Hooked on past success

Not least one whose early career was curtailed in such tragic circumstances.

Peter Hook was Joy Division's bassist when Ian Curtis killed himself just as the group were justifiably about to make it big.

The Curtis legacy lives on, of course, and the band is still influencing bands whose members weren't even born in 1980. As someone at the centre of events, Hooky has a different perspective from those on the outside who simply look back at what might have been.

He has had to live for the last 27 years with the whys and wherefores of Curtis's suicide. The recent death of Factory Records founder Tony Wilson has brought it all back.

"It's something that's with me all the time," says Hooky. "You don't get over something like that, but you learn to cope. There are still times when it hits me though. At Tony's funeral Atmosphere was the last song played and that really affected me."

The Joy Division story is told in cinematic form in Control, a film made by Anton Corbijn, who took the classic photos of the band everyone remembers.

"It's strange seeing actors playing the part of the band, but everyone involved has done a great job."

As well as Control, a couple of long-time associates of the band have compiled a documentary simply entitled Joy Division which contains interviews with the surviving members and background about the scene which spawned them.

"It's like waiting for a bus. You wait 30 years for a film about Joy Division and then two come along at once," quips Hooky. "The movie business works in a different way to the music one, so although the documentary is complete it hasn't been sold for distribution yet.

"I went to the film festival in Toronto to see if I could help out. Control was on at the same festival, so I've seen it twice. It's safe to say that it's not 24-Hour Party People."

There is a rumour an American movie mogul asked if Joy Division would be able to play a few dates to promote the movie.

To mark the two films, the original albums have been remastered by band members and re-released (along with never officially-available before live albums). It's the first time Peter has listened closely to their oldest songs for years.

"I never really liked Unknown Pleasures, partly because we fell out with (producer) Martin Hannett over it, but listening to it again I can see why it was so highly regarded. By the time of Closer we were getting towards being the kind of band we wanted to be."

Of course, Curtis killing himself before that album even hit the shops sealed their legendary status, but didn't stop the rest of the band, regrouping as New Order to make more than their fair share of classics.

According to Hooky, keeping it going was the only way of keeping going after such a tragedy. Anyway, they had points to prove.

"I am competitive; we wanted to be the best. It goes with the territory of being in a band.

More entertainment news with John Highfield. Click here. I'm sure at this moment, for instance, Bloc Party are trying to make sure they're better than Editors."

Although he has praise for many of his 'rivals' from those days, and also a fair crop of today's up-and-coming acts - including the two mentioned above - it is fair to say the band who made it biggest of all - U2 - are not one of his favourites.

And as for the tenuous situation with New Order - "It's not the best time to ask really," he says, explaining that Tony Wilson's son Oliver has asked them to perform at a benefit concert to raise money for cancer charities, and he is yet undecided as to what to do.

"We've spoken to each other about it and if you were to ask me I'd say we've split up. If you ask the others, they'd say we haven't. We're all adults and we just have different opinions on this one."

Hooky has another act on his mind at the moment anyway. His latest venture Freebass, which includes a couple of other Mancunian four-stringed instrument stars you may have heard of - Andy Rourke and Mani - are working on material.

This 'supergroup' aims to play live at 2008’s festivals, if not before. With such a feast of talents you'd expect something original, but Hooky isn't keen on pinning their sound down.

"It's a cross between Joy Division, New Order, The Stones Roses, The Smiths, Primal Scream and Badly Drawn Boy.''

Er, could you be more specific?

"No."

If you want to hear them check out www.myspace.com/peterhookneworder which features one of their songs and also tracks by Joy Division and their precursors Warsaw. And watch BBC4 at 9pm tomorrow for a Factory Records special.