New Order And Peter Hook Take Their Disagreements To Court

Peter Hook’s acrimonious split with electro rock vets New Order appears to be growing even more contentious. Speaking with the NME, the bassist revealed that the two parties appear headed for court because “neither side looks amenable to backing down.”

The point of legal contention for Hook apparently isn’t New Order touring and playing shows without him—which they’ve been doing since announcing their reunion in late 2011—but instead centers around ownership of the band’s trademark.

“What I’m rallying against is the business dealings they’ve done to secure the New Order trademark, which is oppression of a minority, which is illegal,” he tells NME. “They’ve taken the New Order name and the trademark and basically thrown me 50p [about $80] and said ‘That’s all your worth twatface. That’s what you get for playing Joy Division music.’

“It’s a business thing. They are in a position of strength because there’s three of them, but what they’re saying is that the New Order name has got nothing to do with me, and that’s what I dispute.”

The looming litigation hasn’t stopped either side from continuing to tour. Hook has been performing the music of Joy Division — who morphed into New Order after the suicide of vocalist Ian Curtis — with a band he’s dubbed the Light.

New Order, meanwhile, have announced several summer festival appearances and a performance in London’s Hyde Park with Blur to mark the 2012 Summer Olympics closing ceremonies.

Bassist Tom Chapman has replaced Hook, joining frontman Bernard Sumner, drummer Stephen Morris and keyboardist Gillian Gilbert. The latter rejoined the band last year after a decade away.