Welcome to our collection of insightful quotes by Peter Hook, a pioneering figure in the realm of post-punk music. As the bassist and co-founder of iconic bands like Joy Division and New Order, Hook’s musical contributions have left an indelible mark on the landscape of alternative music. With his distinctive basslines and innovative approach to music-making, Peter Hook has influenced generations of musicians and continues to inspire creativity and passion within the industry.
Throughout his illustrious career spanning several decades, Peter Hook has shared his thoughts on music, creativity, and life itself. From reflections on the creative process to anecdotes from his time on the road, Hook’s words offer a glimpse into the mind of a true artist. Whether you’re a fan of his music or simply seeking inspiration, delve into the wisdom of Peter Hook as we present a curated selection of his memorable quotes below.
I’ve been very grateful and humbled by the fact that young people really dig Joy Division’s music. It’s a great testament to the chemistry and the songwriting prowess between the four original members. Peter Hook
The reason Joy Division and New Order are as influential and successful as they are is because of the unique playing of all the individuals. Peter Hook
When you balance it against New Order, New Order don’t work or tour relentlessly. We definitely work in our own way and sometimes it’s a bit too slow for me, so I like to plan ahead and fill my time up. Peter Hook
I’ve never been out of work in my whole life. Peter Hook
A poetic, sensitive, tortured soul, the Ian Curtis of the myth – he was definitely that. Peter Hook
Actually when we stopped New Order I was busier than ever. The only gaps have been while we’ve been writing. Peter Hook
You look at 30 Seconds to Mars, and you don’t think, ‘Ooh, I bet they’re angry.’ No one really does anger these days. I suppose it’s a turn-off. Peter Hook
There are keyboard terrorists everywhere who hide behind a veil of anonymity to pursue their vicious slanders. Peter Hook
I think people expect mud at festivals, I think you’d be asking for your money back if you didn’t get it. Peter Hook
What I’ve learned is that life is a balance between idealism and realism. Peter Hook
I’d rather have ten people who are mad for it than ten thousand who aren’t. Peter Hook
I’m one of those old cynics that thinks, whoever you vote for, the government always gets in. Peter Hook
To be in one band that changed the world musically is pretty good, but to be in two bands that changed the world musically, that’s amazing. Peter Hook
When you’re fat and comfortable, your music is going to sound fat and comfortable. Peter Hook
Any coalition, especially where one party is more powerful than the other, it’s always bound to have a pecking order. Peter Hook
‘Unknown Pleasures’ is a very important record for me. It was the first LP that I recorded. Peter Hook
Accept what you did do, and live with it. Peter Hook
We need to talk about what we are going to do and see and decide. We’ll have to wait and see. Peter Hook
There are seven songs finished and on par with any that are on Siren’s. Peter Hook
I don’t pretend to be Joy Division or New Order. What I do is very straight forward: it’s an interpretation and a celebration of the music, with different people. Everyone looks at it and knows exactly what I’m doing. Peter Hook
For the first 18 months of Joy Division, we used our jobs to fund the band. We’d all chip in three, five quid to go and do a gig. But it was worth it. It was amazing we could afford to feed ourselves. But we were so creatively and artistically satisfied. You can’t explain that to somebody who’s never been there. Peter Hook
When you DJ, you’re just on your own, which is nice because there’s no argument. Peter Hook
I regularly go to concerts with my children sharing the music. Peter Hook
Democracy for us tends to be has to do with who shouts the loudest! Peter Hook
’24 Hour Party People’ was a comedy, and I knew that from the beginning. Peter Hook
We loved country songs in New Order. That’s our big secret! Peter Hook
The break-up of a relationship is always difficult, especially a 30-year one. Peter Hook
Dance music tends to be a solitary affair. Peter Hook
You don’t get many chances in the world, and you don’t want to throw them away. Peter Hook
It’s really nice to be able to do what I’m doing without having to compromise with another musician. Peter Hook
To me, New Order split up when Bernard and I stopped writing together. We started Joy Division together; we started New Order together. Peter Hook
But then I quite enjoy when something goes wrong, because when I watch DJs that take it very seriously, it’s nice when you make a mistake and laugh about it. Peter Hook
‘Love Will Tear Us Apart’ is very simply written. Peter Hook
Bands don’t play the whole LP. They play a selection of the songs that they like. Peter Hook
I am always working on new material with my production partner Phil Murphy in our guise as Man Ray; we do a lot of soundtrack work & some great collaborations. Peter Hook
When you get the right people together, writing music becomes very effortless. Peter Hook
I love that young bands will do anything to succeed. Peter Hook
The thing with Joy Division’s music is that each member was playing like a separate line. We hardly ever played together; we all played separately. But when you put it together, it was like the ingredients in a cake. Peter Hook
The rise of the iPod meant that digital music became the norm, It’s sad, but you can still find the real stuff out there if you look for it! Peter Hook
The interesting thing is that New Order finished on an okay note. It was only after we split that things got worse. Peter Hook
I read one too many books about Joy Division by people who weren’t there, and they always seem to dwell on the dark, the intense, the miserable image of Joy Division. Peter Hook
It was nice doing my own Joy Division book to be able to put forward the fact that Ian was actually quite a nice guy and very hardworking, ambitious and loyal. But the thing was, he was battling such a dreadful illness in an era when they really didn’t know how to treat it. Peter Hook
I think that you have to bear in mind that music is about escape, and it’s not unreasonable to think the music business would be based around escapism. Peter Hook
There are lots of Joy Division songs that are so powerful when played live, some of which we did either never play or played very rarely. Peter Hook
Over the years, Joy Division has become a huge part of music culture. Peter Hook
When I play a gig and look out at the audience, you’re literally looking at a sea of Joy Division T-shirts. Peter Hook
I must confess that over my career, I’ve actually downplayed the importance of DJs. It’s such a different art form. Then all of a sudden you try it, and you think, ‘Good God, these guys do work.’ I used to be very cynical and very blase about it. I can only apologize. Peter Hook
I always do try to encourage my children to vote and at least exercise their right. Peter Hook
Yeah, I still feel as if I have things to do really. I’m not ready to stop. Peter Hook
I was reading an article about Kings of Leon’s bass player, who said that he was directly influenced by Joy Division and by me. I was like, ‘Woah!’ It surprised me. It’s a great compliment. Peter Hook
The fact is that you don’t want to be away forever, but you want to lead a normal life. Peter Hook
The chemistry involved made everything Factory did quite special. Peter Hook
Old men are cantankerous: they like to get their own way. Peter Hook
I’ve watched so-called ‘New Order’ playing in Auckland, and Tom Chapman is miming along to my bass on tape… He’s got his fingers on the low, and you can hear my high bass in the background. So he’s miming. Peter Hook
You can’t buy class. Peter Hook
Music was such an important part of everyone’s life in the ’60s and ’70s, but everywhere you played, the music was dreadful. Peter Hook
Great music seems to come from a lot of angst, and that angst is from great musicians getting together with intense chemistry. When that chemistry isn’t there, people tend not to write great music. Peter Hook
The worst words I could ever hear as a bass player was, ‘Can you play the root notes?’ Peter Hook
It’s the same misconception I used to have. I meet people and think they’re millionaires and they’re not. Peter Hook
My father was always Labour, and my mother was always Conservative, so I tended to sort of go in the middle. Peter Hook
At my age, I only travel business class because I just don’t bend anymore; my body can’t cope with it. Peter Hook
The scary thing is when I did my set in Texas everyone was excited. The show was great. I was done and the next DJ put something on vinyl and the difference! The quality!! Peter Hook
I have a hard time getting my head around the idea of playing ‘The Perfect Kiss’ in my 50s. I can’t quite get there. Peter Hook
When I started DJing years ago, I took great delight in annoying the audience. Playing Johnny Cash in the middle of a banging night. Peter Hook
Once you made that decision to split New Order up, you were like, ‘Woo-hoo! I better get out there and get a job.’ Peter Hook
Bootleggers quake in fear of me ringing them on a Sunday afternoon. I call after dinner, usually. Peter Hook
I don’t find imitating other people’s music easy at all. I remember being fifth in line for a Rolling Stones tour, early ’90s, when Bill Wyman left, and I was hoping against hope that I wouldn’t get the call to audition. I wouldn’t be able to play a Stones song if you put a gun to my head. Peter Hook
In the late ’70s, the conditions that bands had to endure were, shall we say, not as civilized as they are today. People were a lot more aggressive back then. So there was definitely a lot of suffering for your art. But I would argue that was a good thing. Generally, people make better music when they suffer. Peter Hook
America stopped making vinyl and phased out the single but Germany held out and refused. Warner’s never phased out vinyl in Germany. Now America imports it! Peter Hook
They amaze me most of those remixes. Some of them are crap. But every time I complain, someone comes up and says they are for a different market that you don’t understand. Some of the New Order ones are really great, though. Peter Hook
Most people have just heard Joy Division on record. And Joy Division on record was completely different than it was live. Peter Hook
Knowing very little about a band only adds to the allure. Peter Hook
There are so many bootlegged Joy Division/Martin Hannett tapes, a lot of really bad bootlegs on the Internet. Peter Hook
My big frustration in New Order was that they played the same tracks all the time. Peter Hook
We don’t to be some kind of rock supergroup for the sake of being a supergroup. You want to change things and say something fresh and new so you appeal to people as a new group. Peter Hook
I prefer it when I can intimidate the audience rather than the audience intimidate me. I’ve been lucky in my career to have both. Peter Hook
We’ve had a problem finding a vocalist. We have not been lucky yet to find the one. I think the problem is that the three of us have such a pedigree of vocalist, that if we come out with someone that’s not good we’ll obviously be slated! Peter Hook
Nobody is the same. If we were all the same it would be bloody boring. Peter Hook
Bass players are always the underdogs of the band, but I made sure that I was never viewed as one. I went out of my way to steal as much limelight as I could. Peter Hook
When I’m not playing music, certainly the last thing I want to do is listen to music! Peter Hook
One of the great things about education is that it should stop you making mistakes – and I have made a lot of mistakes. Peter Hook
Sarcasm is a Manchester trait. Peter Hook
I look back on Joy Division very fondly indeed. I know that, of course, the band came to a tragic end, but that does not change the fact that Joy Division was a great band to be a part of. Peter Hook
Originally, I didn’t play any New Order when I deejayed. I suppose it comes from being a little embarrassed or humble or whatever. But people were coming to see me because of New Order, so in the end, I had to realize that if they were using my name on the poster, then maybe I should play some of the music. Peter Hook
There are so little outtakes from the Joy Division era. We didn’t have much money. You couldn’t be very generous in recording, so we were very thrifty in how we recorded. Everything was very, very well looked after financially because we just couldn’t afford it. Peter Hook
People go and hide, but I don’t. I’m a fighter. Peter Hook
I’m not a good flyer. Because I do it so much, I think the odds of something going wrong are not in my favour. Peter Hook
And they do tend to be fast and up, because that’s how I like to drive. Peter Hook
My mother used to always say to me, ‘Do naught, get naught.’ It’s an adage that I hold by. If you don’t do anything, you can’t really expect anything. Peter Hook
New Order never celebrated anything to do with Joy Division. Peter Hook
‘Movement’ sounded like Joy Division, but ‘Power, Corruption & Lies’ is the first New Order record. Peter Hook
It’s quite ironic I suppose, it’s that thing about being in a group when you all start out as friends and then invariably end up hating each other. So I just thought they needed telling really, in case they were labouring under the apprehension that they were still friends. Peter Hook
I’ve stayed in hotels where you were scared to even put your feet on the floor, or had to sleep in a chair. Peter Hook
I play a lot of hard, uncompromising dance music; it can be anything from dance to rock to reggae. Peter Hook
I just like keeping busy and having ten things on the go. Peter Hook
That’s it really, at the moment I wouldn’t say I was influenced by any one thing in particular. Peter Hook
Madonna’s like a black widow spider. She tends to use people, then they shrivel up and disappear. Peter Hook
When you’ve travelled for 34 years as a musician, you do all the culture stuff when you’re young and full of energy. In the middle stage, you indulge too much and are scared of daylight. Then, in the final stage, you’ve seen it all, so you tend to take things a lot easier. Peter Hook
What was punk all about? To me, it was if you really want to do something, go ahead and do it. Peter Hook
I am man enough to be able to admit my own mistakes. I think that is an important trait to have. Peter Hook