Peter Hook has definitively dismissed reuniting with his former New Order and Joy Division bandmates at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony in November, citing years of acrimony and a drawn-out legal fight that he says resulted in substantial losses. The septuagenarian bass player, who established both iconic British bands, made his views unmistakably evident when asked if he would share the stage with Bernard Sumner, Stephen Morris and Gillian Gilbert for the honour. “No. No. Not following what they did to me and my family, no,” Hook told Rolling Stone, adding that values are important more than the appearance of reuniting. Whilst Hook says he remains keen to attend the ceremony, his decision not to perform alongside his ex-bandmates promises to diminish what should be a triumphant occasion for two of the UK’s most significant bands.
A Decade of Quietude and Court Battles
The origins of Hook’s animosity are profound, extending to the period following of Ian Curtis’s death in 1980. When the Joy Division vocalist died by suicide, the surviving band members eventually regrouped under the New Order banner, with Hook serving as the band’s bassist throughout their most profitable years. However, the partnership started to deteriorate when Hook left in 2007, convinced that New Order was spent. His exit, he thought, would mark the final conclusion of the outfit. Instead, his ex-colleagues harboured different intentions.
When Sumner, Morris and Gilbert revived New Order in 2011 without informing Hook, the bassist felt let down. The action sparked a long-running and costly legal dispute over financial rights and band ownership — a conflict that Hook claims took up six years of his wages. Though the dispute was finally concluded in 2017, the financial and emotional toll has resulted in enduring damage. Hook has not communicated with Sumner or Gilbert in 15 years, and his communication with Morris has been limited to occasional contact over the last four to five years, leaving little room for reconciliation before November’s ceremony.
- Ian Curtis died by suicide in 1980, leading to Joy Division’s dissolution
- Hook departed from New Order in 2007, convinced the band had finished
- Remaining members reformed without Hook in 2011, triggering court battles
- Settlement reached in 2017, but personal relationships stay broken
The Induction No One Expected to Mend
Despite his unwillingness to share the stage with his ex-band members, Hook has confirmed he will attend the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame ceremony in November. However, his presence will be a bittersweet affair, marked primarily by recognition of Joy Division and New Order’s historical significance than by any sense of familial warmth. The bassist has been emphatic that his attendance is motivated by reasons completely distinct from his distant band members. “For many, many reasons … not one other member of the band is a reason,” he stated bluntly, highlighting precisely how divided the group has become despite their significant impact on post-punk and electronic music.
The induction, whilst a deserved honour to two bands that profoundly transformed British music, has become something of an uncomfortable situation for all involved. What might ordinarily serve as an opportunity for reflection and reconciliation has instead become a stark reminder of unresolved grievances and the limits of nostalgia. Hook’s refusal to perform has already cast a shadow over the proceedings, transforming what should be a triumphant celebration into a public acknowledgement of internal discord. The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, typically a venue for feel-good moments and unexpected reunions, will instead bear witness to one of rock music’s most anguished and persistent rifts.
Hook’s Conditions for Resolution
When pressed on the possibility of reuniting, Hook offered a scenario so laden with sarcasm it was impossible to miss his genuine sentiment. He envisioned Bernard Sumner coming to him with an expression of regret: “Hey Hooky, sorry about that eight-year legal battle that cost you six years of earnings. I’m really sorry about it. We should maybe have just had a chat about it.” The bassist’s deadpan delivery when describing this imagined meeting made clear that such an apology stays squarely within the realm of fantasy. Without genuine acknowledgement of the harm done and the monetary cost extracted, Hook appears unwilling to entertain thoughts of reconciliation.
Yet Hook hasn’t entirely closed the door on the prospect of eventual reconciliation, acknowledging that human nature is unpredictable and feelings can shift unexpectedly. “So you never know, dear. Life is brimming with surprises. I’m sure that could be a lovely one,” he said with characteristic wryness. The bassist drew a relatable parallel, proposing that even those we believe we could not pardon might surprise us with a gesture of genuine contrition. However, the onus, he made clear, rests firmly on his ex-bandmates to take the first meaningful step toward reconciliation—something that seems unlikely before the autumn ceremony.
Opposing Views from Both Sides
Whilst Peter Hook has been forthright and unambiguous about his unwillingness to take part in any reunion, his former bandmates have maintained a markedly separate public stance. Bernard Sumner, Stephen Morris and Gillian Gilbert have largely remained silent on the matter, neither confirming nor denying their intentions for the November induction ceremony. This imbalance in messaging has left considerable ambiguity about how the event will take shape, with Hook’s uncompromising stand contrasting sharply against the relative quiet emanating from the other three members. The lack of a unified response from New Order suggests either a intentional approach of restraint or a fundamental disagreement about how to address the situation publicly.
The divergence in their public messaging reflects the widening gulf that has emerged between the parties since their split in 2007 and subsequent legal entanglement. Hook’s willingness to speak candidly about his complaints stands in sharp opposition to what appears to be a tendency from his past associates to allow the situation to settle. Whether this silence represents an effort to maintain respect, avoid further conflict, or just proceed without rehashing old grievances remains unclear. What is evident is that the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction will occur against a backdrop of fundamentally incompatible narratives about what happened and what should happen next.
| Party | Public Position |
|---|---|
| Peter Hook | Definitively refusing to perform or reunite with bandmates; openly discussing the legal battle and emotional toll; leaving reconciliation only possible if former members apologise sincerely |
| Bernard Sumner, Stephen Morris and Gillian Gilbert | Largely silent on reunion plans; no public statements confirming or denying participation in the ceremony; maintaining apparent restraint regarding past disputes |
| Rock & Roll Hall of Fame | Proceeding with induction of both Joy Division and New Order despite internal tensions; providing venue for honouring both acts regardless of personal conflicts between members |
The Oasis Precedent and Fading Hope
The shadow of Oasis looms large over conversations about possible rock reunions, yet Hook’s circumstances differ significantly from Liam and Noel Gallagher’s recent reconciliation. Whilst the Gallagher brothers eventually found their way back to a functional partnership after close to thirty years of acrimony, Hook seems considerably reluctant toward such a settlement. The Oasis comeback showed that even the most fractious band relationships could be repaired, notably when monetary rewards and public opinion coincided. However, Hook’s principled stand suggests that monetary considerations and nostalgia by themselves cannot bridge the divide created by what he considers to be a core betrayal at the time of the 2011 reformation.
Hook’s qualified remarks—implying reconciliation might occur only if Sumner offered a genuine expression of remorse—hints at a faint chance, though his sarcastic delivery indicates he holds little genuine expectation of such an gesture. The bassist has spent years working through the emotional and financial fallout from the legal dispute, and that built-up resentment appears to have calcified into something less susceptible to the type of financial incentives that might otherwise compel a reunion. Unlike Oasis, where each side eventually acknowledged their common heritage and reciprocal advantage, Hook appears resolved to safeguard his principles above all else, even if it entails sacrificing a potentially triumphant moment at one of rock music’s most prestigious ceremonies.
- Hook emphasises morality over commercial opportunity in his refusal to reunite
- The 2017 legal settlement addressed monetary issues but not emotional wounds
- Genuine reconciliation would demand extraordinary recognition from Sumner