Peter Hook: “I’d Go Back and Look After Ian Curtis” | Joy Division, New Order

Peter Hook joins Mark Millar on the XS Noize Podcast to discuss Joy Division, New Order, Peter Hook & The Light, Ian Curtis, Belfast, Factory Records, the Hacienda, and a lifetime spent carrying some of the most important music of the post-punk era. Best known as the legendary bassist and co-founder of Joy Division and New Order, Peter has spent the past number of years revisiting the music that shaped his life with Peter Hook & The Light. In this archive video episode, he talks about performing the Joy Division and New Order "Substance" albums, reclaiming parts of his back catalogue, and why playing those songs still means so much to him. In this conversation, Peter goes right back to the beginning — from early gigs and seeing the Sex Pistols, to the night that made him turn to Bernard Sumner and say they should form a band. He also explains how his unmistakable high melodic bass style developed almost by accident, why he still approaches basslines with instinct, and why some producers never quite know what to do with his sound. Peter also reflects on Joy Division, New Order and the emotional weight of revisiting albums including "Closer", "Movement", "Republic" and "Waiting For The Sirens’ Call". He talks openly about the pain attached to some of those records, the relief of reclaiming them live, and why playing "Closer" with The Light became one of the most powerful moments of his career. The conversation also explores New Order’s rare Belfast history, the Europa Hotel, Irish audiences, Peter’s memories of Factory Records, Tony Wilson, Martin Hannett, Rob Gretton, the Hacienda, "24 Hour Party People", Hacienda Classical, and the strange, funny and often chaotic story behind some of British music’s most influential records. Elsewhere, Peter discusses working with Damon Albarn on Gorillaz, collaborating with Wolfgang Flür and Rusty Egan, the Monaco album "Music For Pleasure", and a new song written for Ian Curtis. Peter also opens up about Joy Division’s final gig and the one musical moment he would go back to if he could — saying he would return to that night and look after Ian Curtis. This interview was originally released as an audio-only episode of the XS Noize Podcast on August 13, 2024. This archive video version is now available to watch on YouTube. Chapters 00:00 Peter Hook joins XS Noize 00:21 Going back to the start 00:50 First live gigs and early musical memories 01:43 Seeing the Sex Pistols 02:57 Forming a band after the Pistols 03:33 The Sex Pistols in Manchester 04:44 Phones at gigs and changing audiences 06:36 Peter Hook’s bass style 07:43 How the high melodic bass sound happened 09:09 Effects pedals and the chorus sound 10:33 Working with Damon Albarn and Gorillaz 12:29 Peter Hook’s bass recording process 13:47 Why some producers don’t know what to do with bass 15:03 Missing being in a band 16:43 Playing the "Substance" albums 17:11 Life after New Order 18:16 Revisiting early Joy Division songs 19:03 Becoming a frontman with Peter Hook & The Light 20:28 Celebrating the records rather than pretending to be the band 21:27 Revisiting New Order’s "Get Ready" 22:11 New Order, Belfast and the Europa Hotel 24:52 Hacienda Classical and keeping the Hacienda legacy alive 26:37 Working the door at the Hacienda 28:57 "Closer" 30:51 "Movement" 32:54 "Waiting For The Sirens’ Call" 35:14 Monaco and “What Do You Want From Me?” 36:56 A new song for Ian Curtis 38:42 Joy Division, New Order and their lasting impact 40:00 Factory Records and the punk attitude 41:54 Songwriting, Bowie and why AI can’t replace human feeling 42:43 "24 Hour Party People" 45:21 Visiting Tony Wilson, Martin Hannett and Rob Gretton’s graves 46:30 The musical moment Peter Hook would go back to 47:16 What’s next for Peter Hook Follow XS Noize Instagram → / xsnoizemusic Facebook → / xsnoizemusic X / Twitter → https://x.com/xsnoizemusic Listen & watch more episodes YouTube → @thexsnoizepodcast Website → https://www.xsnoize.com About XS Noize XS Noize is a music platform featuring interviews, reviews, and news with some of the most influential artists in the world. Hosted & produced by Mark Millar. Related topics Peter Hook interview Peter Hook XS Noize Podcast Peter Hook & The Light Joy Division New Order Ian Curtis Bernard Sumner Stephen Morris Gillian Gilbert Factory Records Tony Wilson Martin Hannett Rob Gretton The Hacienda Hacienda Classical Substance Joy Division Substance New Order Substance Unknown Pleasures Closer Movement Republic Technique Waiting For The Sirens’ Call Music For Pleasure Monaco What Do You Want From Me Love Will Tear Us Apart Blue Monday Atmosphere Dead Souls Gorillaz Aries Damon Albarn Wolfgang Flür Rusty Egan Sex Pistols Manchester Manchester Free Trade Hall 24 Hour Party People Control Belfast Telegraph Building Europa Hotel Belfast Peter Hook Belfast XS Noize Podcast #PeterHook #JoyDivision #NewOrder #IanCurtis #PeterHookAndTheLight #FactoryRecords #TheHacienda #XSNoizePodcast