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  • UNKNOWN PLEASURES: INSIDE JOY DIVISION: Peter Hook :January 29, 2013

    The definitive story of Joy Division told by the band's legendary bassist, PETER HOOK – now available in the U.S. for the first time....

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    UNKNOWN PLEASURES....

    INSIDE JOY DIVISION....

    BY PETER HOOK....

    Publication Date: January 29, 2013....

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    "Required reading for anyone who ever felt moved by Joy Division's cold, dark music." – KIRKUS, in a starred review ....

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    "Vivid, funny, and unexpectedly touching, Peter Hook's memoir strips away the shroud of myth surrounding Joy Division to offer a refreshingly gritty perspective on the story of four ordinary young men who together made extraordinary music." – Simon Reynolds, author of Rip It Up and Start Again: Postpunk 1978-84....

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    Joy Division changed the face of music. Godfathers of alternative rock, they reinvented music in the post-punk era, creating a unique new sound – dark, hypnotic, and intense – that would influence U2, Morrissey, R.E.M., Radiohead, and numerous others. Bono has said of them: "It would be harder to find a darker place in music than Joy Division. Their name, their lyrics, and their singer were as big a black cloud as you could find in the sky. And yet I sensed the pursuit of God, or light, or reason… A reason to be. With Joy Division, you felt from this singer beauty was truth and truth was beauty, and theirs was a search for both." ....

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    On stage, lead singer Ian Curtis was a mesmerizing and enigmatic figure. Few realized, however, that he was secretly struggling. A recent diagnosis of epilepsy rendered him prone to fits, many exacerbated by light displays on stage during the band's performances. Off the road, he struggled to provide for a new baby as his young marriage faltered. The lure of the road beckoned, and a burgeoning love affair grew. But it all proved too much to handle. ....

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    The story is now legendary: in 1980, on the heels of their groundbreaking debut, Unknown Pleasures, and on the eve of their first U.S. tour, Ian Curtis committed suicide. Yet in the mere three years they were together, Joy Division produced two landmark albums and a handful of singles—including the iconic anthem "Love Will Tear Us Apart"—that continue to have a powerful resonance. ....

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    Now, for the first time, their story is told by one of their own. In UNKNOWN PLEASURES: Inside Joy Division (It Books | January 29, 2013 | Hardcover |$27.99 | also available from HarperCollins e-books) – originally published in the UK by Simon & Schuster UK on September 27, 2012 – founding member and bass player Peter Hook recounts how four young men from Manchester and Salford, with makeshift instruments and a broken-down van, rose from the punk scene to create haunting, atmospheric music that would define a generation. ....

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    Hook shares previously unseen photographs and paraphernalia, including two eight-page color photo inserts, and reflects, with eye-opening candor, on the suicide of Ian Curtis: often seen as the "intellectual one" by the public – Curtis was to Peter and the band just "one of the lads" who, like them, had tremendous fun being young and a musician. Hook shares his regret that Ian's burdens only emerged when it was too late – and, when they did emerge, that Hook and the band carried on like it was business as usual. ....

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    Covering the band's friendships and fall-outs; the evolution of their sound and image; their rehearsals and recording sessions; and the larger-than-life characters who formed a vital part of the Joy Division legend, including Factory Records founder Tony Wilson and producer Martin Hannett, Hook tells the exclusive story of the band in this unflinchingly honest memoir. He also reveals new insights, such as: ....

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    · Why Hook hated the sound of Unknown Pleasures when he first heard it, and how all of the things he loves about the album today – the spacey, echoey ambient sound of it – were all the things he initially hated ....

    · Which portrayal of Ian on film Hook prefers and why....

    · How Hook developed his three-fingered method of playing bass – from playing badly....

    · How the punk scene is so different for bands today – and how, when Joy Division was getting started, there was no manual, no "how to" and that made it exciting – and why being on an indie label let them behave so badly during press interviews....

    · Why their first record, put on by a DJ at a local club in Manchester literally cleared the dance floor....

    · Why producer Martin Hannett tore apart Stephen Morris's drum kit while recording Unknown Pleasures ....

    · Some of the legendary pranks the band pulled on the road – and the particularly epic prank involving maggots on the Buzzcocks tour....

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    With a comprehensive timeline and insightful track-by-track breakdowns of the songs on their two sole albums – Unknown Pleasures and Closer, this is the book that Joy Division fans have awaited for decades.....

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    Peter Hook was born in 1956 in Salford, England. A founding member of Joy Division and New Order, he is an international DJ and tours Joy Division's music with his new band, the Light. He lives in Cheshire. ....

    Online: www.peterhook.co.uk....

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    AUTHOR TOUR EVENTS FOR UNKNOWN PLEASURES:....

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    Monday, Jan. 28 | Brooklyn, NY | 7:00 PM....

    Powerhouse Arena | in conversation with Brandon Stosuy of Pitchfork....

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    Tuesday, Jan. 29 | New York, NY | 7:00 PM....

    Strand Bookstore | in conversation with Sasha Frere-Jones of the New Yorker....

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    Thursday, Jan. 31 | San Francisco, CA | 7:00 PM....

    JCC of San Francisco | in conversation with David Pescovitz of Boing Boing....

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    Friday, Feb. 1 | Los Angeles, CA | 7:30 PM....

    Skylight Books....

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    Saturday, Feb. 2 | San Diego, CA | 4:00 PM....

    M-Theory Records ....

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    Monday, Feb. 4 | Cincinnati, OH | 7:00 PM....

    Joseph-Beth Booksellers ....

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    Tuesday, Feb. 5 | Chicago, IL | 6:00 PM....

    Museum of Contemporary Art....

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    Wednesday, Feb. 6 | Long Island, NY | 7:00 PM....

    Book Revue....

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    Thursday, Feb. 7| Boston, MA | 7:00 ....

    Brookline Booksmith | in conversation with author/writer Scott Heim....

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    Friday, Feb. 8 | Boston, MA | 7:00 ....

    Porter Square Books | in conversation with NPR music critic Tim Riley....

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    PRAISE FROM THE UK PUBLICATION OF UNKNOWN PLEASURES:....

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    "Hook has restored a flesh-and-blood rawness to what was becoming a standard tale. Few pop music books manage that." —Andy Beckett, The Guardian....

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    "The most colorful and intimate account of Joy Division ever written . . . a marvelous raconteur[,] Hook evokes the spirit of the age with a bluff authenticity that no outsider could hope to emulate . . . explaining the creation of his band's remarkable music with all the passion and insight it deserves." ....

    —Keith Cameron, MOJO....

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    "A self-confessed "working-class yobbo," Hook writes with real enthusiasm about the unlikely lads who ended up forming two of Britain's most influential bands (Joy Division and, after the suicide of their lead singer Ian Curtis, New Order) . . . will keep you entertained for a very long time" —Rob Fitzpatrick, Sunday Times ....

    1:49 PM
    • Post a comment...
      • luka

         NeW ViDeO ( ItAliAn SiNgER )http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=pipdJKtmPjY   If YoU LiKe My ViDeO LiKe My PaGe( Songs in Italian, English and Deutsch ): http://www.facebook.com/lukasongs    

        1 month ago
      • Michael Cunningham

         hello ian curtis well well well well and bern, gillian, i am a humongous fan of yours with a huge package for all the female joy division fans may we taste the hate as we have sex under the german stars!!  LOL!!! LOL ROFL!!

        2 months ago
      • luka

         YoU KnOW ThAT?

        Luka - NeW AlBuM – EuRopE ExPrEsS
        ( Songs in Italian, English and Deutsch )
        LiStEn AnD If YoU LiKe Share oR BuY:
        http://luka.zimbalam.com/

        3 months ago
      • george

        Brilliant read.  I have laughed out loud  in parts and been plunged into sadness in others.  Very well written.

        3 months ago

  • Total: From Joy Division To New Order

    THE VERY BEST OF NEW ORDER AND JOY DIVISION



    NEW COLLECTION BRINGING TOGETHER JOY DIVISION AND NEW ORDER FOR THE FIRST TIME....

    FEATURES NEW EXCLUSIVE UNRELEASED NEW ORDER TRACK "HELLBENT"....

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    RELEASED RHINO RECORDS UK JUNE 6TH 2011....

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    Rhino Records UK is pleased to announce the release of "Total: From Joy Division To New Order" – a single CD collection of tracks from two of the most important groups in British musical history, Joy Division and New Order.....

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    Despite a tragically short existence as a band, Joy Division have stood the test of time, remaining one of the most important and influential bands from the UK. Their dark, brooding resonance serving as template for a million and one contemporary copycat acts, and their continued adoration today is no doubt testament to the modern and unique sound they carved in their short career. The sound of a young band on the brink of success yet unsure how to deal with it.....

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    With the sad passing of Ian Curtis, Joy Division were forced to re-think and from the ashes rose New Order. ....

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    The same core band, New Order took forward the linear progression of Joy Division and translated it into a new, exciting sound. Firmly rooted in their post-punk boots but using pioneering technological advances in music, New Order were early adopters of electronics in pop music and eventually went on to write the biggest selling dance 12" of all time – Blue Monday.....

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    TOTAL is a chronological look at the two bands' most important tracks and the first time the bands have been brought together on one album. It includes Joy Division staples such as LOVE WILL TEAR US APART and the beautiful ATMOSPHERE as well as New Order classics BLUE MONDAY, BIZARRE LOVE TRIANGLE and TRUE FAITH. Also included is a brand new unreleased New Order track "HELLBENT".....

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    Guitarist/vocalist BERNARD SUMNER commented "I'm glad people still talk about Joy Division and New Order, there's still a sense of self-discovery when they find out about both bands. One of my friends brought his daughter round – she's 14, and she had her iPod on. And I said to her, what are you listening to? And she said, it's this group called Joy Division. And I had to smile a little bit".....

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    Bassist PETER HOOK "It is strange seeing the two bands together on one CD. Nice for me, because I can see the evolution, the way the music changed over the years. I am very proud of both, hopefully this could turn a NEW GENERATION of people onto both!"....

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    The album has been lovingly mastered by Frank Arkwright and features exciting new cover-art overseen by Peter Saville former art director of Factory Records.....

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    TOTAL Tracklisting....

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    1. Joy Division – Transmission (Track taken from Factory Records FAC 13 7" Single)....

    2. Joy Division - Love Will Tear Us Apart (Track taken from Factory Records FAC23 7" Single)....

    3. Joy Division – Isolation (Track taken from Factory Records FAC25 12" Album)....

    4. Joy Division - She's Lost Control (Track taken from Factory Records FACUS2 12" Single)....

    5. Joy Division – Atmosphere (Track taken from Factory FACUS2 12" Single)....

    6. New Order – Ceremony (Track taken from Factory Records FAC33 7" Single)....

    7. New Order – Temptation (Track taken from Factory Records FAC63 7" Single)....

    8. New Order - Blue Monday (Track taken from Factory Records FAC73 12" Single)....

    9. New Order - Thieves Like Us (Track taken from Factory Records FAC103 7" Single)....

    10. New Order - The Perfect Kiss (Track taken from Factory Records FAC123 7" Single)....

    11. New Order - Bizarre Love Triangle (Track taken from Factory Records FAC163 7" Single)....

    12. New Order - True Faith (Track taken from Factory Records FAC183 7" Single)....

    13. New Order – Fine Time (Track taken from Factory Records FAC223 7" Single)....

    14. New Order - World In Motion (Track taken from Factory Records FAC293 7" Single)....

    15. New Order – Regret (Track taken from London Records NUO1 7" Single)....

    16. New Order – Crystal (Taken from London Records NUOCD8 CD Single)....

    17. New Order – Krafty (Taken from London Records NUOX13 12" Single)....

    18. New Order – Hellbent (Previously unreleased track)....


    www.rhino.co.uk....

    8:32 AM

  • Peter Hook's The Light Perform Closer – Wednesday 18th May The Factory Manchester

    Peter Hook's The Light Perform Closer – Wednesday 18th May The Factory Manchester

    Peter Hook's The Light Perform "Closer"

    Wednesday May 18th / The Factory Manchester / 8pm

    112 – 118 Princess Street Manchester, M1 7EN

    In Association With Mind & The Keith Bennett Appeal

    Tickets : £20.11 (Includes Charity Donation)

    Tickets available from Thursday 10th March 2011 at www.factorymanchester.com

    Peter Hook's The Light return to The Factory on May 18th 20011 for the first ever performance of Joy Division's starkly passionate, seminal second album, "Closer" live and in its entirety at the club's intimate downstairs gig floor, a year to the day since The Light first performed "Unknown Pleasures" at the venue.

    As an album, "Closer's history is forever associated with Ian Curtis' death, its recording sessions seeing his condition worsen, and was released two months post in July 1980. The Peter Saville chosen cover of a Bernard Pierre Wolf, Appiani Tomb portrait has served to enhance its myth although Saville had never heard Closer when he chose the image prior to Ian's passing.

    With Martin Hannett's incandescent production permeating the record allied with a band that had developed in stature and confidence since their debut "Unknown Pleasures", the album came to yield many classic Joy Division tracks, "Atrocity Exhibition, "Heart And Soul" and "Twenty Four Hours".

    With a much greater use of keyboards than its predecessor, Closer also contained many references to New Order's future direction, which the Joy Division's remaining band members were to move on with, almost immediately at the time of the release of "Closer", studiously ignoring the album at the time.

    The Light's performance of "Closer" on the evening is also being recorded by Ronnie Lane's mobile recording studio for a vinyl only release later in 2011.

    On Mind & The Keith Bennett Appeals Involvement

    The May 18th Closer gig continues the same charities involved in last year's event, Mind and The Keith Bennett Appeal.

    On Mind's involvement, chief executive Paul Farmer commented "I am delighted that Peter Hook has decided to once again support Mind following the success of last year's gig which helped fund our work to improve the lives of people with mental distress, and to combat the stigma that still surrounds mental health problems. Our huge thanks goes to Peter and everyone else involved with the concert for their continued support."

    Peter Hook's The Light feat. Rowetta - "1102 / 2011" 4 Track EP

    Released digitally Monday 2nd May 2011 on Hacienda Records.

    1 "Pictures In My Mind" (vocals by Peter Hook)

    2"Insight", (vocals by Rowetta)

    3."New Dawn Fades" (vocals by Rowetta)

    4."Atmosphere" (vocals by Rowetta)

    www.fac51thehacienda.com / www.peterhook.co.uk

    After much rumour and speculation, Hacienda Records can announce the release of The Lights debut EP "1102 / 2011" on Monday 2nd May 2011. Billed as "Peter Hook's The Light feat Rowetta", the four track EP takes its name from the palindromic recording date of 11th February 2011 at Blueprint Studio, Salford.

    "Pictures In My Mind" was an unfinished Joy Division track which was unearthed by the band's "bootleg society" from a rehearsal tape stolen in 1977, setting it between Warsaw and Unknown Pleasures. The track was first performed by The Light at the opening night of The Factory in February 2011 with Hooky mindful of Ian Curtis' maxim that one started a song should always, he takes the vocal himself to finish up the track.

    Having performed with the band consistently since 2007 at events such as Versus Cancer, 1234 Festival, Vintage and The Factory gigs, The EP features The Light's habitual guest vocalist Rowetta, across three of the classic Joy Division tracks which she has been consistently singing live with the band, "Insight, "New Dawn Fades" and "Atmosphere".

    Having received great reviews for her vocal performances from Joy Division fans, Factory aficianados and her own fan base, Hooky decided to record Rowetta's unique renditions of these tracks late last year, and she joined the band at Blueprint to lay down the vocals in February 2011.

    More information and the design for the release by James Chadderton will be made available early in April 2011.

    Exclusive video footage of The Light performing "Disorder" and "New Dawn Fades" from The Factory last May will be released on Monday March 7th via Peter Hook & The Light's facebook at www.facebook.com/peterhookandthelight and at www.peterhook.co.uk.

    Peter Hook's The Light

    Peter Hook's The Light features Peter Hook on vocals and bass, Jack Bates on bass, Nat Wason on guitar, Andy Poole on keyboards and Paul Kehoe on drums. Rowetta performs as guest vocalist at selected gigs.

    Having performed together at the opening night of The Factory in February 2010, in the past twelve months The Light have undertaken extensive tours of mainland Europe, Australia and New Zealand, and The United States, as well as numerous UK and international festival appearances.

    www.fac51thehacienda.com / www.peterhook.co.uk

    Peter Hook's The Light Tour Dates To June 2011

    Dates in Bold feature Rowetta as guest vocalist

    All dates apart from May 18th at The Factory Manchester see The Light perform Unknown Pleasures

    09/03/11 La Carene, Brest, France
    10/03/11 Le Trabendo, Paris, France
    11/03/11 Big Band Cafe, Caen, France
    25/03/11 Helsinki, Finland
    27/03/11 Oslo, Norway

    30/03/11 Rosso, Manchester (Nordoff Robins Charity Event)
    23/04/11 Scala, London

    30/04/11 Liquid, Edinburgh

    07/05/11 Festival Donorte, Pontevedra, Spain
    18/05/11 The Factory, Manchester (Performing Closer)
    28/05/11 Den Haag, Holland
    29/05/11 Eindhoven, Holland
    7:43 AM

  • Unknown Pleasures: A Celebration Of Joy Division by Peter Hook’s The Light

    Unknown Pleasures: A Celebration Of Joy Division by Peter Hook’s The Light

    Italian Tour November 2010

    Thursday 25th November Magazzini, Milan
    Friday 26th November New Age, Treviso
    Saturday 27th November Romaeuropa, Brancaleone, Rome

    US Tour December 2010

    Weds Dec 1st 9.30 Club , Washington
    Thurs Dec 2nd Voyeur, Philadelphia
    Fri Dec 3rd Webster Hall, New York
    Sat Dec 4th Royale, Boston
    Sun Dec 5th Double Door , Chicago
    Tues Dec 7th Showbox at the Market , Seattle
    Thurs Dec 9th Doug Fir Lounge , Portland
    Fri Dec 10th Mezzanine, San Francisco
    Sat Dec 11th The Music Box, Hollywood, Los Angeles

    Some thirty years on since the release of Joy Division’s seminal album Unknown Pleasures, New Order and Joy Division’s Peter Hook’s specially assembled band The Light have been performing the album in full and other early Warsaw and Joy Division classics at concerts throughout 2010.

    Closing off the year, The Light are undertaking a small tour of Italy before doing a coast to coast US tour taking in the major cities across the United States. International demand for these shows has been high and with other international concerts planned for 2011, these are likely to be the only extensive visits to these countries with the Light performing “Unknown Pleasures”.

    First performed for two charity supporting concerts to commemorate the 30th anniversary of Ian Curtis’ passing at The Factory in Manchester back in May of this year, reaction to Hooky’s revival of the earliest material from his career has been met with great reactions from long term fans and newer devotees alike. Culling material from the first tracks written as Warsaw, Joy Division’s debut “An Ideal For Living” EP and then playing the bands debut album, “Unknown Pleasures “ in full, the concerts have re-introduced Hooky’s and Joy Divison’s early repertoire to a host of new audiences across festivals and foreign tours.

    With Hooky taking lead vocals and playing bass for The Light, his son Jack Bates also fills in on bass with Nat Wason on guitar whilst the line up and family affairs completed by cohorts Andy Poole on keys, Paul “Leadfoot” Kehoe on drums and Hooky’s production partner Phil Murphy as tour manager.

    To date Peter Hook’s The Light have taken headline slots at Vintage, Benicassim, 1234, and other European festivals while The Light are undertaking extensive tours in Spain, America, Mexico, Australia and New Zealand in the back end of 2010.

    12:48 AM

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