Earlier this month Stephen Dunstan interviewed Peter Hook ahead of this gig at Lowther Pavilion, Lytham. (Stephen’s chat with ‘Hooky’ can be found here).
During this conversation he explained that the set in Lytham would be a full performance of the New Order album ‘Get Ready’, followed by the greatest hits of Joy Division and New Order. Nearly three hours of rock music performed by a 69-year-old frontman – How would that pan out? Superbly, it turned out.
It would be remiss of me not to mention there were issues with the PA system during the ‘Get Ready’ part of the gig. Peter Hook dealt with the minor heckling that this generated with characteristic humour and confidence. Hooky alternated vocals with David Potts, and both did a decent job of it, even whilst fighting the PA issues.
I did wonder if an entire album from a quarter of century ago might have its longueurs, but it really didn’t and the short interval came much sooner than expected. And then what most of the audience presumably came for – eighteen non-stop Joy Division and New Order tracks. Well not quite, there was space for the excellent track ‘What Do You Want From Me’ from Monaco (a side project of Peter Hook’s during the New Order era), which was a surprise greatly appreciated by the audience, who enthusiastically joined in the sha-la-la choruses of a beautifully crafted pop song.
Inevitably there was only song that was going to be the finale – the iconic Joy Division opus ‘Love Will Tear Us Apart’. By this stage Hooky had played no holds barred bass through over 30 tracks with his dodgy shoulder, and apparently latterly, a cut thumb. You wouldn’t have known, it was a barnstorming evening that did a great job of showcasing the work of two of the greatest rock groups Northern England has produced.
The British leg of this tour has now concluded and Peter Hook and The Light move on to Australia. In the last couple of days though, it has been announced that Hooky will celebrate 50 years in music with support by The Buzzcocks on 4 June next year at Manchester Academy. I, for one, will be there.
Cover Image credit: Adam Kennedy
