Celebrating a classic album a pleasure for Peter Hook

Peter Hook, formerly of Joy Division and New Order, heading to Auckland. Photo / Supplied

The 30th anniversary of Ian Curtis' death this year was a timely occasion to do something special to mark the Joy Division singer's passing.

But when plans for a commemoration event on May 18 failed, the band's bassist, Peter Hook, took up the mantle, got a few of his close friends together, including his son ("he's the same age I was when I started in Joy Division," he says proudly), and decided to play the band's classic 1979 debut, Unknown Pleasures, live, in its entirety.

"I was so disappointed about the fact things fell through and the fact Joy Division or New Order had never done anything to celebrate what we've done, so I thought, "f*** it, I'll do it meself'."

However, bringing post-punk's most influential album to life again was not going to be easy.

"It took a lot of soul-searching on my part," says Hook.

And he also had his critics, who were sceptical about performing the album without Curtis. Nor could he interest Bernard Sumner and Stephen Morris - his bandmates in both groups - to join him.

"We have no relationship. Our paths simply don't cross," says Hook bluntly.

Still, Hook's a stubborn old bugger and he made the bold decision to sing Curtis' words himself "because I couldn't really trust anybody else to do it".

Given the late singer's haunting, intense delivery, a quality that made Joy Division so unique, it was a daunting prospect for Hook.

"It's still terrifying," he says after playing a number of live shows. "And you're actually messing with something that's very dear to a lot of people."

The initial concert held at Hook's Manchester club, FAC 251 - The Factory, in May went well, more shows were added, and then he got asked to take the Unknown Pleasures show around the world - which is how he came to be playing Auckland's Powerstation on October 2.

"Which I think is a compliment to Joy Division's songwriting after 30 years," he says. "And I'm wallowing in, and enjoying playing the first record that I ever wrote and released. And realistically you shouldn't have to worry about playing your own record. There are sublime surreal moments when I lose myself."

It's a dark, ethereal, and volatile album. And today, listening to songs like the steely gospel of New Dawn Fades, Day of the Lords (with the mantra "where will it end?"), and the mechanical din of She's Lost Control, it's still a powerful and lasting statement.

For Hook it's Candidate that stands out. "That's a very melancholy, very niggly song, and gets into your consciousness."

Curtis became the arranger of Joy Division's songs because they didn't have enough money to buy recording equipment to be able to hear what they were playing. "So the only person who got to hear Joy Division was Ian. He would stand there, and he became the spotter, and he'd listen to us play and push us in the direction that he felt was the best direction."

Unknown Pleasures was recorded at Strawberry Studios in Stockport, in greater Manchester, with maverick producer Martin Hannett. ("He did not speak English, he spoke in Doctor Who mumbo jumbo.")

It was Hannett that helped make Unknown Pleasures the unique record it is - not that the band liked what they heard when they first heard the finished product. They wanted something noisy and punky. What they got was entirely different.

These days Hook admits he was wrong. "Martin was completely right because it still sounds like a current record. Bernard and I wanted it to sound like the Sex Pistols or The Clash, and if it had been like that it would not have had the lasting effect, or the depth. And the fact you can listen to it and dive into the bloody thing."

Lowdown

Who: Peter Hook, Joy Division and New Order bass player
What: Bringing Joy Division's debut album, Unknown Pleasures, to life live on stage.
When: October 2, Powerstation, Auckland
See also: Hook's latest project Freebass, made up of fellow bassists Mani (The Stone Roses) and Andy Rourke (The Smiths)

-TimeOut