RS: Speaking of sound, the DVD is in 5.1. Do you think that
accurately represents the actual live experience?
Peter Hook: Well, there's nothing that you can change about having
your feet stick to the carpet in a venue, is there? Or being
railroaded out of the way, or being in the mosh pit? So I suppose
it's the cleanest and most comfortable way of enjoying a live concert,
isn't it? You don't get the smells or the feel; you need a bit of
sensorama for that, don't you? So I suppose it's the best way, in
that it gives you a depth, which is quite interesting. I would have
loved for us to have done 5.1 mixes for tracks. It's a very expensive
thing to do.
RS: That's surprising. The press release says, "New Order paying
homage to Joy Division," but if I turn on the radio now, it sounds
like all the bands are paying tribute to you.
Peter Hook: Don't ever believe what a press release says – you know
that, don't you? I always think they get really weird people to write
these press releases, because they're always done in such a weird
language. It really does surprise me. But no, I mean, you have to take
it as a compliment, and I would hope that that's the way it's intended
– they've listened to you and enjoyed what you've done, found it
inspiring, and then they use parts of it in, say, the way that we did
via Iggy Pop and Lou Reed and Kraftwerk. It has to be in the same way.
I do hear a lot of music that sounds like Joy Division these days, and
I'm always glad to hear other people say it, because then it's not
just me.
RS: Even the New Order sound – when I listen to the Cut Copy
album, I swear they were your children.
Peter Hook: Well, there's a lot, isn't there? I mean, there's Arcade
Fire; and oh my god, there's She Wants Revenge; there's an American
band called Thieves Like Us, isn't there? There are a lot of bands
that sound like New Order. I suppose we are lucky, and say, "We'll
thank god, we were the first."
RS: Other bands that came from New Order – you were involved with
Monaco and Revenge. Any chance those names will pop up again in the
future?
Peter Hook: No, I don't think so. I'm working on a new project now
called Free Bass.
RS: And what's that going to be?
Peter Hook: I'm working with Manny, who was the bass player in the
Stone Roses. I'm also working with Andy Rourke, who is the bass player
in The Smiths. So we formed a collaboration called Free Bass, which
will be my next group, and is coming along quite well. We've got eight
songs finished already; it's on its way. So though I'm ready for the
next one, I won't be reforming Revenge or doing Monaco again.
RS: So I should take that as it is true – New Order is over in
its current lineup.
Peter Hook: New Order is split up, yes. It's over.
RS: What do you think of the guy that played you in the film Control?
Peter Hook: I thought he was much more … he reminded me much more of
me than Ralph Little did, in Twenty-Four Hour Party People.
Definitely. He was much more how I see myself. I thought he did a very
good job, really.
RS: How does it feel to be the best bassist in the world?
Peter Hook: It feels f**king great mate, I'll tell you.
