Peter Hook has lived several lifetimes in music.
From the raw charge of Joy Division to the shimmering evolution of New Order, he has carried forward a sound that still defines generations of bands.
Set to tour Australia next July with his band The Light, Hook is ready for 'Get Ready' (2001), a New Order record that has long held a complicated place in his history but has revealed fresh layers in rehearsal and performance.
When asked about the Big Day Out 2002 tour that followed 'Get Ready''s release, Hook's memory is clear. "We always used to call it the big day off," he laughs. "Because you'd have such long gaps between shows, it felt like a holiday.
"But musically, it was one of the best line-ups New Order ever had. Phil Cunningham brought something we'd been missing. There's an episode of 'Later With Jools Holland' from that period, and honestly, that was the best we ever sounded."
That 2002 festival run also saw The White Stripes playing early afternoon slots on side stages. Hook was there to catch them. "For a two piece, they were unbelievable. Amazing group. It's sad those kinds of big travelling festivals don't exist anymore; they were very special."
Two decades later, revisiting 'Get Ready' has brought surprises. Hook admits he originally carried ambivalence about the record, partly because of the tensions that resurfaced within New Order during its making.
"I'll be honest: when I first sat down to listen again, I thought, 'God, I hope it's not as bad as I remember', but I was shocked at how good it sounded. 'Crystal' and '60 Miles An Hour' are fantastic openers.
"Even the songs I never cared for, like 'Slow Jam' or 'Rock The Shack', came alive once we sharpened them up for live performance. It's actually been a real pleasure."
There's also joy in rediscovering deep cuts. "'Turn My Way' is a really nice one to play. '60 Miles An Hour' is underrated. Even 'Rock The Shack', which I never imagined saying, has become one of my favourites.
"We've had Bobby Gillespie [Primal Scream] join us onstage for it; he actually asked to play it more than once, which was great fun."
Hook's candour about New Order's internal dynamics is well known, and his commitment to authenticity runs through both his music and his writing. After publishing three books, he reflects on why setting the record straight mattered.
"Tony Wilson [co-founder of Factory Records and founder-manager of the Haçienda nightclub] always said, 'stick with the myth, it's more interesting, but in our case, I think the truth was much more interesting: Joy Division, New Order, Factory Records, The Haçienda, acid house, Manchester; you couldn't invent a story better than the reality."
The upcoming Australian tour also marks a personal milestone for Hooky. "It's the first one I've booked as a 70-year-old man," he says with a mix of pride and disbelief.
"I never expected, the night I went to see the Sex Pistols in 1976, that I'd still be here 50 years later doing what I love. That's something I'm very grateful for."
Hook remains attentive to how his legacy echoes through younger bands. "I was watching Editors the other week while my son was playing with Billy Corgan, and I thought, 'what a great group'.
"They've obviously been influenced by Joy Division, but they've gone on to be their own thing. I take every one of those as a compliment."
For Hook, touring 'Get Ready' with The Light has given him a chance to embrace an album once overshadowed by difficult memories. Now it's part of a continuing project: playing every New Order and Joy Division album in full.
"This is our twelfth. Next we'll move to 'Waiting For The Sirens' Call'. I set myself the challenge, and I can't stop now. The beauty of it is hearing the songs in a new way, with a band that brings great energy. It's like being able to start again."
As he prepares to bring 'Get Ready' to Australian audiences, Hook reflects on the journey with characteristic bluntness and humour. "Maybe us older musicians are like vampires," he chuckles.
"We suck the energy from the younger ones and carry on, but if that's what it takes, I'm happy with it. Because these songs still sound bloody good."
Peter Hook & The Light 2026 Tour Dates
Mon 13 Jul - Hindley Street Music Hall (Adelaide)Thu 16 Jul - The Tivoli (Brisbane)
Fri 17 Jul - Palais Theatre (Melbourne)
Sat 18 Jul - Enmore Theatre (Sydney)
Mon 20 Jul - Astor Theatre (Perth)
