Peter Hook has categorically ruled out reuniting with his former New Order and Joy Division bandmates at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony in November, citing prolonged discord and a lengthy court dispute that he says cost him dearly. The septuagenarian bass player, who founded both legendary British acts, made his position crystal clear when asked if he would perform together with Bernard Sumner, Stephen Morris and Gillian Gilbert for the recognition. “No. No. Not after what they did to me and my family, no,” Hook told Rolling Stone, adding that values are important more than the optics of a reunion. Whilst Hook says he continues to want to attend the ceremony, his refusal to perform alongside his former colleagues promises to cast a shadow over what should be a triumphant occasion for two of Britain’s most influential musical acts.
A Decade of Silence and Legal Turmoil
The foundations of Hook’s animosity stretch far, stretching back to the period following of Ian Curtis’s death in 1980. When the Joy Division frontman died by suicide, the surviving band members eventually regrouped under the New Order moniker, with Hook functioning as the band’s bass player throughout their most profitable years. However, the relationship started to deteriorate when Hook departed in 2007, believing at the time that New Order had exhausted its potential. His exit, he felt, would signal the ultimate termination of the group. Instead, his onetime partners had other plans.
When Sumner, Morris and Gilbert reformed New Order in 2011 without informing Hook, the bassist experienced betrayal. The decision set off a protracted and expensive court battle over financial rights and band ownership — a battle that Hook asserts cost him six years’ worth of his wages. Though the conflict was ultimately resolved in 2017, the psychological and monetary cost has created lasting wounds. 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 breakup
- Hook departed from New Order in 2007, believing the band had finished
- The surviving members reformed without Hook in 2011, sparking court battles
- Agreement achieved in 2017, but personal relationships remain fractured
The Introduction 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 presence will be a mixed experience, marked more by acknowledgement of Joy Division and New Order’s historical significance than by any sense of familial warmth. The bass player has been clear that his presence is driven by factors entirely separate from his estranged colleagues. “For many, many reasons … not one other member of the band is a reason,” he said plainly, underscoring just how fractured the group has become despite their significant impact on post-punk and electronic music.
The admission, whilst a fitting tribute to two bands that profoundly transformed British music, has become something of an awkward affair 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 refusal to perform 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 Terms for Reconciliation
When pressed on the possibility of reuniting, Hook offered a scenario so laden with sarcasm it was impossible to miss his true feelings. He imagined Bernard Sumner coming to him with an expression of regret: “Hey Hooky, sorry about that eight-year legal battle that set you back six years of earnings. I’m really sorry about it. We should maybe have just had a conversation about it.” The musician’s deadpan delivery when describing this imagined meeting made evident that such an apology remains squarely within the realm of fantasy. Without genuine acknowledgement of the damage caused and the monetary cost imposed, Hook seems reluctant to entertain thoughts of reconciliation.
Yet Hook hasn’t entirely closed the door on the possibility of eventual reconciliation, recognising that people is unpredictable and feelings can shift unexpectedly. “So you can’t say for certain, dear. Life is brimming with surprises. I’m sure that could be a wonderful one,” he said with typical wryness. The bassist drew a relatable parallel, suggesting that even those we believe we could not pardon might surprise us with a act of genuine contrition. However, the onus, he made clear, rests squarely on his former colleagues to take the initial decisive action toward reconciliation—something that seems unlikely before the autumn ceremony.
Contrasting Perspectives from Each Side
Whilst Peter Hook has been direct and explicit about his rejection of involvement in any comeback, his previous musical partners have adopted a markedly separate public stance. Bernard Sumner, Stephen Morris and Gillian Gilbert have largely remained silent on the matter, neither confirming nor denying their prospects for the November induction ceremony. This disparity in communication has created substantial uncertainty about how the event will take shape, with Hook’s resistant position presenting a marked contrast with the comparative silence emanating from the other three members. The absence of a coordinated response from New Order indicates either a intentional approach of restraint or a fundamental disagreement about how to manage the matter publicly.
The distinction in their public messaging illustrates the broader chasm that has emerged between the parties since their 2007 separation and subsequent legal entanglement. Hook’s preparedness to talk frankly about his concerns stands in stark contrast to what appears to be a preference from his former colleagues to move past the issue. Whether this quiet reflects an effort to maintain respect, sidestep more confrontation, or just proceed without rehashing old grievances is uncertain. What is clear is that the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame entry will happen against a setting of irreconcilably different accounts 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 Fading Hope
The shadow of Oasis looms large over conversations about prospective rock comebacks, yet Hook’s circumstances differ significantly from Liam and Noel Gallagher’s latest reunion. Whilst the Gallagher brothers finally returned to a collaborative arrangement after almost thirty years of hostility, Hook looks far less willing toward such a settlement. The Oasis reunion proved that even the most fractious band relationships were capable of healing, especially when financial incentives and audience sentiment converged. However, Hook’s principled stand suggests that financial gain and nostalgia alone cannot bridge the divide created by what he considers to be a essential betrayal in the 2011 reformation.
Hook’s conditional language—suggesting a reunion could happen only if Sumner provided a heartfelt apology—points to a glimmer of possibility, though his sardonic tone suggests he harbours minimal real hope of such an gesture. The bass player has spent years processing the psychological and monetary consequences from the legal dispute, and that built-up resentment seems to have hardened into something more resistant to the sort of commercial pressures that could otherwise force a reconciliation. Unlike Oasis, where both parties ultimately recognised their common heritage and reciprocal advantage, Hook seems determined to safeguard his principles above all else, even if it entails sacrificing a possibly glorious occasion at one of the most esteemed events in rock music.
- Hook stresses morality over commercial opportunity in his refusal to reunite
- The 2017 court agreement resolved monetary issues but not emotional wounds
- Genuine reconciliation would require remarkable admission from Sumner