Love will tear us apart
With all the news about some concert in Croke Park not being given approval (yet), JOE has decided to take a look at one gig that definitely will be going ahead. Peter Hook may not be a name on everyone’s lips in the same way that Garth Brooks is, but his story is far more interesting.
The Mancunian is playing Bulmers Live at Leopardstown later this evening and to mark the occasion JOE has decided to take a look at his career and pick five of his best songs.
For those who don’t know, Hook was the bass guitarist for indie pioneers Joy Division whose detached, energetic and melodic post-punk style is still massively influential today. His ominous bass playing was an integral part in creating the band’s signature dark and gloomy sound on their two iconic albums, Closer and Unknown Pleasures.
Transmission is one of the most notable song’s where Hook’s trademark bass is prominent. The tune was originally released in 1979 but it’s still a dance floor favourite for young people dressed in black that are dancing all over the world.
Clip via – entropyness
The bands finest single Love will Tear us Apart is still an absolute classic that remains the default ‘end of the night’ choice for most Irish DJ’s, the cool ones anyway.
JOE always wondered one thing though, do the people dancing know that this is probably one of the darkest songs ever? Who cares though, it’s of the greatest songs ever recorded.
Unfortunately, the band ended in tragic circumstances after the death of lead singer Ian Curtis however Hook, along with fellow band mates Bernard Summer and Stephen Morris, emerged from the tragedy to create New Order in 1980.
Their debut release was ironically the last song that Joy Division had ever written prior to Curtis’ death. Ceremony is an incredibly complex, poignant and layered song, despite it containing just two prominent chords. Hook’s bassline shines through it as does Summer’s lead guitar. A timeless classic that manages to be both incredibly uplifting and prophetically haunting.
Clip via – Nightmare Music
While the group struggled in its early years to escape the shadow of Joy Division, New Order eventually went on to even greater commercial success and became one of the most critically acclaimed bands of the ’80s. In fact, this song was the soundtrack to that decade.
The period wasn’t smooth sailing though as New Order endured in- fighting, record company collapses, financial ruin, two break up’s and two reforms. Hook is now performing with his own band, The Light, and his set-list is a wonderful mix of both bands.
Temptation is JOE’s favourite song and yet it’s still probably best known for its appearance on the Trainspotting soundtrack . When JOE last saw Peter Hook perform in Ireland, this was the stand out track of the night and its easy to see why, the perfect blend of timeless lyrics and dance floor beats.
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