NME has reported that bass player Peter Hook has begun legal proceedings against his former band New Order over use of the group’s name.
In late 2011, New Order reformed with a line-up that includes keyboard player Gillian Gilbert (who hasn’t played with the band in over 10 years) and Tom Chapman who is replacing Hook on bass and was recently involved with New Order’s frontman Bernard Sumner’s recent project Bad Lieutenant.
When interviewed by NME about the new line-up, Hook replied, “It’s in the hands of the lawyers. The point is that they shouldn’t be using the New Order name without me and it’s up to the lawyers”
Hook also mentioned his bafflement as to why he is vilified by fans when playing the back catalouge of Joy Division with his current group Peter Hook And The Light …
“We threw everything into New Order and that worked while New Order were together, but it didn’t work for me and I thought that I’ve watched people all around the world celebrate Joy Division, but why can’t I? When I do it, I’m a villain. It’s especially strange now that you’ve got someone purporting to be New Order, I’m grieving for New Order too because I realize that’s over.”
Hook also has a book in development titled Inside Joy Division, with a tentative publish date set for September 2012. Hook said he hopes writing the book will allow him to gain closure over Ian Cutris’ (of Joy Division) death, which he still feels guilty about.
