Peter Hook has firmly rejected reuniting with his former New Order and Joy Division bandmates at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony in November, citing prolonged discord and a lengthy court dispute that he says resulted in substantial losses. The 70-year-old bassist, 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 ethics count more than the appearance of reuniting. Whilst Hook says he continues to want to attend the ceremony, his decision not to perform alongside his ex-bandmates promises to darken what should be a triumphant occasion for two of the UK’s most significant bands.
A Decade of Quiet and Judicial Struggle
The foundations of Hook’s antagonism are profound, rooted in the wake of Ian Curtis’s death in 1980. When the Joy Division lead singer took his own life, the surviving band members eventually regrouped under the New Order moniker, with Hook functioning as the group’s bassist throughout their most commercially successful period. However, the relationship commenced breaking down when Hook left in 2007, thinking then that New Order had run its course. His leaving, he felt, would constitute the final conclusion of the group. Instead, his former bandmates harboured different intentions.
When Sumner, Morris and Gilbert reconstituted New Order in 2011 without seeking input from Hook, the bassist felt let down. The action sparked a protracted and expensive legal conflict over the band’s name and royalties — a battle that Hook asserts took up six years’ worth of his wages. Though the dispute was eventually settled in 2017, the emotional and financial impact has left scars that remain unhealed. Hook hasn’t spoken to Sumner or Gilbert in 15 years, and his contact with Morris has been limited to occasional contact over the preceding four or five years, making reconciliation unlikely before November’s ceremony.
- Ian Curtis died by suicide in 1980, resulting in Joy Division’s dissolution
- Hook left New Order in 2007, convinced the band had run its course
- The surviving members reformed without Hook in 2011, triggering legal disputes
- Settlement reached in 2017, but personal relationships remain fractured
The Induction Nobody Anticipated to Heal
Despite his unwillingness to share the stage with his former bandmates, Hook has confirmed he will attend the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction in November. However, his attendance will prove a mixed experience, marked more by acknowledgement of Joy Division and New Order’s historical significance than by any sense of genuine connection. The bassist has been emphatic that his attendance is motivated by factors entirely separate from his distant band members. “For many, many reasons … not one other member of the band is a reason,” he stated bluntly, underscoring just how fractured the group has become despite their monumental influence on post-punk and electronic genres.
The admission, whilst a fitting tribute to two bands that profoundly transformed British music, has become something of an uncomfortable situation for all involved. What might ordinarily serve as an chance for contemplation and reconciliation has instead become a sobering testament of unresolved grievances and the limits of nostalgia. Hook’s decision not to participate has already cast a shadow over the proceedings, transforming what should be a victorious occasion 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 Reconciliation
When pressed on the prospect of reuniting, Hook offered a scenario so full of sarcasm it was clear his genuine sentiment. He imagined Bernard Sumner approaching him with an apology: “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 conversation about it.” The bassist’s deadpan delivery when outlining this hypothetical encounter made evident that such an apology remains squarely within the realm of fantasy. Without genuine acknowledgement of the harm done and the financial toll imposed, Hook seems reluctant to consider the prospect of reconciliation.
Yet Hook hasn’t completely closed the door on the possibility of future peace, acknowledging that human nature is unpredictable and feelings can change 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 made a compelling parallel, suggesting that even those we believe we could not pardon might surprise us with a gesture of genuine contrition. However, the responsibility, he made clear, rests firmly on his former colleagues to take the initial decisive action toward reconciliation—something that seems unlikely before the autumn ceremony.
Contrasting Perspectives from Both Sides
Whilst Peter Hook has been direct and explicit about his refusal to participate in any reunion event, his previous musical partners have maintained a markedly separate public position. Bernard Sumner, Stephen Morris and Gillian Gilbert have predominantly refrained from comment on the subject, neither confirming nor denying their intentions for the November induction event. This disparity in communication has resulted in significant ambiguity about how the event will develop, with Hook’s uncompromising stand presenting a marked contrast with the relative quiet coming from the other three members. The missing coordinated statement from New Order suggests either a calculated strategy of restraint or a fundamental disagreement about how to address the situation publicly.
The distinction in their public communications reflects the widening gulf that has opened between the parties since their 2007 separation and following legal complications. Hook’s readiness to discuss openly about his complaints stands in stark contrast to what appears to be a tendency from his past associates to move past the issue. Whether this quietness indicates an attempt to preserve dignity, avoid further conflict, or just proceed without revisiting previous disagreements is uncertain. What is clear is that the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction will occur against a setting of essentially conflicting stories 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 Case and Diminishing Prospects
The specter of Oasis hangs over conversations about prospective rock comebacks, yet Hook’s circumstances differ significantly from Liam and Noel Gallagher’s recent rapprochement. Whilst the Gallagher brothers ultimately reconciled to a functional partnership after nearly three decades of acrimony, Hook looks far less willing toward such a settlement. The Oasis comeback showed that even the most contentious band relationships could be mended, particularly when financial incentives and audience sentiment coincided. However, Hook’s ethical position suggests that financial gain and nostalgia on their own cannot span the rift created by what he considers to be a fundamental betrayal in the 2011 reformation.
Hook’s conditional language—implying reconciliation might occur solely should Sumner offered a heartfelt apology—hints at a glimmer of possibility, though his sardonic tone indicates he harbours minimal real hope of such an overture. The bass player has spent years processing the emotional and financial fallout from the court battle, and that built-up resentment seems to have hardened into something less susceptible to the type of financial incentives that might otherwise compel a reunion. Unlike Oasis, where both parties ultimately recognised their common heritage and mutual benefit, Hook seems determined to safeguard his principles more than anything, even if it means forgoing a possibly glorious occasion at one of rock music’s most prestigious ceremonies.
- Hook emphasises ethical principles ahead of financial gain in his decision not to reunite
- The 2017 legal settlement resolved financial matters but not emotional damage
- Genuine reconciliation would require extraordinary recognition from Sumner