It takes a special artist to be part of a band that leaves a lasting legacy with pioneering or genre-defining bodies of work. It’s even rarer for a musician to do that twice. Still, that kind of impact isn’t unheard of. One such artist is 2026 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee Peter Hook.
Hook helped define the post punk genre with his groundbreaking work in Joy Division and then did it again, this time in the new wave genre with New Order after the death of Joy Division’s Ian Curtis. Since 2010, Hook has celebrated the extraordinary legacy of his two bands with Peter Hook & The Light.
The band performs dual-set shows, with the first being a full play of a classic Joy Division or New Order album. The second set is an all-encompassing performance of the two bands’ greatest hits.
Dying Scene had the chance to check out the legend on his current tour during the band’s stop at First Avenue in Minneapolis.
Peter Hook & The Light Set One
On the current tour, Peter Hook & the Light are performing New Order’s 2001 album Get Ready. Get Ready came out long after New Order’s height in the mid to late 1980s. At the time of its release, the album was the group’s first in eight years, the longest time between releases for the band up to that point.
The record may lack some of the widespread popularity of the group’s landmark work, but it’s an underrated gem that fans should appreciate more. Even better, it sounds great live.
The album-opening track “Crystal” was a fan favorite among the packed crowd at First Avenue and is one of the album’s better-known songs. The song is an infectious six-minute blend of the band’s electronic and rock influences.
“Primitive Notion” is another track that really shines live. The song is the album’s clearest callback to the band’s earlier post-punk/goth sound, and it fits well with Peter Hook & The Light’s live sound. Hook’s vocals are noticeably deeper and more gruff than one would expect to hear on a New Order track, and that works great with “Primitive Notion”.
Overall, the first set was a great chance to revisit New Order songs that don’t always make their way onto Peter Hook & The Light setlists. This tour is a unique chance to hear the songs, since they were never properly toured when the album came out. Other standout tracks include “60 Miles an Hour” and “Someone Like You”.
Peter Hook & The Light Set Two
After a short break, Peter Hook & The Light returned to the stage for their second set. The set serves as a career-spanning retrospective of some of Joy Division and New Order’s greatest hits and most intense live tracks.
The band began the second set with a slew of hits from Hook’s earlier work in Joy Division. For a band that released only two studio albums, it’s hard to overstate how influential the group’s work was. That being said, it still sounds fresh live.
Standout songs like “Dead Souls,” “Warsaw,” “Disorder” and Transmission are equally as moody and rocking as they are catchy. Hook’s vocal style is perfect for the darker gothic aesthetic of Joy Division cuts.
After what felt like an endless run of classics, the group continued to play the hits, now focusing on the New Order era of the Peter Hook discography. The most notable part of the set came at the end, when a parade of new wave hits like “Bizarre Love Triangle,” “True Faith” and Blue Monday were played back-to-back. The songs are absolute classics that still whip the crowd into a frenzy.
Finally, the show ended with Joy Division’s defining track, “Love Will Tear Us Apart”. No matter how many times you hear it, the song is timeless, emotional, and raw. The cut also captures what makes both Joy Division and New Order special. The melodic synth line is far ahead of its time, but the moody and dark lyrical content is quintessential post-punk.
Overall, both sets delivered some excellent live moments. The band is tight and Peter Hook still puts on an incredible show, especially for a set that spans over two hours.
If you’re a fan of either band or even want to experience some legendary music, catch Peter Hook & The Light’s ongoing Get Ready tour. Check out some additional photos from the show below.
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