Peter Hook

Peter Hook's droning basslines anchored the groundbreaking output of the English groups Joy Division and New Order. During the late 1970s his ominous low-end work helped Joy Division sketch intense images of emotional desolation. Although the late Ian Curtis's stark lyrics and somber delivery usually receive praise for the band's atmosphere of gloom, Hook's menacing, pulsating bass actually propelled many of the tracks. At a time when detuned guitars defined late-1970s English punk, Hook's emphasis on rhythmic drive elevated the genre's profile and influenced numerous subsequent dance-leaning new-wave acts.

Following Ian Curtis's suicide on May 18, 1980, Hook united with the remaining Joy Division members to form New Order. He supplied lead vocals for the band's debut album Movement on the tracks "Dreams Never End" and "Doubts Even Here," and his bass approach grew steadily more melodic once the group began incorporating sequenced synthesizer textures; he also contributed keyboards and electronic drums. Between the arrival of 1983's Power, Corruption & Lies and 1985's Low-life, Hook participated in the short-lived Ad Infinitum alongside Lindsay Reade (then-wife of Factory boss Tony Wilson) and members of Stockholm Monsters, resulting in a cover of Joe Meek's "Telstar."

After New Order issued Technique in 1990, Hook launched the side project Revenge and released One True Passion. Working with Dave Hicks on guitar and keyboards plus Chris Jones on keyboards, he merged techno and hard-rock elements while handling vocals himself. Revenge's second album, 1992's Gun World Porn, appeared before New Order reconvened for the 1993 release Republic.

During New Order's extended break, Hook collaborated with vocalist David Potts (who had joined Revenge after its first album) to issue Music for Pleasure under the name Monaco in 1997. Rather than depart from New Order's signature aesthetic, Hook essentially replicated it, and Potts's voice bore an uncanny resemblance to Bernard Sumner's; nevertheless the record impressed listeners and reviewers with its polished pop constructions, most notably the track "What Do You Want from Me?," which gained traction in clubs and on alternative radio. Label neglect delayed Monaco's self-titled follow-up until 2000, after which the duo disbanded.

Hook maintained a busy schedule through the 2000s. He completed two further albums with New Order (Get Ready and Waiting for the Sirens' Call) before departing the group in 2007. Additional bass work appeared on recordings by Perry Farrell, Hybrid, and the Crystal Method. Alongside fellow bassists Andy Rourke of the Smiths and Mani of the Stone Roses, he assembled Freebass, which produced several EPs and the 2010 album It's a Beautiful Life. Peter Hook and the Light originated specifically to present Joy Division's Unknown Pleasures and Closer in full and debuted at Hook's Manchester venue The Factory. In 2011 the ensemble put out the EP 1102/2011, which included a rendition of Joy Division's "Atmosphere" featuring Rowetta on vocals, while Unknown Pleasures: Live in Australia surfaced concurrently.

During this period Hook also performed as a DJ, assembled the compilations The Hacienda Classics and The Hacienda: Acid House Classics, and authored the book How Not to Run a Club. He further acted as executive producer for the Hacienda Classical endeavor, which reimagined the club's signature tracks as orchestral arrangements for both live performances and the 2016 album of the same title.