I saw Joy Division for the only time at Birmingham Odeon in October 1979 supporting The Buzzcocks and have to say that the little I remember was focused on their singer Ian Curtis and his erratic jerky movements which did make a lasting impression on me. After his passing I managed to catch an early nervy New Order show in Birmingham in April 1981 at The Cedar club. I did manage to see the band a couple of more times and i`m sure the last time was at the Reading festival in 1998.
I`m always a saddened when a band splits especially when good friends fall out and if i`m honest I hadn`t had a big desire to catch either ex bandmates when touring their own outfits. This changed however when I was channel surfing in the early hours one morning and caught Peter Hook at The Isle of White festival and have to admit to being blown away with his stamina and maybe the nostalgia of the show.
So, when it was announced that Peter Hook & the Light were to play one of my favourite venues and share both the Joy Division & New Order Substance albums in full to celebrate their 35th birthday, it was too good an opportunity to miss.
A packed audience awaited the bands arrival as they took to the stage and opened the Joy Division set with the rare `No Love Lost`. The first few songs were less familiar to me with `Glass`, `From Safety to Where?` and `Komakino` and it seemed a little subdued. This soon changed with tracks such as the blistering `Digital`, `Transmission` , stunning `She`s Lost Control` mesmerising `Atmosphere` before ending this hour-long trip with `Love Will Tear Us Apart` which was dedicated to Hooky`s daughter who was celebrating her 25th birthday.
There was a short break before the band returned for The New Order section of the show, it also gave me a little time to reflect on what I just witnessed.
Again, the second half began gently with the intensive `In A Lonely Place` and it`s haunting melodica. I must admit that I was really taken by `Procession` but tracks like the fabulous `Ceremony`, `Temptation`, `Blue Monday` and `Sub-Culture` took me and this ecstatic audience to another place. I`d forgotten about `Shellshock` which was a real bonus before the band closed out on the thumping `State Of A Nation`, spellbinding `Bizarre Love Triangle` before a scorching version of `True Faith` sends us home.
Even after an incredible two-and-a-half-hour set, this enthusiastic crowd were almost reluctant to leave. I don`t know how Peter Hook felt as we are a similar age, but I was pretty shattered both physically and emotionally.
It`s only today, on reflection, that I can fully appreciate the quality of both bands that `Hooky` graced and the legacy they leave us all.
It was interesting to talk to a guy at the train station after the gig who hadn`t seen Joy Division as he was only born in 1999 but was really effusive in praise as to what he`d witnessed tonight. It really made me reflect on my own mortality but also on the impression that both Joy Division and New Order continue to make on today`s younger generation of music fans.
In closure, nicking a line from an AC/DC song and amending it `Peter Hook, We Salute You`
