Peter Hook & The Light UK Tour 2025—Joy Division Lives On
Peter Hook at the Rebellion Festivals—All photos by John Greenwood
Being born and raised a Greater Manchester lad through my formative years before I “phukt” off to less harsh climates in California, the local “Big Punk” lads to look up to and be proud of representing our area on the punk landscape were the likes of The Buzzcocks, The Fall, Magazine, Slaughter & The Dogs, John Cooper Clarke, and The Drones. Last but by no means least, another band that coughed out of the first Sex Pistols show at the Manchester Free Trade Hall, originally known as Warsaw. Later, they left an indelible meteorite crater on the face of modern music as they crystallized into one of the most influential bands the scene ever dredged up: Joy Division.
Peter Hook at the Rebellion Festivals—All photos by John Greenwood
The live mystique of Joy Division was, for a long time, locked in the vault and death shroud of their lead singer, Ian Curtis, who, in a storyline fit for Greek tragedy, took his own life just before their most famous track, “Love Will Tear Us Apart,” broke on an unsuspecting world. He never knew or received the accolades for the seismic shift his work would have, not only on that generation but also on those to come. Tragedy is an understatement; I don’t know if there’s even a word that truly describes the devastating loss it was.
As the surviving members—Peter Hook, Bernard Sumner, and Stephen Morris—contemplated their futures in a world without the man who gave words to their landscapes, a painful but determined path forward was forged. Joy Division was laid to rest alongside Curtis, and from the ashes rose New Order. They appeared to transform effortlessly, at least from the outside, a testament to their skill and creativity. New Order went on to worldwide success, appealing to a new audience and carrying the torch forward.
Peter Hook and the Light at the Rebellion Festivals—All photos by John Greenwood
Happy days.
But, being honest, I always had a bit of resentment toward New Order. I love both bands, but part of me always craved a return to the rawness of JD. Behind closed doors, it turns out that same feeling brewed within the band, becoming a bone of contention between “Hooky” and his lifelong bandmates. Why were they so reluctant to celebrate their Joy Division heritage once the wounds had had time to heal? I can’t say — I wasn’t walking in those shoes.
Peter Hook and the Light at the Rebellion Festivals—All photos by John Greenwood
All I can say is God bless Peter Hook for letting us bask again in the otherworldly glory of Joy Division through Peter Hook & The Light. You absolutely walk on water as far as I’m concerned, sir.
I’ve seen Peter Hook & The Light numerous times. Hearing those Joy Division sounds performed live after decades of silence is like drinking from the fountain of youth. When Hooky broke away from New Order to form The Light in 2010, he gave us a very special gift. The live experience has even won over friends of mine who weren’t die-hard JD or NO fans. “Love Will Tear Us Apart” still sends shivers, “Shadowplay” and “Dead Souls” still carve through the room, and “Isolation” still gleams like an ice palace crashing into an unholy disco. But when “Day of the Lords” kicks in live, every nerve ending stands on end—even what’s left of my diminishing fur.
And credit where it’s due: David Potts’ guitar work in this project has been immaculate.
Peter Hook and the Light at the Rebellion Festivals—All photos by John Greenwood
If you’ve been unlucky enough not to catch PH&TL live yet, don’t wait. They’re back on tour this November across the UK, following Peter’s recovery from shoulder surgery. Each show will feature Get Ready performed in its entirety, followed by a full set of Joy Division and New Order classics.
I caught them at The Warfield in San Francisco in September 2024 and again at Rebellion Festival 2025 in August. Both shows felt less like concerts and more like spiritual awakenings — the kind only a few bands can deliver. I’ll never miss another show if I can help it.
The Peter Hook & The Light UK Tour starts in Worthing on November 6 and runs through Leeds on November 29. Catch it.
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