One of the most influential bassists of all time, Peter Hook is now keeping the flame of Joy Division and New Order alive with his new band The Light. He speaks to Yasmin Grant.
With their latest tour focusing on New Order’s 1989 and 1993 albums, Technique and Republic, Peter Hook is excited about he and his band The Light’s visit to the Tramshed this month. Hooky considers Cardiff familiar ground, having played here many times – often using the city as a base for warmups due to radically changing sets. The famed bassist says he always enjoys being here and has a connection with the place – what with his wife and most ex-girlfriends being Welsh, there definitely seems to be a lure. “One of those lovely venues with a great crowd,” he says of the Tramshed, where The Light last visited in 2017.
The Light, his current project after his departure from New Order in 2007, came into being as a celebration of music. Hooky didn’t want to pretend to be Joy Division, so he found a way to play the LPs in full without posing as the group. “Call it Joke Division if you like!”
There doesn’t seem to be a sense of slowing down for Hooky as he digs through tracks that were overlooked in the past. New Order, as a group, would ditch a track from their setlist if it proved difficult. But The Light play LPs in full, tricky bits and all. He admits, at the ripe old age of 62, it’s been quite educational and inspiring. In comparison with New Order, The Light have a more thorough approach – rehearsing a total of 120 tracks, where New Order would stick to a strict 17.
“It’s like getting out one of your old projects that you haven’t finished because you’ve been out all weekend and finishing it off and being, like, ‘Wow!’ Republic was a very troubled LP – a very difficult album to make, our heart and soul wasn’t in it. So it’s been nice to listen to where we went wrong and put that right. My least popular New Order LP has now become a favourite. We all have a great time and surely that’s what life’s about.”
Hooky’s hard work seems to be paying off as after 40 years of faithful service, Yamaha have now made a Peter Hook Signature Model Guitar. It mimics the very first guitar that he began with – a BD 1200 S, the original of which is “hammered, scratched and battered”. Additionally, the Peter Hook’s Signature Collection auction is to launch on Sat 2 Mar, and its content was difficult for a sentimental Hooky to part with – the memorabilia being something that Hooky has held on to as compensation for Joy Division’s short life.
“The band lost it just before it became good… it’s such a frustration that every time I saw something that reminded me of the band, I wanted to keep it close to my heart. But the collection is really something to be proud of. It’s bit odd to have it all kind of locked up.”
Following the wise words of the late Tony Wilson, who founded the Factory label and released both Joy Division’s and New Order’s classic work, Hooky tries to “give something back” as he’s taking. He’s still involved in the Masters Programme in Music Industry Management that he launched in 2012 at the University Of Central Lancashire. He mentors the students that take part in the course and describes the nature of the experience as very hands-on. “A lot of kids came into my recording studio and they have certificates but no practical experience. I thought, this is daft.” He works with them, trying to perpetuate the idea that this wonderful musical world isn’t about money but about unusual and unique experiences you get from sharing something creative. He sure is keeping it going.
Peter Hook & The Light, Tramshed, Cardiff, Sat 23 Feb. Tickets: £23.50. Info 029 2023 5555 / www.tramshedcardiff.com