Peter Hook & the Light
Peter Hook & the Light is a British post-punk band formed in 2010 by bassist and vocalist Peter Hook, a founding member of the influential groups Joy Division and New Order, with the primary purpose of performing the complete catalogs of those bands live on stage.[1] The band debuted with a series of UK shows in August 2010, focusing on Joy Division's debut album Unknown Pleasures in its entirety, marking Hook's return to performing that material after years away from it following his departure from New Order in 2007.[2] Subsequent tours expanded to include full performances of Joy Division's Closer (starting in 2011), New Order's Movement, Power, Corruption & Lies, Low-Life, Brotherhood, and Technique, as well as the compilation albums Substance for both bands.[3] These shows have taken the band across Europe, North America, Australia, New Zealand, South America, and beyond, amassing over 800 concerts by 2025 and earning acclaim for faithfully recreating the original recordings' energy while allowing Hook to revisit his musical roots.[4] As of 2025, the lineup features Peter Hook on bass and lead vocals, his son Jack Bates on bass, David Potts on guitar and co-lead vocals, Paul Kehoe on drums, and Martin Rebelski on keyboards.[5] Although primarily a live act, the band has released several live albums documenting their tours, including Joy Division: A Celebration (Live) (2022), New Order's Technique and Republic (Live at the Electric Ballroom 9/28/2018) (2018), and Power, Corruption & Lies Tour 2013 (2017).[6] As of November 2025, Peter Hook & the Light continues an active touring schedule, with recent UK dates promoting New Order's 2001 album Get Ready in full alongside Joy Division and New Order hits, underscoring the enduring legacy of Hook's contributions to post-punk and electronic music.[7]History
Background and formation
Peter Hook, renowned as the bassist for the post-punk bands Joy Division and New Order, departed from New Order in 2007 amid personal disputes, believing the group had disbanded.[8] Following this, Hook found himself in a difficult emotional state, prompting reflection on his past and the legacy of Joy Division frontman Ian Curtis, whose death in 1980 had prevented the band from performing their debut album Unknown Pleasures live.[9] This introspection, combined with ongoing fan demand for live renditions of Joy Division's material, inspired Hook to revisit the repertoire as a means of honoring what might have been had Curtis survived.[10] In early 2010, Hook formed Peter Hook & the Light as a temporary project specifically to perform Unknown Pleasures in its entirety, with no initial plans for long-term commitment.[9] The band was assembled quickly for this purpose, drawing on Hook's personal and professional networks; he recruited his son, Jack Bates, then 20 years old, to handle bass duties alongside Hook's own bass and lead vocals.[11] Additional members included collaborators from Hook's earlier projects, such as drummer Paul Kehoe from the 1990s band Monaco, ensuring a lineup familiar with his musical style.[12] Early performances included an appearance on May 18, 2010, at Manchester's Factory nightclub (FAC251), commemorating the 30th anniversary of Ian Curtis's death, whose tenure as Joy Division's frontman ended tragically in 1980.[13] This performance marked the first full live rendition of Unknown Pleasures at the venue and served as a tribute to the label's legacy, drawing a sold-out crowd and setting the stage for the project's unexpected evolution.[9]2010–2011: Joy Division Unknown Pleasures and Closer tours
Peter Hook & the Light launched their inaugural tour in April 2010 with an eight-date UK run billed as "An Evening of Unknown Pleasures," where the band performed Joy Division's 1979 debut album in its entirety, followed by encores of additional tracks such as "No Love Lost," "Leaders of Men," and "Digital."[14] The tour kicked off on April 11 at Birmingham's Glee Club and included stops at Bolton's Albert Hall, Worcester's Huntingdon Hall, Manchester's The Factory, Leeds' Cockpit, Glasgow's Oran Mor, Newcastle's The Cluny, and Liverpool's O2 Academy, before concluding on April 23 at London's Scala.[14] This series was followed by additional charity shows at The Factory on May 18 and 19, 2010, commemorating the 30th anniversary of Ian Curtis's death.[15] The tour expanded internationally later in 2010, incorporating orchestral elements for select performances. On August 15, at the Vintage Festival in Goodwood, Chichester, the band delivered Unknown Pleasures with a full orchestra and choir, a rendition captured in a limited-edition live recording released shortly after, featuring the complete album alongside soundcheck tracks.[16] Additional dates included a September 10 appearance at Temple House Festival in Sligo, Ireland, and a September 24 show at Melbourne's Palais Theatre in Australia, before a nine-date U.S. leg in December that visited Washington, D.C.; Philadelphia; New York; Boston; Chicago; Seattle; Portland; San Francisco; and Los Angeles.[2] Across these approximately 23 shows, the setlist structure remained consistent: a faithful track-by-track recreation of Unknown Pleasures, emphasizing Hook's signature basslines, with encores drawing from Joy Division's early singles and B-sides.[17] In 2011, the band shifted focus to Joy Division's second album, Closer, with the Closer Live Tour beginning on May 18 and 19 at The Factory in Manchester, where they performed the 1980 record in full for the first time, again to sold-out crowds.[18] The tour then encompassed European dates in Portugal, France, Spain, the Netherlands, Finland, and Norway, before a 20-date UK run from September to November, featuring venues like London's HMV Hammersmith Apollo, Salford's Lowry, and Coventry's HMV Empire.[19] Setlists mirrored the Unknown Pleasures format, opening with pre-Closer tracks like "No Love Lost" and "Digital" before the full album playthrough, closing with encores such as "Dead Souls" and "Atmosphere," all delivered with Hook on lead vocals—a departure from his original backing role in Joy Division.[20] Early audience reception for both tours was enthusiastic, with shows frequently selling out and attracting dedicated Joy Division fans eager for live renditions of the material. Critics praised Hook's commitment to replicating the original bass fidelity and the band's tight execution, noting the high energy and emotional depth despite the 30-year gap since the albums' release.[21] However, reactions to Hook's gravelly vocal style were mixed, with some reviewers appreciating its raw intensity as a fitting tribute to Curtis's baritone, while others found it strained or unconventional compared to the originals.[22] These tours marked a successful revival, establishing Peter Hook & the Light as a vehicle for revisiting Joy Division's catalog with authenticity and vigor.[23]2012–2015: Joy Division full albums and New Order early albums tours
In 2012, Peter Hook & the Light broadened their live performances to encompass the complete Joy Division studio catalog, including full plays of Unknown Pleasures, Closer, and the posthumous compilation Still in sequence during UK and European tours. The tour kicked off on February 25 at Buxton Opera House in England, where the band delivered Unknown Pleasures and Closer in their entirety, marking an evolution from earlier focused sets on individual albums.[24] Subsequent dates extended to continental Europe, with shows in Luxembourg, Slovakia, Poland, the Czech Republic, and Germany, allowing audiences to experience the full arc of Joy Division's recorded output.[15] Performances of Still incorporated rare tracks such as "Dead Souls" and "Love Will Tear Us Apart," emphasizing the compilation's B-sides and outtakes alongside Hook's prominent bass lines and vocals.[25] By early 2013, the band transitioned to New Order's early material, launching a UK tour in January with complete renditions of Movement and Power, Corruption & Lies, where Hook handled both bass duties and lead vocals to recreate the albums' atmospheric synth-pop and post-punk elements. This shift followed sold-out Joy Division shows and represented the band's chronological progression through Hook's catalog, starting with a series of intimate UK venues before expanding internationally.[26] The tour, announced in late 2012, featured back-to-back album performances lasting over two hours, highlighting tracks like "Everything's Gone Green" and "Temptation" in their original sequencing.[27] Building on this momentum, the band extended to North America in September 2013 for additional dates, solidifying the New Order sets as a core part of their live identity.[28] From 2014 to 2015, Peter Hook & the Light integrated Joy Division material with New Order's Low-Life and Brotherhood, staging combined tours across more than 30 dates in the UK, Europe, and the US, often opening with a selection of Joy Division classics before full album plays of the New Order records. These shows, which ran nearly three hours, showcased the band's growing versatility, with Hook's soaring bass intros driving hits like "Bizarre Love Triangle" and "Blue Monday" from Brotherhood.[3] The North American leg debuted in November 2014, covering cities from Austin to Toronto and marking the first US performances of Low-Life and Brotherhood in full, while a 2015 Southern US tour added 10 new stops in states like Florida and Georgia.[29] European and UK dates interspersed throughout the period further boosted international draw, with festival appearances and headline gigs enhancing the tours' scope.[30] Notable milestones included the band's inaugural US appearances dedicated to Low-Life and Brotherhood in 2014, which drew strong crowds and critical praise for revitalizing New Order's mid-1980s sound. Performances from these tours were captured live, leading to subsequent releases such as Movement Tour 2013: Live in Dublin and Power, Corruption & Lies Tour 2013: Live in Dublin, preserving the era's energy through official recordings.[28][31]2016–2018: Substance Live tour
In 2016, Peter Hook & the Light launched the Substance Live tour with an extensive run of UK and European dates, performing the tracks from Joy Division's and New Order's Substance compilation albums in chronological order to blend post-punk origins with synth-pop evolution, highlighting hits like "Love Will Tear Us Apart" and "Blue Monday."[32][33] This approach marked a shift from the full-album recreations of prior tours, enabling a dynamic narrative arc through both bands' catalogs in a single set.[34] The tour expanded in 2017 and 2018 with additional legs across North America and Australasia, totaling over 40 performances that emphasized Hook's signature bass lines alongside high-energy deliveries and interactive fan sing-alongs during anthemic tracks.[35][36][37] Venues ranged from iconic spots like Manchester's O2 Apollo to international halls, maintaining the sequential structure while adapting to diverse crowds. A pivotal release from the tour was the live album Substance: The Albums of Joy Division & New Order (Live at the Apollo, Manchester, 16 September 2016), recorded during the homecoming show and issued in 2017, which documented the seamless transitions between Joy Division's raw intensity and New Order's electronic grooves.[38][39] The Substance Live tour garnered strong acclaim for revitalizing the material, with many shows selling out rapidly and drawing expanded audiences that included younger listeners discovering the bands' legacy, thereby elevating the group's profile in the post-punk revival scene.[40][41][42]2019–2022: New Order Technique and Republic tours, Joy Division Orchestrated, and select dates
In 2019, Peter Hook & The Light embarked on a tour focused on performing New Order's 1989 album Technique in full, commencing with UK and European dates that showcased the band's exploration of the group's later electronic-influenced material. The tour kicked off in September 2019, including performances at venues such as The Empire in Coventry on September 21, where the setlist centered on Technique tracks like "Fine Time" and "Round & Round," followed by selections from New Order's broader catalog. These shows marked a continuation of the band's progression through New Order's discography, building on prior tours by emphasizing the album's Ibiza-inspired production and dance-rock elements. European legs extended into early 2020, with dates in cities like Brussels and Amsterdam planned before disruptions arose.[43][44] The tour expanded to include Republic (1993) in early 2020, with pre-pandemic performances highlighting the album's mature, guitar-driven sound amid growing global restrictions. Initial shows occurred in February and March 2020 across Europe, such as in Dublin and Paris, where the band delivered full renditions of tracks including "Regret" and "Liar," blending them with Joy Division influences for a reflective tone. However, the COVID-19 pandemic led to widespread cancellations, including postponed UK dates in Glasgow and London originally scheduled for October 2020, forcing the band to halt live touring abruptly. In response, Hook and the group pivoted to virtual formats, recording isolated performances like a socially distanced set at Salford Music Festival in June 2020, which featured abbreviated Republic-era material streamed online to maintain fan engagement.[45][46] Parallel to these efforts, the Joy Division Orchestrated project reimagined the band's post-punk repertoire through orchestral arrangements in collaboration with the Manchester Camerata. Debuting on July 5, 2019, at London's Royal Albert Hall, the performance featured over 50 musicians interpreting Joy Division songs like "Disorder" and "Atmosphere" with strings and brass, curated by Hook to amplify the originals' emotional depth. The initiative continued into 2020–2021 amid lockdowns, with live streams and recordings such as the March 2021 broadcast of orchestral versions, allowing global audiences to experience the arrangements remotely. Guest vocalists including Rowetta and Pottsy from Happy Mondays added vocal layers, emphasizing the project's fusion of Manchester's musical heritage with classical elements. A related EP, Dreams (Joy Division Orchestrated), was released in October 2021, capturing studio takes of tracks like "Love Will Tear Us Apart" in this style.[47][48][49] From 2021 to 2022, the band resumed limited in-person and virtual activities, culminating in the "Joy Division: A Celebration" shows that incorporated orchestral elements from prior projects. Key performances included a sold-out homecoming at Manchester's O2 Apollo on July 29, 2022, where Hook & The Light played over two hours of Joy Division material, spanning Unknown Pleasures and Closer in full, plus rarities like "Dead Souls," to an enthusiastic local crowd. The event, blending rock energy with subtle orchestral nods, was recorded live and released as a triple album in October 2022, preserving the celebratory atmosphere. Earlier select dates in 2021–2022 were sparse due to ongoing pandemic challenges, focusing on rescheduled European gigs and online broadcasts to bridge the gap until fuller touring resumed. These years underscored the band's adaptability, transforming cancellations into innovative orchestral and recorded outputs that sustained their legacy.[50][51][52]2023–2025: Substance tour continuation, Get Ready tour, and international performances
In 2023, Peter Hook & the Light resumed their Substance live tour following the pandemic hiatus, delivering over 20 performances across the UK and Europe that revived the 2016 format of playing Joy Division's and New Order's Substance compilations in full, supplemented by key hits from both bands. The run kicked off with a sold-out 10th anniversary show at Manchester's Albert Hall on April 8, marking a celebratory return to the venue where the concept originated.[53] Additional highlights included a festival appearance at the Isle of Wight on June 16 and a UK leg tied to the 35th anniversary of Joy Division's Substance, building on the band's orchestral precedents from prior years.[54][55] The European extension in November featured multiple dates across the continent, reinforcing the tour's focus on the compilations' enduring legacy.[56] The band's international momentum accelerated in 2024 with expansive Substance tour legs, starting in New Zealand and Australia in May, where they performed nine shows beginning at Wellington's Opera House on May 16, achieving full sell-outs at several venues and drawing strong crowds for the dual-album sets.[57][58] This was followed by a 18-date North American trek from August 31 at Toronto's History to September 28 in Denver, covering cities such as Washington, D.C., New York, Chicago, and Buffalo, N.Y., with performances emphasizing the complete Substance tracklists to enthusiastic audiences.[59][60] The year wrapped with October and November dates in the UK and Ireland, presenting epic double-header evenings of both Substance albums in full, solidifying the tour's global resurgence.[61] Shifting focus in 2025, Peter Hook & the Light debuted their Get Ready tour, announced on October 30, 2024, to perform New Order's 2001 album Get Ready in its entirety for the first time live, paired with selections of Joy Division and New Order classics. The North American portion launched with 13 dates from May to June, including stops at venues like Miami Beach Bandshell, targeting fresh markets beyond prior Substance runs.[62][63] UK shows followed in November, highlighted by performances at Liverpool Olympia on the 13th, Edinburgh Corn Exchange on the 14th, and Newcastle's Boiler Shop on the 15th, with many dates selling out rapidly.[64] European extensions included Athens' Gazi Technopolis on September 20, alongside festival appearances such as the Shiiine On Weekender, broadening the tour's reach.[65][66] Throughout, the band maintained strong fan engagement via official social media, posting rehearsal clips, setlist previews, and live updates to heighten anticipation.[67]Personnel
Current members
The current lineup of Peter Hook & the Light, as of 2025, consists of five core members who have been instrumental in delivering the band's post-punk and new wave performances through extensive touring.[68] Peter Hook serves as the founder, lead vocalist, and bassist, maintaining the band's signature through his distinctive bass lines and interpretations of lyrics originally sung by Ian Curtis and Bernard Sumner.[69][1] Jack Bates, Hook's son, plays bass guitar and has contributed secondary bass layers to create a fuller sonic texture since joining in 2010.[1][70] Paul Kehoe handles drums, bringing rhythmic drive as a longtime collaborator from Hook's project Monaco, and has been part of the band's core since its early tours.[71][72] David Potts provides guitar and co-lead vocals, enhancing the band's guitar textures particularly in renditions of New Order material, having joined in 2013 from Monaco, replacing original guitarist Nat Wason.[71][68][73] Martin Rebelski operates keyboards and synthesizers, supplying essential electronic elements that replicate the 1980s New Order synth sounds central to the band's repertoire.[68][74]Former members
Andy Poole served as the band's keyboardist and backing vocalist from its formation in 2010 until 2016. A former member of Peter Hook's side project Monaco, Poole was instrumental in recreating the synthesizer elements central to Joy Division's sound during the band's early tours of Unknown Pleasures and Closer.[75] He departed the group in late 2016 to pursue other opportunities.[76] Nat Wason joined as the original guitarist for the band's debut performances in May 2010 and remained until 2013, contributing rock-oriented guitar elements to the initial Joy Division-focused sets. Wason, previously of Haven, left to join Ben Howard's live band and was replaced by David Potts ahead of a U.S. tour.[73] Fred Sablan provided temporary support on bass and guitar during select U.S. tours in 2013 and 2014, filling in amid scheduling demands.[77] During the orchestral performances of Joy Division material in 2019 and 2020, the band incorporated session programmers and additional players from ensembles like The Metropolitan Orchestra, though these were not considered core touring members.[78]Discography
EPs
Peter Hook & the Light released their debut EP, 1102 | 2011, on May 16, 2011, through Haçienda Records, coinciding with the band's ongoing Joy Division Closer tour.[79][80] The EP features re-recordings of Joy Division tracks with guest vocalist Rowetta, formerly of Happy Mondays, and takes its title from the palindromic recording date of February 11, 2011, at Blueprint Studios in Salford.[81][82] It is dedicated to the memory of Ronan "Rex" Sargeant, a sound engineer who passed away in December 2010, with a tribute note included in the packaging.[79] The four-track EP emphasizes Peter Hook's signature bass lines while incorporating Rowetta's soulful vocals to reinterpret the material in a post-punk style faithful to the originals.[83] The standard digital release includes:- "Atmosphere" (4:38)
- "Pictures in My Mind" (3:33) – a rare, unreleased Joy Division track from 1977 rehearsals
- "New Dawn Fades" (4:38)
- "Insight" (5:41)