentious since he left the band in 2007. In the new book Joy Division and New Order: Album by Album, the bassist is quoted as saying he’d never reconcile the band.
“What they did to me over that trademark was fucking disgusting,” Hook is quoted in the book. “They put my family through hell and they shortchanged me out of some ridiculous bitterness that I would never have done to anyone, so they can fuck off.”
You can read Hook’s full interview with Rolling Stone here.
New Order remain active to this day, while Peter Hook & The Light tour around Joy Division and New Order songs. Hook and his band will embark on a 2026 North American tour beginning in late August, with tickets available here.
Hook previously addressed Joy Division/New Order’s Rock Hall induction in a video message earlier this month, sharing his plans and expressing sincere gratitude at the honor:
“Hi, I’d just like to say how wonderfully pleased I am to be finally accepted into the Cleveland Rock & Roll Hall of Fame,” said Hook in the video. “I’ve been looking forward to it for years, so I’m definitely going to make the most of it. And I’d like to say that this is for Ian Curtis, and for all our fans of both bands. Without you, we would be nothing. So, thank you so much, and I will see you on the night.”
