Peter Hook of Joy Division & New Order Discusses his Bass Guitars | Reverb Interview

Peter Hook was the bassist and one of the principle songwriters in both Joy Division and New Order. From a Yamaha BB100s to his six-string Shergold, Hook walks us through the basses he used to achieve his legendary tone.
Read more about Peter Hook at : goo.gl/J7LgSF

[@8bitDude0]

Most underrated bass player ever.

[@Sidus666]

How is he underrated if his playing inspired countless 80s bands?

[@rolandmarckwort]

No, he's not lol!

[@johnmurray4812]

Bernard sumner haha

[@dougthealligator]

As far as bass players go I’d say that Hook and Krist Novaselic pretty much go toe to toe for most underrated rock bassists of all time

[@modsleix6]

I would *_HARDLY_* call Pete Hook an "underrated bass player" (let alone the "most" underrated bass player). As a bass player myself and a huge fan of Post Punk/Goth/Darkwave/New Wave/Coldwave/Synth/Shoegaze etc. etc., off the top of my head, I can think of *_TONS_* of other awesome players who one can say were/are *_TRULY_* "underrated", both back in their heyday and still today in the present...

[@frankmurphyburr3598]

The way he plays bass is like no other bass player. I used to hate his playing,then over the years it grew on me, I 'got it' what he was doing, he tore up the rules of bass playing and rewrote them, brilliantly, genius

[@MiklosKov]

Mind-boggling to me that someone could ever hate it.

[@squiremuldoon5462]

Love the face he makes when he has to say something mean and honest lol.

[@triciabrown3035]

He is honest, he is also funny as hell!

[@mackymaca]

One of the most iconic bass players, ever.

[@DalleDayul]

Most people get all reminiscent about their early instruments, especially stuff like that early Rick copy which made such a famous appearance. Meanwhile Hooky is just like "that one sucked, that one is terrible". What a legend.

[@robotgoose225]

Kinda wished he'd talked a bit more about the early guitars, but he talked about as much as I expected tbh...😅 That Hondo getting air time like that, was quite something, and it served him (and us) well. I think i saw video of him playing the EKO, but it was the Hondo that made all those appearances back then. I think it was used on the whole of Unknown Pleasures... a cult classic! I don't care to hear about 'build quality' or 'provenance', people can be unkind about replicas/copies/knockoffs whatever, but all guitars are just wood and metal and its usually the insecure types who cast that kinda harsh judgment, the 'collectors..., the ''ooo is it worth enough?''brigade, not the 'players'. Players is where its at. The real players don't give stuff whats written on the end. Rant over lol. And yes I've had one for many years. A late 70's in the same colour which I paid 25 quid for, from a steam rally in 91, and I wouldn't part with it. I think it's a fantastic looking and sounding bass, and I've recorded and performed with it many times 😊😅

[@ashtralplane777]

His punk roots

[@SW-fn7cl]

You should come live in Northern England, we talk like this all the time 😂

[@marsamgod73]

Hooky is a national treasure.

[@clairherwitz2773]

I love you hooky. So fucking much. Your bass lines of Joy Division and New Order are my eternal pleasures. 0:47 one of my favorite moments of you in a great gig which i appreciate so deeply that was recorded and saved....

[@martinjaramillo2429]

I got to meet him after a gig with the Light, very gracious performer. He took the time to meet us old fans and chatted. Good guy.

[@gringogreen4719]

I love that he found his sound early on. One of my favorite players!

[@1thess523]

My childhood memories from about 85' on up are filled with his New Order basslines even though i thought they were a guitar for the longest time 😂

[@joelalexander4513]

Pure fucking rock star right there, that Hook fella. Low slung bass. Big, hulking swing. Hollow body gib body with Yammy elx...sense of humour, wit, and stories to tell. This hard-partying beast is what a british Lemmy would be, if Lemmy wasn't already....british?

[@royalnass1029]

Great interview, Peter Hook is a legend in music

[@emmaduncan2991]

Hooky's son looks a lot like his dad did, back in the Joy Division days, I can't help but wonder if he also has his dad's somewhat short temper, the "An Ideal for living" book, has lots of great stories of Hooky jumping into the audience to get at troublemakers, complete with colorful descriptions of the various noises his bass made, after coming into contact with the guilty party's head, after he caught up the transgressor!

[@plev10]

HOOKY!! Best bass lines in rock.

[@letmegomkultrashithead]

Certainly Worthy of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame💎

[@Ian-qs3fz]

Thank you!!!!

[@seanadamson280]

Yes Hooky refound disorder few days ago can't get it out of my head brilliant!!

[@mrdisco]

Love Hooky; easily my all-time favorite bass player. Really wish he and Barney would make up and reform the band properly. Not sure it's going to happen though.

[@pdymczyk]

the best bass kick sound I ever had. Greetings mate

[@VIC-20_Synthwave]

Legend! Who's slams doors during interviews Reverb?

[@Djlullaby22]

I heard like they were playing billiard in the background

[@swissarmyknight4306]

I absolutely love Hook's bass playing. I especially like mixing Hook-style melody/riff playing with more traditional bass playing (which he did more as his career progressed). Treating the bass and guitar as equals that could swap roles is absolutely game changing and my favorite aspect of Joy Division and New Order.

[@mcbrodz1663]

Love him so much

[@mileszemag4168]

they need to interview bernard sumner next i feel you dont hear anything about his guitars and tone

[@10199ULTRAMATIC]

Bilibo Baggins I love Bernard's guitars in JD/NO, but he sucks playing guitar live, especially if he's singing at the same time.

[@mileszemag4168]

i loved his jd live sound

[@thestr8person]

I think his strat period was his best sound, 6 and 12 string but he apparently smashed most of them on stage and just uses an SG for that sound now

[@Chrisamusic1]

@@10199ULTRAMATIC : - In Hooky's book, he states that Barney is actually a BETTER guitarist than Johnny Marr!! I'm seriously curious as to how he's come to that conclusion - It didn't appear to be in any context of irony????

[@10199ULTRAMATIC]

@@Chrisamusic1 Hooky knows how to play a guitar with a bass better than Bernard did with a guitar. Byt that was nice of him to say tho.

[@jeffblack5024]

I bought a used 90s Yamaha BB1500A. Tonally, I think that gets very close to a 1200S as it has such an active range.

[@gastonjara7192]

GREAT influencer bass sound in very Musics generation.

[@michaelwilson2340]

The Yamaha BB 1200 is my dream bass! Someday I'll find one! Yeah right.

[@thomasminarchickjr.7355]

His vocals remind me of Ian crossed with Alan Vega. Always loved his bass parts

[@jairomartinez-ortiz2553]

Him and other bass players are the reason why I play bass.

[@triciabrown3035]

Just so you know, Hooky is responsible for whatever swagger Joy Division and New Order had.

[@SteelyDanimal]

I love how English musicians that came up in the 70s and 80s always have a jingle during interview from all their rings and bracelets. They love their wrist adornments. My generation (late 30s) aren’t bracelet dudes....

[@tomscotland]

Bless you Hooky, but I think you met his Luthier.

[@tlkshowhst]

Holy shit he sounds like Ian when he sings!

[@beseeingyou6]

More than barney

[@RJMc819]

He does here, but most of "The Light" sounds shit, vocally, from my experience (maybe his voice just suits "Colony")!

[@NOWtheband]

Yeah, he does. :-)

[@mathisbeutler3359]

I don’t think Ian was the most technically gifted singer and is easy to imitate. But it is his emotion that gives the songs so much power.

[@chrissie9865]

Fun fact: He was going to be the lead singer in New Order but they decided to go with Bernard because Hooky sounded too much like Ian.

[@yorkshireteaahhhnice1417]

Genius

[@shonuffisthemaster]

its sad that he and sumner had such a rockey relationship that eventually ended in the band splitting. they really complemented echother well musically. i can gather from the many interviews and live proformances ive watched that both were probably at fault and were difficult to work with. No i don't think there is a new order without peter hook and they should have dropped the name when he left. in any case, one of my favorite bassists / band(s) of all time

[@robertwatson5104]

shonuffisthemaster I agree

[@juju5568]

Bernard Sumner, knew after the death of their manager Rob Gretton ( RIP) He could become more in control. Make more decisions about recording producers. Leaving out Hook's bass riffs, and use more keyboards on Tracks From album Republic. Bad Lieutenant's collaboration, was just another way of freedom for the moment. I never liked it. I never really got into Electronic singles and albums. I was more interested in Revenge music. It was more entertaining and engaging with energy in a live performance.. Bernard, got quite friendly with the Pet shop Boys. Disorder 🤣

[@mrdisco]

I agree that I think the fault is equally split between them both. I think they just got sick of each other and both ended up acting like twats.

[@revolutionday1]

Excellent

[@acarlovonsexron1994]

Love the sound and durability of the Yamaha, but they're ugly as sin. I sort of wonder why he never got into Wal basses, they seem perfect for him.

[@cleaningmyroom1000]

Damn those basses are cool as shit but so pricey

[@No-to4id]

Carlo Von Sexron I just looked up Wal and they look like his six stringer. Very cool!

[@aronfridrik]

They have chunky necks. He wants thin ones.

[@shamrockshoredublin179]

Carlo Von Sexron why do the guitars get a bad name

[@DigBipper188]

Guess it must be a case of "each to their own" in that case... I for one am an odd soul and I really like their more obscure designs like the SB-1C, 2A, 5A, 7A and the SBV-500 + 550. I also like their less weird and unusual guitars like the BB series. I personally have and play the heck out of a BB425X. With the way I've got it set up it plays better than a P-bass and has a tone that rivals an Aerodyne P.

[@viviennetwigg8096]

The bass is essential

[@TweedSuit]

My top 3 Bass players: Jack Bruce, Mick Karn and Hooky.

[@juju5568]

Raven from Killing joke 🍺🤝

[@delivrance3961]

great stuff!

[@alecmisra4964]

Be interesting to hear his view of johnny marr.

[@chungusthicccreamyboi2elec802]

I met Eric Clapton...’s lute player

[@mattgilbert7347]

His... Lute player? I'm going with that as head canon. Luthiers and Lutherans be damned. Dooble oct-ayve Lute bass. I wants one.

[@viviennetwigg8096]

The bass essential to Joy Division and New Order

[@MrPomelo555]

On what New Order songs is the 6 string bass featured ?

[@triciabrown3035]

He's the only guy at his age cool enough to pull off a thumb ring.

[@465marko]

Whats a double octave bass? Does it mean it goes up to 24 frets? But then when I look at his bass, it looks like 21 frets...

[@The10000lbGorilla]

So... the Bass player for Joy Division doesn't know anyone else who used a Bass VI? Pretty sure The Cure used one a lot and I find it hard to believe those two groups never ran into each other.

[@Aphelion_Music]

He didn't say he "doesn't know anyone else who used a Bass VI", he said he does'nt know anyone who played a Shergold six-string bass beside him !

[@GVike]

It was documented that there was rumor about some bad blood between the bands. Simon Gallup uses an Eccleshall just like Peter did and poses the same...

[@choppytde6030]

Jack Bruce

[@TweedSuit]

Instantly recognisable Bass sound - same with Mick Karn.

[@Chrisamusic1]

A million miles of difference between these two. They both play bass. That's it.

[@NOWtheband]

Yes, they are both instantly recognisable. :-)

[@barriniho]

Why don't Yamaha reissue the bb1200s? there's obviously demand for it and they would sell.

[@NathanReevesnate808]

interesting he played bass chords i cant hear it in the albums

[@mharclerode]

I love his playing with Joy Division, New Order not so much, he stopped playing "bass" and started doing lead type guitar lines. The synth basslines are better on most New Order records.

[@BrandonJFlores]

Maybe his style just evolved. She's lost control and lwtua are good examples of him playing lead lines. When he was playing bass lines it was more centered around punk. New order isn't punk lol so his bass lines had to change

[@mharclerode]

​@@BrandonJFlores True- but my issue is the synth bass lines in New Order are so funky, and the weird lead lines he does on actual bass are just all over the place. Take Blue Monday- the synth line is what EVERYbody thinks is the bassline, when bands cover it the bass plays the synth part. Hook is just almost screwing around, playing a weird little lead line for 5 seconds here, another there.

[@BrandonJFlores]

@@mharclerode yeah you're not wrong on that one lol. Hooky really only has one bass line in the song and the rest like you said is just him screwing around

[@ayle1312]

@@mharclerode he also played drums in live performances of blue monday

[@VuotoPneumaNN]

@@mharclerode That "weird little lead line" is bloody iconic tho.

[@higalay3159]

i had no idea that rickenbacker was a copy

[@ynzsbstn]

Yeah it was an Hondo II Japanese Ric copy. Isn’t terrible tbh.

[@robotgoose225]

Yeah, he kinda glossed over that bass pretty quick 🤣 The spacing between the P/up's are the main difference in sound ☝ I think they look nicer than any Rickenbacker, and actually sound more Rickenbacker than a Rickenbacker. True fact lol 🤔😄

[@timvanboening9432]

I play a P Bass, but I want to be Peter Hook when I grow up😝😝😝😝

[@TheZooropaBaby]

...she lost control? dammit i though he was gonna say that

[@bryanfrombuffalo7685]

How can u not sing n play

[@deanarnold6284]

I always wondered what RAF stood for............LOL

[@nancyleekellyproductions1616]

SO AGAIN ,,, THE PREFERENCE IS ALL IN THE HAND FOR YOU SAID YOU HAVE SMALL HANDS,, SO I THINK THAT GOOD BE A VERY BIG PART OF THE ACTION AND FINGERBOARD AND THE FRETTING LET'S FACE IT ,,, I WANT AND I LOOK FOR WHAT FEELS LIKE HAND AND GLOVE TO ME,,, I'M TELLING YOU WHEN I LOOK FOR KAYAKING GLOVES I WANT THEM SNUG ,,, I TAKE THOSE ORES AND LET ME TELL YOU I'LL SEE YOU IN HAWAII! THANK YOU PETER A MAN ON THE STREET TOLD ME ABOUT YOU WHEN I WAS HITTING THAT MITCHELL BASS OF MINE ON THE STREET OF DOWNTOWN LA,, THAT'S RIGHT ON BROADWAY,,, "MY OPENING ACT IS TO SAY TO PEOPLE TRY TO GOOGLE A 60 SOME LADY ON THE STREETS PLAYING A BASS AND GUESS WHAT YOU WONT FIND ANOTHER ,,, I'M THE ONE AND ONLY !!! ALL OVER THE WORLD YOU COULD SEARCH THAT ONE! AND YOU ONLY COME UP WITH "NANCY LEE KELLY PRODUCTIONS" HAHAHAHA I'M UNIQUE IN THE MOVEMENT I'M CREATING! AND TRUST ME IT IS A PERSONAL MOVEMENT !!!! POLITICALLY CORRECT ON THIS ONE AS OPPOSED TO NOT POLITICALLY CORRECT!

[@novadhd]

6 String bass! ? Nah.

[@robotgoose225]

Lol 😂

[@ragheadand420roll]

New order witout hooky is crap garbage Soulless empty crap Peter hook and the light rock the house

[@juju5568]

I don't think Bernard Sumner really cares about it. Hooky, his more serious about his own guitar knowledge. Bernard, was more interested in building keyboards and sampling sounds. I would probably say that Johnny marr, is a better guitarist than Barney.🤫 There's hundreds of bass players around the world who can play like Peter, however he has definitely an unusual way of playing live. I expect he could of been included with killing joke, if he was a Southerner (UK)🙋‍♂️

[@deaddoll1361]

Johnny Marr is a better guitarist than nearly all guitarists, especially Barney.

[@KingReffots]

He’s not a technically good guitar player at all, he’s a good writer though which is more important when making music

[@Chrisamusic1]

I like Hooky, but people on here alluding to him being a great bassist are all deluded. He's a poor lead guitarist, simply playing lead lines on his bass. Pini Palladino, Jaco, James Jamerson, Mark King, even that FLY bloke from RHCP. THESE are bass players.

[@echokammersurvivor2210]

the feeling when one of your main musical influences comes out as total narcisistic douche... he was great in joy division but new order didnt need him, new wave doesnt need a real bass guitar just use a lead bass synth and youre good to go

[@10199ULTRAMATIC]

Spacko Robi I disagree, what made New Order so unique was his beautiful bass chords. New Order's new album is missing Hooky, but he is a lovable douche.

[@cleaningmyroom1000]

nah hookey is cool as shit

[@olivergallimore3490]

So New Order didn't need the one thing that made them really unique? OK.

[@GVike]

Take away his lead bass and Simmons from A Perfect Kiss and dare tell me NO didn't need him. Clearly you are ignorant AF and never played one note in any instrument. And as for new wave not needing bass, Andy McCluskey (OMD) will disagree with you totally. So would a ton of other REAL musicians and not some idiot like you.

[@permanentvacation2406]

Spacko Robi he doesn't sound narcissistic at all