Cuttings

Dear ZigZag, Although I very much enjoyed the revelations contained in Jayne Houghton's interview with Rob Gretton and Peter Hook of New Order I would like to clear up a few inaccuracies and distortions. First, as a journalist. I can say that I have never had an 'intense obsession' with either Joy Division or New Order. After 1 had seen them three times over an eight month period I told them of my plans to write a book. Despite their being less than thrilled about a book being written about them they saw that it would be in their best interest that it be as accurate as possible. Each member of the band and their manager assisted with corrections, so all the errors that remain are there by their decision. I told them I would avoid invading their private lives and I fulfilled my part of the 'agreement'. Unwanted people do not just walk into dressing rooms or recording studios (whose copy of the 2001 soundtrack did they use when they decided to nick Ligeti...

CRIME PAYS! New Order, Innocent before proven guilty, gassing. Eye witness; Jayne Houghton. Sitting in a mobile greenhouse bound for Manchester. It's 80 deg. and an old dear is telling me her life story all the way there . . . such a glamorous start! New Order's penchant for eating journalists alive, or at the very least being totally uncommunicative doesn't fill me with too much dread ( Liar! You were never off the toilet last night— Writer's Mum ) as I've known Peter Hook for some time. With him is Rob Gretton, New Order's fifth member/manager who has just been to the dentist and spent the afternoon cradling his jaw. We join half the population of Manchester, crammed into the city centre and the one-square foot of grass and just as we're about to start Hookey and Rob remove their T-shirts. Thankfully this casts a lighthearted mood over the whole affair. ZZ: Why no British tours, only unconventional one-offs? H: The reason we play unconven...

N.O. Future Manchester boys (John Brane and New Order de-basement Pete Hookes) cut the crap. ZIGZAG JUNE 1985 Jesus what is this cold and miserable place I find myself in? It's Rochdale raining, Sunday afternoon. Turn a few crumbly corners till I find Suite 16 studio once known as Cargo studios until Pete Hookes (bass player and public profile person of New Order) bought it. New Order — from cult status, Buzzcocks supports, long raincoat, Factory club, massive cult status of Joy Division days to the even more immense cult status they enjoy today (most of their audience unaware of their former incarnation) . I suppose it doesn't even matter. Why are they so sodding massive? A keen eye at the other scribes in the room gives the game away; they appeal to techno buffs who love to talk in numbers, as represented by a pompous nitwit from International Musician (Where else?) who spends his question time on REALLY interesting topics like the code number...