News

New Order Reuniting Without Peter Hook

12:18 p.m. · September 5, 2011 · by Andrew Martin

We hadn't heard much from the New Order camp since this past July, when Guardian issued that intriguing article on the band's dissolution. But Consequence of Sound is reporting that the seminal post-punk is reuniting this fall for a pair of concerts. The shows are at the Ancienne Belgique in Brussels on Oct. 17 and at the La Bataclanon in Paris on Oct. 18.

And they'll be doing it without founding member/original bassist Peter Hook. He left the band in 2007. The lineup for the gigs, which are benefit shows for producer Michael Shamberg, is the following: vocalist Bernard Sumner, drummer Stephen Morris and keyboardist/guitarist Gillian Gilbert along with guitarist/keyboardist Phil Cunningham and bassist Tom Chapman.

Sumner issued the following statement on the reason for the concerts:

 

Michael [Shamberg] has been with us from the very start. Initially he was in charge of Factory New York, then became creative producer for all our early videos.

He brought our attention to the early works of directors such as Kathryn Bigelow, Gina Birch, Robert Breer, Peter Care and Phillipe Decouffle. Michael is very ill and needs constant medical attention. We want to help him, and these shows will contribute financial support towards his ongoing care.