A rock sentiment spiced with synths and huge dance beats took New Order into a different dimension from the previous post-punk Joy Division incarnation, and saw the band with the Salford core catapult to global acclaim in the Eighties.
Re-grouping after the sudden death of Joy Division frontman Ian Curtis, the remaining members met in Broughton to begin writing new material and sort a new name for the band, as New Order won out over The Witch Doctor of Zimbabwe. A fresh direction saw a big Balearic energy frame the vocals of appointed singer Barney.
The new sound pulsed the dancefloors, with Blue Monday becoming the biggest selling 12” single of all time, while Pete Saville graphics and avant garde videos added to the cool. Top tracks, including True Faith, Confusion and Bizarre Love Triangle set the clubs alight, while the band’s World In Motion 1990 World Cup anthem for the England team was light years from the usual singing squad shlock. Huge hits, huge following, loads of records sold. What could possibly go wrong? The financially tottering Factory Records and the Hacienda ate the proceeds, while Hooky left the band in 2007 and wrote three best-selling books documenting the fall out. He’s now touring as a DJ and playing the original tunes to huge crowds, via The Light, while the three original members continue releasing new tracks and touring as New Order.
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