What I got pretty early on was that it was the music that kept you and Bernard together as the friendship you had, even at the very beginning of the band, seemed rather strained, like when you both went on that biking holiday in France.

Well you know what they say: ‘You don’t know anyone until you’ve been on holiday with them’, and that’s what happened. I was always part of the gang, but Bernard’s always been quite solitary and basically what I saw on that holiday was his attitude – what you’d call selfish, which is the worst way of putting it but I’ve just never been like that. What you do learn is that you can work with someone and make wonderful music, change the world, have a company that changed the world like the Hacienda and Factory did, but as friends it’s different.

People always say ‘don’t mix work and pleasure’ and when it comes down to it it’s true. You don’t have to love your work mates. But as you get older you realise that everyone is entitled to their own opinion and space that there comfortable with. and if you don’t agree with it you don’t have to fall out. I mean it was a really sad moment because we’d been so close before.


It’s always easy to think that most groups are all ‘great mates’, living together like The Monkees did on TV.

Yeah, well actually a lot of people do think that and that’s the funny thing with New Order now that when ever you read anything about the band it’s always, ‘They’re such a great bunch and having such a great time without Hooky, thank God they got rid of him’. But anybody with half a brain must read it and go, ‘F*ck off !’, it’s like they’re over compensating but, you know, you can read between the lines.


You’ve got a book signing tour coming up haven’t you? Can it get a bit heavy though with Joy Division and New Order fans asking awkward questions in the Q&’s, with the way things are between you and the band?

I’m thinking I’ll probably get a few awkward questions from the people in the book! You watch I’ll turn up and Bernard will be stood there in the que to get his book signed and to ask a few questions so I’ll need a minder as well (laughs).

You’re quite good at this book writing lark, what’s next?

Thanks. Well I’m going to do a book on New Order because I think that story needs telling as well, and after that I don’t know. I’ll probably start the New Order one next year, but that’ll take me about two years to put together – by then I’ll be 6o.


http://www.live4ever.uk....ision-story-in-new-book/

when did they go on a bicycle holiday? a tandem? is this in the book?

http://www.heyreverb.com...rder-reunion-tour/56207/

You’ve said in a recent interview that you’re happy to have (bassist) Peter Hook back out of the band since he wasn’t happy himself in New Order. I’m guessing the changes the dynamic in the band both on and off stage?

Being in a band is bit like pushing a car up a hill. It’s not easy. It’s like any job in the world. It’s fucking hard work. If it was easy, everybody would do it. On tour it’s hard work, and the recording studio is hard work, but enjoyable too. So like pushing a car up a hill, it’s a lot easier if all of you are pushing the car in the same direction. If one of you is going to push the car back down the hill because he doesn’t want to get to the top it makes life very difficult. So life is lot easier now and more pleasurable and that’s one o the reasons why we’re playing so many gigs. Did it change the dynamics? Yeah, it does, but I think it’s refreshed the dynamics on stage. I never ever had any problems with Peter on stage — I think it was fantastic what he did — it’s just that he’s a difficult person and I don’t miss that side of him. And I’m sure he’d say the same thing about me. But it’s nice for everybody to be pushing in the same direction. Put it this way” if it’s a football game — and not American football — and you’ve got 11 players on each side and you want all 11 players to be playing for your team, don’t you? If one of the player isn’t doing that, you don’t play well. Peter just made life very difficult in a lot of subtle ways. So good luck to him and I hope he’s doing well.