New Order



Submitted by Robin Blackburn

After the suicide of Joy Division singer Ian Curtis in 1980, the remaining members of the band - Bernard Sumner (guitar), Peter Hook (bass) and Stephen Morris (drums) - decided to carry on working together. After a name change to New Order, Sumner rather reluctantly took on vocal duties, and Morris’s girlfriend, Gillian Gilbert, was recruited on keyboards. Early releases were similar to Joy Division - indeed, the band’s first single, ‘Ceremony’, was an old Joy Division song, and the debut album, ‘Movement’ (1981), was recorded with Joy Division producer Martin Hannett.

However, a visit to New York in 1982 encouraged the band’s burgeoning interest in dance music, and subsequent singles - like ‘Everything Gone Green’ and ‘Temptation’ - showed a new direction towards a mix of dance and guitar styles. 1983’s ‘Power, Corruption and Lies’ was the first album of dance-orientated material, and was followed by the band’s real breakthrough, ‘Blue Monday’. Famous for being the biggest selling 12” single of all time - and for the fact that the band initially lost money on it due to the expense of producing the sleeve! - the single has since become a classic. The follow-up, ‘Confusion’, was recorded with New York dance producer, Arthur Baker, confirming the band’s new direction.

With ‘Low-life’ (1985) and ‘Brotherhood’ (1986), New Order continued to experiment with a mixture of guitars and dance styles, and also saw Sumner’s vocals becoming more confident. After ‘Substance’ compiled the band’s singles, New Order recorded ‘Technique’ in Ibiza, demonstrating their love of acid house. One further single, the 1990 England World Cup anthem ‘World in Motion’, gave the band their first number one, but proved to be their last release for a few years, as the band members embarked on other projects: Sumner joined up with ex-Smith Johnny Marr in Electronic; Hook formed Revenge; and Morris and Gilbert worked together as The Other Two.

The band’s label, Factory, collapsed in 1992, leaving the band to sign to London, who released 1993’s ‘Republic’. Another long break followed, before 2001’s ‘Get Ready’ and 2005’s ‘Waiting for the Sirens’ Call’. The later album introduced new member, Phil Cunningham, who had replaced Gilbert (after she left in order to look after her children).

Rumours of a split emerged in late 2006, eventually being confirmed by Peter Hook in May 2007. However, the rest of the band have responded by stating their intention to continue without him...


If you would like to contribute to this, or any other biography on the site please email it to us.

www.niagara.edu/neworder
www.neworderonline.com
www.new-order.net
www.worldinmotion.net

Artefacts

Joy Division, New Order, Rob Gretton, Steve McGarry's First Offence
photograph, 1965
St.Bede's school photo, April, 1965. Front row, fourth from right: Steve McGarry in Chubby Cliff mode.... see more

1 comment.
Joy Division, New Order
Fac251 The Factory
flyer, 2010
This is the flyer for Hooky's tribute event to commemorate the 30th anniversary of Ian Curtis' death. see more

1 comment.
New Order
flyer, 1986
A flyer for New Order's New York gig at the 1018 Club '86 'in honour of Ruth Polsky'. see more

0 comments.
New Order
photograph, 1985
Gillian and Barney, in the Macclesfield mist. see more

0 comments.
New Order
photograph, 1985
New Order Macclesfield, Hookys opening line was, Alright sheepshaggers! see more

0 comments.
New Order
photograph, 1985
Found some photos of New Order I took at Macclesfield leisure centre, supported by the Mondays. The quality... see more

0 comments.
New Order
Factory Records Offices
other, 1984
Factory Ikon video list sent out for mail order customers (2 of 6). see more

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John Cooper-Clarke, New Order
poster, 1982
The colourful poster for the band's gig at The Capitol Theatre, Sydney, supported by John Cooper-Clarke see more

0 comments.
New Order
ticket, 1993
My ticket stub from the 1993 New Order performance in Dallas, Texas. One of the few soundboard or audience... see more

0 comments.
New Order
setlist, 1993
This is Gillian's set list from their Republic Tour performance in Dallas, Texas. I recall wanting to... see more

0 comments.
808 State, A Certain Ratio, Buzzcocks, The Durutti Column, Happy Mondays, The High, Inspiral Carpets, James, New Order, The Smiths, The Stone Roses, World of Twist, The Charlatans, Northside
Dry Bar
programme, 1990
Back in 1990 there was an auction of items donated by local bands, Factory and The Hacienda in aid of... see more

5 comments.
A Certain Ratio, John Cooper-Clarke, New Order, The Smiths, The Fall
G-MEX
ticket, 1986
+ more bands. The Festival of the 10th Summer. A long week with 3 gigs in the week (and the Smiths the... see more

5 comments.
New Order
G-MEX
press article, 1986
Sounds review of 10th summer. see more

1 comment.
New Order, The Smiths, The Fall
ticket, 1986
A Liverpool City Council Benefit at the Royal Court Theatre. When Maggie rate capped Liverpool City... see more

1 comment.
New Order
badge, 2006
Badge we wore to Bournemouth and the 2006 tour.

It was the first one to bear our Factory number, hence... see more

0 comments.
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