Speaking with MITB earlier this year, Hook described how he enjoys tricking the crowd by opening for himself. Standing in the crowd, surrounded by an anticipatory atmosphere, one man says to his friend, “I can’t believe it's so packed already, even for the opener!” On walks Peter Hook and his Light to a roar of satisfied confusion, overjoyed at the appearance of their hero. Launching into the opening track, ‘Crystal’. With hands outstretched, audience members prayed at the synthpop altar, throwing every work back at Hook with great weight. There was an undeniable feeling that the crowd felt as if the band were old friends, and vice versa. Yells of “GO ON HOOKY” rang through the audience regularly as the band blasted triumphantly through the New Order classic. Sharing vocal duties with David Potts and bass with his son Jack Bates, Hook extends himself across the stage. ‘Get Ready’s sweeping synths and energetic electronica, as well as its more analogue moments, sound massive, with the contribution of the crowd aiding in its sound. Adding iconic New Order soundtrack servings ‘Brutal’ and ‘Here To Stay’ to the set provided a rounded out portrait of the band’s musical legacy. The latter song became a mission statement, bright white lights stamping the band’s silhouettes into the eyes of the audience. Not a bad opening act at all.
After a brief break, the band reemerges to the sound of audience elation and a little bit of Kraftwerk’s ‘Trans-Europe Express’. The new set begins with ‘No Love Lost’, the legion of Joy Division superfans in the crowd erupting. Admittedly, it was interesting to hear the bleak, cavernous sounds of Joy Division in such a way. The full band fills out the sound, the songs feel lived in, full-fat. Though it was slightly strange to hear the music in this form - sometimes the guitars did feel too bold, veering on a Britpop sensibility - it is apparent that Hook’s music has grown alongside him and transformed as he has year by year. Now in 2025, as many of the band’s original fans stand before him, the energy seems the same. The music is a celebration of legacy and longevity, blooming from the sadness and disillusionment that caused its creation. ‘Digital’ tore the roof of the venue, loud shouts of “DAY IN / DAY OUT” bouncing off the walls. Ending the Joy Division portion of the set with ‘Atmosphere’, the celebration was not over yet. Launching straight into New Order’s classics with the incredible ‘Lonesome Tonight’. Lending itself better to the fuller sound, the New Order section felt like a full-blown disco. Elated faces pouring their hearts out to anthems such as ‘True Faith’.
To end the spectacular evening, the band began to play the opening chords of the iconic ‘Love Will Tear Us Apart’. Despite its usual melancholic nature, the song transformed in the moment to become an all-encompassing shot of euphoria straight to the heart. The band and their crowd united in their love of the song. The audience throws themselves towards Hook, fists in the air, screaming in exaltation. The fullness of the instrumentation, marrying with the echo of the chaotic choir of fans, created a portrait of Hook’s undeniable impact on music and only furthered the significance of everyone being present in the moment.
In his conversation with MITB, Hook shared that he plays his two bands' songs in separate chunks, giving fans a middle ground, “so while they might prefer one over the other, they won’t all have a massive exodus to the bar”. It is safe to say the only movement in the crowd was a result of the love for every track; dancing, jumping, and holding each other. Mass exoduses there were not! Peter Hooks and The Light’s ‘Get Ready’ tour was a perfect blend of legacy and fresh takes on old classics, a true portrait of an artist's relationship with his work and the community it has built over the decades.
To read more about Peter Hook’s 'Get Ready' tour, as well as many other exciting anecdotes, read MITB’s interview from earlier this year.
Eylem Boz