I voted for a wind-down.

But will be happy to be proved wrong.


At this point, I'd just settle for an EP every 2-3 years.

When the depressing weirdness of the pandemic years was in full swing and I thought of NO, I wondered perhaps if the enforced downtime would get them demoing and swapping ideas "over email" for a guaranteed new album once the world returned to normal. Perhaps they did and even today they're still finessing the material but Be A Rebel was all we as listeners got in late 2020. At time of writing, I don't find BAR particularly engaging nor rubbish. When it landed I gave it lots of attention and as much of a chance as possible (plus the generous amount of remixes in 2021) but in hindsight it was not the comeback I was personally looking for. It inspires neither love nor hatred but just a sort of indifference each time I hear it come on.

I saw them live 3 times last year and they've put on a very slick show for a while now. The recent shows were the most professional I've seen which has both its upsides and downsides. As someone whose first gig was on the Get Ready tour when (ahem) they could be a "variable" live entity, there are times at the new gigs when I miss the anarchy of those earlier shows a little bit. But on the other hand you can tell the effort they've put into recreating the songs live nowadays, they do all sound excellent. Not to mention the visuals.

All that said, I am not sure I will go to see them in 2024 because I don't know what a NO show of late 2023 versus a NO show of 2024 will have to "shake it up" for me. Swap in another carefully choreographed "surprise"? Not sure it's worth it just for that. If they did something like another Liam Gillick/MIF collaboration, that would really grab my attention. Even now I still listen to the live album those shows produced on a regular basis, which is superb. Those were probably the last set of gigs I really, really enjoyed.

My completely random prediction is they've definitely got a swansong album left in them. I am hoping the gigs coming up in the second half of this year will have some sort of "product" attached to them in the form of a new single with the promise of more. Mind you, careful what I wish for as it could be another bloody Best Of although the Brotherhood box-set would be good. I keep thinking at the pace of the Definitive editions, then we should be on course for Technique in 2025-6. That will be one popular box-set, I reckon.

After that, do Bernard, Gillian or Stephen really want to be gigging into their fifth decade as professional musicians? I wouldn't blame them for packing up and enjoying a well earned retirement. Tom and Phil have their side projects (Sea Fever etc.) and generally seem happy inside and outside of NO so they'll be fine.

Hooky, I think will tour until the bitter end (and love every second of it) as it's in his blood.

The other big question is: will the "classic" line-up ever overcome the bitterness of last decade's legal disputes to give the "name" a decent send off? No, is probably that answer to that.

A good topic for discussion. Cheers Andy.

An EP would be good. Maybe 3 or 4 new songs. But i'm not holding my breath. Bernard has a home studio, right? Stephen and Gillian too. Seems a waste to not use them. Or unless to do remix work for other artists. What do they do all day with their time? Family stuff keeps them busy i can only presume.

What would Bernrad write lyrics about? He's well past the woman did me wrong stuff so i guess it'd be more about the state of the world issues and society.

I can't imagine any of them would give up music and sell off all their studio and gear.

Was thinking about this the other day. Bernard, Stephen & Gillian are mid to late 60s and well past bus pass age. Admittedly they are in a career far more interesting than mine but at their age I'd rather hope to be well into retirement. I really can't see Bernard being the next Mick Jagger rocking in their 80s unless they really are just doing it because they love the music. I appreciate tom & Phil are much younger (even than me)

I'd love to see them live one more time but its tricky because of where I live now and the associated logistics , if they never play again then so be it I can live with it as I've so many memories of previous shows. Maybe a convenient city break that doesn't clash with a mountaineering trip.

As for new music, I'm a dinosaur. Whilst music complete was a good album and I'll listen to it start to finish I really still love Technique and everything before that. I can't see them ever producing another Vanishing Point or Perfect Kiss, right now I couldn't even tell you how Be a Rebel goes.
Its interesting because some of their peers* (Pet Shop Boys & Depeche Mode) are still making new music and if anything the PSB's latest is rather good and a return to a more 80s/90s sound.

* I plucked these out of thin air, mrs Prog99 likes them

Enough rambles... Hooky will play until his bass falls apart but he's not doing anything new.

Edited by user 13 February 2024 14:53:08(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

Sounds like good news they are at least trying to record something new, hopefully it will see the light of day

I just saw this new Tom Chapman interview that hints at a glimmer of hope:





The two people conducting the interview are buffoons, so if you don't want to try and endure it, I'll let you know what Tom said is lined up for 2024 (apart from the two gigs already announced):

1. A new Sea Fever album
2. "There might be more plans of touring with New Order at the end of the year, but I'm not sure what's going to happen yet."
3. "And possibly, sort of, write more material, just sort of keep on working."

I’m with you there. ACR are killing it - nearly 50 years strong, and no sign of stopping any time soon.

Just been to see them live in the last week. Fantastic! Great new album and slightly different to previous funkadelic offerings - almost pop on some tracks but with a leftfield twist, not like shite like Be A Rebel (IMO).

People will still cling onto NO's coat tails as though they are going to drop the bomb in the future (musically speaking). They don't owe us anything but as ACR have shown, if you are musically creative then it will show - not the promise of 100s of almost finished home studio tracks, no new songs in 10 years and dull arena gigs with same setlist. Boo!