First ever post so please bare with me. My first ever concert was the Deeside leisure centre in 82. Seen my favourite band scores of times since then, this is the 3rd time this tour. Most definitely the last. My God how bad they were tonight. Is Barney just topping up his pension fund with no regard to who's paying into it. I've seen many a fantastic gig with the band performing shite but it was always fantastic in a New Order kind of way. Not tonight bland, boring, predictable. A few adjectives to start, Sumners voice was non existent, Gillian stood and did her ironing, Steve (a quality drummer) did his best. Phil and Tom were might as well had not turned up. I understand why the band have re formed, non are getting younger and the bills need to be paid, but for Gods sake have a bit if respect for your long suffering fans. I was at the Troxy in December and thought you were awesome, but what has happened since then. I have had many a great night watching this band, Hacienda, GMex, MEN to name a few but guys, it's time to call it a day. In the last 30 years I have danced, sang, raved, partied and sobered up with you. Let's call it a day whilst still remembered fondly. Put to bed your differences. Grow old gracefully, remember the great times, Barney, you and I, Tommy Ducks 84! Quit while your ahead, no more tribute nights to yourselves, it doesn't work.

New Order have shaped my life for 30 years. It's time to stop. I walked down the isle to Ceremony. Let me remember you as you are, the BEST Rock and Roll band ever. Goodnight and God Bless

May 8: O2 Academy, Newcastle, England

Even though we haven't entered into any meaningful dialogue, I have had the pleasant opportunity to meet a number of you noolers over the years:-
Jarvo - Newcastle 2005 ish Vikings badge will be treasured
Johnny - Hyde, Finsbury, Liverpool.. If you werent at those 3 then I was more drunk than I thought
Big Clive & Friends... Barcelona, (behind the brambles)
Shug:- would like to have met the most stereotypical jock for a drink (No offence intended)
German contingent for only ever being gentlemen in and around the mosh pit.

Tonights gig has made me realise that it is time to move onto pastures new.... In my opinion it was worse than awful ! The sound quality to be polite was very poor (I know Barney wasn't happy, but he wasn't paying £70 a ticket. I know it was £35, but our lass cryed off poorly)

I left early (during Temptation which sounded like the highlight of the show by the way), cos I couldn't take anymore. Was told while on the train that only Blue Monday was played as an encore with Barney pulling the rest of the band off the stage while they were waiting to start the second number of the encore.

Anyway, the train journey allowed me to reminisce of the 28 years spent following the band, from an 18 year old at the Sunderland Mayfair of 1984 to the present day, it has been, in the main a blast. We have travelled far & wide, from Glasgow to Barcelona - Hyde Park to Finsbury - Newcastle to Liverpool & every weekend inbetween coming home pissed up to turn the stack stereo system up to 11 so that all the neighbours wonder who has the green eyes !
I'm not ashamed to admit it, but a very misty eyed 46 year old with sunken shoulders exited the train at Durham station.
Am I being over critical ? AOC - 1963 - Temptation - 586 - BLT...... It was full of classics, it should have been a one to remember, but instead it is the one which brings my love affair to an end.
I should also say that even though I have agreed with everything that has been said about Hooky leaving the band ie he is dispensable & long live New Order, unfortunately & no disrespect at all to Tom Chapman........... he isn't & Hooky not being there is a massive MASSIVE miss.
This of course is only my opinion & I wish all of you many more happy times with the band.... God Bless



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So, apparently they were 'awesome' at The Troxy, but last night were so rubbish they should give up etc etc. Sounds like the 80s all over again.

That's just the thing though - to each his own... I was massively depressed with Troxy gig, but I think with hindsight that was because I was seated and had just seen Re: Order right before... Wasn't sure about seeing in the Birmingham but absolutely loved it, though I know others thought the sound was crap there as well... Even if they don't change the set around any more, at least there's an element of unpredictability there in terms of the quality of performance... And as Mike says the meet ups beforehand are worth going for alone...

Snorri
xxx

Every time I see New Order
I get really up for it
I'm waiting for May the 18th
Regardless of how bad they play

Someone wiser than me said on the old forum vote with your wallets & feet, every show's on youtube nowadays - you know what you're up for (although I've noticed that the performance NO Facebook page shared was from the '06 Hook inclusive Glasgow gig, not one of the current ones?). You also know the state you'll be in at a gig now as well as what you'd enjoy or not. Like it - go, don't like it - don't, enough people voted yes for shows to sell well or out for better or worse.
Still undecided about Vienna though.

always thought BM would make a great opening track, get it over and done with and move on to more interesting tracks.

Hyde Park?

Has anyone got the footage of Barney chucking his Melodica? if so put it on You Bastard Tube please?

I wasn't at Newcastle. Part of the charm is that sometimes they would be amazing, and sometimes very far from it. I don't think any of us expect NO2012 to be the same as 1982. If you want exactly-the-same-as-it-used-to-be, go for one of those album-in-full shows. Maybe the sound was crap. Maybe the spirit was not in the house. But for me, my experience at Troxy and Brixton is that New Order 2011-12 can pull off a night as good as anyone else I've seen, including the 'classic' 1981-1998 lineup.

This is a topic about the New Order-gig in Newcastle. Does your statement has anything to do with it? By the way we have already noticed your opinion, Julio, and it's boring now.

the bad sound is a red herring

- the reason why this New Order tour is disappointing is that the departure of Hooky has left a clear lack of on- stage chemistry.

either bring back Hooky or stop using the name New Order

Got to disagree there mate,as i said in my post above id neither seen or heard anything recent

so was 'keeping an eye' so to say on Tom and in my opinion,he nailed it

I thought Hooky would be a miss and apart from him prowling about the stage

musically,they didnt.