New Order is an iconic British electronic rock band that was formed in the early 1980s in Manchester. At the origins of the group are such musicians:
- Bernard Sumner;
- Peter Hook;
- Stephen Morris.
Initially, this trio worked as part of the Joy Division group. Later, the musicians decided to create a new band. To do this, they expanded the trio to a quartet, inviting a new member, Gillian Gilbert, to the group.
New Order continued to follow in the footsteps of Joy Division. However, after some time, the mood of the participants changed. They left the melancholy post-punk, replacing it with electronic dance music.
History of New Order
The team was formed from the remaining members of the Joy Division after the suicide of the band's frontman Ian Curtis. New Order was founded on May 18, 1980.
By that time, Joy Division was one of the most progressive post-punk bands. The musicians managed to record several worthy albums and singles.
Since Curtis personified the Joy Division group and was the author of almost all the tracks, after his death, the question of the future fate of the group became a big question.
Despite this, guitarist Bernard Sumner, bassist Peter Hook and drummer Stephen Morris decided they didn't want to leave the stage. The trio formed the New Order collective.
The musicians said that since the creation of the Joy Division group, the participants agreed that in the event of death or another situation, the group would either cease to exist or continue to operate, but under a different name.
Thanks to the new creative pseudonym, the musicians focused on creativity and separated the new brainchild from the name of the talented Curtis. They chose between The Witch Doctors of Zimbabwe and New Order. Most chose the latter option. The appearance of musicians on the scene under a new name led to the fact that they were accused of fascism.
Sumner said that he was previously unfamiliar with the fact that the group New Order has any political meaning. The name was suggested by manager Rob Gretton. A man read a newspaper headline about Kampuchea.
The first performance of the new band took place on July 29, 1980. The guys performed at the Beach Club in Manchester. The musicians decided not to name their group. They performed several instrumentals and left the stage.
The band members could not decide who would stand at the microphone and perform vocal parts. After some hesitation, the guys abandoned the idea of inviting a singer from outside. The following rehearsals showed that Bernard Sumner was the perfect vocalist. By the way, the celebrity reluctantly took a new position in the New Order group.
Music by New Order
After the formation of the composition, the team began to disappear in rehearsals and in the studio. The debut single was released on Factory Records in 1981. The presented composition took the honorable 34th position in the general British hit parade.
The composition was eagerly awaited, including by fans of the work of the Joy Division group. The single was produced by Martin Hannett. The composition received positive reviews from music lovers and music critics.
The track's presentation was followed by public performances. The musicians acutely felt the need for another member. Sumner was physically unable to sing or play the guitar. In addition, a synthesizer was used in the band's tracks, which required special attention.
Soon, the 19-year-old acquaintance (and future wife) of Stephen Morris, Gillian Gilbert, was invited to the New Order group. The duties of a charming girl included playing the rhythm guitar and synthesizer. The musicians in the updated line-up re-released the Ceremony album.
In 1981, the group's discography was replenished with the debut album Movement. The presented record found the group New Order in their final "post-divisional" stage. The tracks included in the new compilation were an echo of the creativity of Joy Division.
Sumner's voice was similar to the manner of performing Curtis' compositions. Moreover, the vocalist's voice was passed through equalizers and filters. Such a move helped to achieve a lower timbre, which was not typical for the singer.
The reaction of music critics, who greeted the latest collection of Joy Division with love, was restrained. The band members shamelessly admitted that they themselves were disappointed in their creation.
New Order went on tour in support of the record. In April, the musicians went on a European tour. They visited the Netherlands, Belgium and France. In the summer of 1982, the guys pleased the inhabitants of Italy with a live performance. On June 5, the band performed at the Provinssirock festival in Finland. At the same time, fans learned that the musicians were working on a new album.
The New Order group continued to look for itself. This period can be safely called a turning point. It reflected the interests of musicians in various genres, especially in the compositions of 1983.
Presentation of the second studio album
On May 2, 1983, the discography of the New Order team was replenished with a second studio album. We are talking about the disc Power, Corruption & Lies. The tracks included in the compilation are a mix of rock and electro.
The new collection took 4th position in the British hit parade. In addition, the work attracted the popular American producer Quincy Jones. He invited the musicians to sign a contract with his label Qwest Records for the release of compilations in the United States of America. It was a success.
A month later, the team went on a tour of America. At the same time, the guys presented a new single, Confusion. The track was recorded at Arthur Baker's New York studio. The producer became famous thanks to his work with successful hip-hop artists.
Before the arrival of the New Order team, Baker had a breakbeat rhythm prepared. The band members put vocals and their parts of guitars and sequencers on it. The single was enthusiastically received by reputable music critics and fans.
In 1984, the musicians expanded their repertoire with the single Thieves Like Us. The song peaked at number 18 on the UK Singles Chart. A warm reception from music lovers prompted the band to embark on a 14-day tour. It took place in Germany and Scandinavia.
In the summer, the rock band performed at popular festivals in Denmark, Spain and Belgium. After that, the group went on a tour of the UK. At the end of the tour, the group disappeared for 5 months. When the musicians got in touch, they said that right now they are working on creating a new album.
Presentation of albums Low-Life and Brotherhood
In 1985, the group's discography was replenished with the third album, Low-Life. The record let the music lovers know that the group had finally found an individual sound. She teetered at the peak of genres such as alternative rock and danceable electropop. The album took the 7th position and was equally warmly received by both fans and music critics.
The fourth disc Brotherhood, which went on sale in September 1986, continued the style of Low-Life. The musicians recorded the new collection in studios in London, Dublin and Liverpool.
Interestingly, the collection was conditionally divided into two parts: guitar-acoustic and electronic-dance. The record enjoyed little success, but this did not stop her from taking the 9th position in the British chart.
Following the presentation of the fourth studio album, the album's only single Bizarre Love Triangle was released remixed by Shep Pettibon. The presented track was very popular in nightclubs in America.
In support of the new album, the guys went on a tour of the US and the UK. Then, having rested, the guys again flew abroad on tour in Japan, Australia and New Zealand.
Soon the band visited the popular Glastonbury festival. It was at this festival that the presentation of the most popular composition of the group True Faith took place.
The composition talks about what drugs do to the human mind. Later, a video clip appeared on TV screens, which was choreographed by Philippe Decoufle.
The song True Faith became part of the double album Substance. This is the first album of the group, which included all the singles from 1981-1987. Music critics believe that this particular album has become the most successful work of the New Order discography. Rolling Stone magazine placed the album at number 363 on their "500 Greatest Albums of All Time" list.
Work on the Technique album
In 1989, the band's discography was replenished with the album Technique. The new disc combined the best traditions of semi-acoustic tracks with dance compositions.
Music critics refer to the collection Technique as a New Order classic. The presented album was so warmly received by fans that it took 1st position in the British chart. In support of the record, the guys went on a large-scale tour of the United States of America.
Departure from the Sumner Group
This tour is interesting because the musicians of the New Order band for the first time tried to perform the new collection in its entirety. This experience was not liked by both the band members themselves and the fans. Subsequently, the musicians performed only a few tracks from their new records.
Sumner even more often provoked conflicts in the group. He also began to abuse alcohol heavily. The musician began to have health problems. Doctors forbade drinking alcohol. But Sumner could not live without a dose, so after the abolition of alcohol, he began to use ecstasy.
Sumner soon announced that he intended to leave the group and pursue solo work. Hook made a similar statement. The remaining members announced the breakup of the team. Each of them was engaged in solo projects.
The first member of the band who pleased with the release of the new album was Peter Hook and his new band Revenge. In 1989, under a new name, the guys released the single 7 Reasons.
The New Order group was silent for 10 years. The fans have lost their last hope that the group will "come to life". The silence was broken only by the single World in Motion and the work on the Republic compilation.
The sixth studio album was released by London Records in 1993. The album reached number 1 in the UK charts. From the list of songs included in the new disc, the fans singled out the track Regret.
Republic is a powerful electronic dance album. While recording, Haig brought in session musicians. This helped create a layered soundscape.
Consolidation of the New Order group and the release of new materials
In 1998, New Order band members teamed up to perform at popular festivals. Now the guys were positively disposed towards cooperation, and this despite the fact that each of them was engaged in solo projects.
A year later, New Order was working in the studio. Soon the guys presented a new track Brutal. The presented song marked the band's turn to an accentuated guitar sound.
But this was not the last novelty of the musicians. In 2001, the band's discography was replenished with the album Get Ready, which continued the style of Brutal. Most of the tracks had little to do with electronic dance music.
In 2005, the discography of the band was replenished with the disc New Order Waiting for the Sirens' Call. And this collection was devoid of electronic sound. New Order decided to return to their classic 1980s album format. It combined electronic dance rhythms and acoustics.
In 2007, the team was left by the one who stood at its origins. Peter Hook announced that he no longer wants to work under the wing of the group New Order. Sumner and Morris got in touch with reporters and said that from now on they will work without Hook.
New Order group today
In 2011, Bernard Sumner, Stephen Morris, Phil Cunningham, Tom Chapman, and Gillian Gilbert announced several concerts under the name New Order. The purpose of the concerts is to raise funds for Michael Shamberg, the first representative of Factory Records.
From that moment on, the musicians announced active touring activities. New Order performed without Peter Hook.
In 2013, the band's discography was replenished with the Lost Sirens album. The new album consisted of tracks recorded in 2003-2005 during the recording of the Waiting for the Sirens' Call compilation.
In the same year, the team visited the Russian Federation for the first time, with two concerts. Performances took place on the territory of St. Petersburg and Moscow.
A few years later, the musicians presented another musical novelty. We are talking about the collection Music Complete. The record was warmly received by both fans and music critics.
On September 8, 2020, the New Order group presented their new composition Be a Rebel to their fans. This is the first musical novelty in the last five years since the release of the last collection Music Complete. Initially, the release was planned as part of an autumn tour with the Pet Shop Boys duo. However, due to recent events, the tour had to be cancelled.
“The musicians and I wanted to reach out to the fans with a new song during these difficult times,” said band member Bernard Sumner. - Unfortunately, we cannot please the fans with performances, but no one has canceled the music. We are sure that the track will please you. Until we meet again…”.
