Joy Division and New Order founding bassist Peter Hook has firmly ruled out any reunion with his former New Order bandmates, citing unresolved personal grievances in a recent interview with Rolling Stone.
Hook’s comments addressed the possibility of the band performing together at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame despite their induction this year. He made it clear that reconciliation is not on the table given the history between him and bandmates Gillian Gilbert, Stephen Morris, and Bernard Sumner.
“No. No. Not after what they did to me and my family, no. I won’t stand with them. No. I couldn’t give a sh*t [how it would work]. I’m not bothered. You’ve got to have morals,” Hook said.
Hook remained pessimistic about any potential reconciliation when discussing the possibility of a Rock Hall performance.
“It doesn’t look good, mate. I’m sure there’s someone you can’t stand, and you don’t see him or her or whoever. You think you’d kill her if you came across her. And chances are if she came up and gave you a hug, you’d go, ‘Ohhh.’ So how the hell do I know?” he explained.
Hook referenced the lengthy legal battle that has created a rift between him and his former bandmates. He suggested that any reunion would require acknowledgment of past wrongs.
“If Bernard pops his head around and goes, ‘Hey Hooky, sorry about that eight-year legal battle that cost you six years’ wages. I’m really sorry about it. We should maybe have just had a chat about it.’ So you never know, dear. Life is full of surprises. I’m sure that could be a lovely one,” Hook continued.
He emphasized the depth of the conflict. He stated that a simple temporary truce would not be sufficient to overcome their differences.
“You can’t just go ‘truce for the night’ after what we’ve been through. If you knew what we’ve been through, you wouldn’t even suggest it. That’s the thing. Nobody knows what you went through. There’s a lightness to it in that respect… There’s a lot of bad blood under that very big bridge,” he concluded.
Hook’s bitter stance stems from a complex legal dispute that has defined the band’s relationship for nearly a decade. The conflict began when the remaining New Order members formed a new licensing company in 2011. Hook claims this excluded him from fair royalty distribution.
Post-Punk reported that Hook filed a lawsuit against his former bandmates in 2015. He claimed he had lost £2.3 million ($3.5 million) since the other three members set up the new company structure. The legal battle centered around Hook’s allegations that he was being denied his rightful share of Joy Division and New Order royalties and licensing revenues.
Hook’s own use of band assets further complicated the dispute. Brooklyn Vegan noted that the conflicts were based upon Hook’s use of various New Order and Joy Division assets on merchandising and in the promotion of shows by his new projects. This created a complex web of claims and counterclaims between the parties.
After years of litigation, Paste Magazine confirmed that the band reached a full and final settlement in 2024. However, despite the legal resolution, Hook’s recent comments make clear that the personal wounds remain unhealed. The financial settlement has done little to repair the fractured relationships within one of post-punk’s most influential bands.
The comments reveal that despite New Order’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction, fans should not expect to see the original lineup reunited anytime soon.
