New Order
The formation of New Order arose from the ashes of tragedy. The band’s previous incarnation, the hugely-influential Joy Division, came to a full-stop conclusion, following the suicide of iconic frontman Ian Curtis in May 1980. The three remaining members, Bernard Sumner (born Bernard Dicken, 4 January 1956, Salford, Manchester, England; guitar, vocals), Peter Hook (born 13 February 1956, Manchester, England; bass) and Stephen Morris (b. 28 October 1957, Macclesfield, Cheshire, England; drums), decided to continue in music under the guise of how they’re now known today.
Sumner became the vocalist of the band and the trio’s first moves were an understated tour of the US and the eventual recruitment later that year of Morris’ girlfriend, one Gillian Gilbert, whose role intertwined between the operation of keyboards and guitar. Writing and rehearsing began on their ‘debut’ album, and ‘Movement’ was the record that surfaced from such sessions, its first single ‘Ceremony’ – originally penned during days within Joy Division – a top-40 hit in Spring 1981, the sound of old remaining true with Hooky’s notorious bass-prominence, though Sumner didn’t prove an assured singer.
Heads really started turning with the band’s second album, ‘Power, Corruption & Lies’, which saw the music-press greet the act’s return with greater interest than usual, deeply hyping the band’s prior existence and constantly comparing the ‘before and after’ effect. However, with the instantly memorable likes of ‘Age of Consent’ and ‘Your Silent Face’ released throughout the period, New Order were becoming a force of their own, no longer a shadow of the past which first granted alternative anthems such as ‘Love Will Tear Us Apart’ and ‘Transmission’.
Next was the true breakthrough however – ‘Blue Monday’, the single which catapulted the band’s status Stateside, and triggered millions of unit-sales, still to this day the highest-selling 12” single in the UK, and a timely reminder of the band’s inimitable dynamic of fusing contemporary rock and dance styles. Yet, despite new-found global stardom, the band remained loyal to their Factory Records independent-label base, and continued releasing off-the-wall, beyond-six-minute, avant-garde pop-material, the following ‘Confusion’ and ‘Thieves Like Us’ highlighting the quartet’s power at collaborating with New York’s hip-hop guru, Arthur Baker.
‘Low Life’ was their ’85 full-length attempt, marking a departure from Factory, and still proves one of their most popular, with its coincided single of ‘Perfect Kiss’ heralded a classic, and its predecessor of ‘Brotherhood’ merely seeming a disappointment, save for the impeccable ‘Bizarre Love Triangle’.
Really, their next mega-hit arrived in the form of ‘True Faith’, and a Quincy Jones-remixed ‘Blue Monday’ even found another top-5 placement for the group. But it was some time before a new album surfaced, during which time it was hinted that the band’s own personal lives and solo-projects were taking precedence over the unit they had established.
Not quite so. 1989 saw ‘Technique’, and popular accompanying 45, ‘Fine Time’, whilst World Cup/Italia ’90 spawned a duet with Keith Allen to form the official UK football anthem of the year and beyond – ‘World In Motion’. The band’s next studio reconvening occurred in ’93 for ‘Republic’, though rumours were abound that the members were internally feuding come the emergence of a 1995 anthology.
Whatever, 2001 saw their revival with triumphant, greatest-hits live-shows and an album, ‘Get Ready’, which was received ecstatically from critics. With the next year prompting a defiant and triumphant series of UK outdoor Summer-shows – inclusive of Joy Division material – New Order have successfully maintained their position as one of Britain’s most popular and inspired talents. Whether they choose to collaborate once again in the future remains to be discovered, but – no matter the outcome – they’ll still be revered as a historic landmark for modern-music.
Joy Division
NEW ORDER ONLINE: A powerfully constructed and riotously busy location, and possibly the best NO home on the net.
WORLD IN MOTION: An impressive fan-site, with plenty to see, view and do; regularly updated too, which is half the hassle, no?