Rhino Records will release a new 40th anniversary edition of Joy Division’s second album Closer, a new pressing on clear vinyl that will be issued alongside new vinyl pressings of three of the band’s iconic non-album singles. Plus, the former members of Joy Division are marking the anniversary of Ian Curtis’s death today.
Peter Hook will mark the 35th anniversary of Ian Curtis’ death by performing the complete works of Joy Division in a 500-seat, 18th century church in Macclesfield, England — a charity event dubbed “So This is Permanence” that will see all proceeds donated to the Epilepsy Society and the Churches Conservation Trust.
Annik Honoré — girlfriend of Joy Division’s Ian Curtis at the time of his death, the alleged inspiration for “Love Will Tear Us Apart” and the co-founder of the Les Disques du Crépuscule and Factory Benelux labels — died this week at the age of 56, according to press reports and associates.
It’s not quite as satisfying as watching him school an interviewer on how to play “Love Will Tear Us Apart,” but bassist Peter Hook has just posted a new video in which he demonstrates how to play “Ceremony,” the song that morphed from one of Joy Division’s last compositions to New Order’s first single.
Peter Hook recently recorded a 2-minute video for the NME’s Song Stories series in which he discusses the origins of some of Joy Division’s most beloved songs, including “Love Will Tear Us Apart,” “Transmission” and “Atmosphere” — plus the future New Order classic, “Ceremony,” that Joy Division didn’t record.
Peter Hook will follow up his 2009 memoir ‘The Hacienda: How Not to Run a Club’ this fall with a new book that purports to tell ‘the definitive story of Joy Division’ by offering a behind-the-scenes look into the band’s ‘friendships and fall-outs, their rehearsals and recording sessions,’ as well as the suicide of Ian Curtis and its aftermath.
Peter Hook will perform Joy Division’s third and final album, 1981’s ‘Still,’ at two concerts in Manchester this May, playing both the first disc’s collection of rarities and outtakes, and then recreating the band’s final concert as included on the second disc. The concerts are set for May 18, the anniversary of Ian Curtis’ death, and May 19.
Slicing Up Eyeballs checks in once again with Peter Hook on the eve of bringing Joy Division’s ‘Closer’ to the U.S., and the bassist says he may next perform ‘Still’ — and could even dip into New Order’s catalog ‘to annoy Bernard even more.’
The members of New Order have agreed to release the seven songs left over from the sessions for the band’s 2005 swan song ‘Waiting for the Sirens’ Call,’ bassist Peter Hook tells Slicing Up Eyeballs, saying the move should help make the group’s acrimonious split ‘a little cleaner’ and finally ‘draw the line’ under the break-up.
After bringing his ‘Unknown Pleasures’ tour to the U.S. late last year, bassist Peter Hook will return to North America this September to perform Joy Division’s second album, ‘Closer,’ at five select dates — and play ‘Unknown Pleasures’ in three cities skipped by the first tour.
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