Cuttings

CHOSEN TIME It took mere months, following the death of Ian Curtis in May 1980, for Joy Division’s Bernard Sumner, Peter Hook and Stephen Morris to regroup, with a new name - New Order - a new member, Gillian Gilbert, and a new set of songs. In this new (reincarnation they bestrode the 80s like a colossus, propelled by new ideas and newer technology. With a Power, Corruption & Lies box set imminent ( review ), the band discuss their glorious decade of invention with Dave Simpson , and Daryl Easlea compiles a select discography from their 80s output. CHAPTER 1: NEW NAME, NEW ORDER "It was so weird, even I was nervous!” chuckles Gillian Gilbert, thinking back to the solitary performance of the “No Names” on 29 July 1980. Belgian Factory Records band The Names had suddenly pulled out of a performance at The Beach Club, a regular night in the tiny Oozit’s pub on Newgate Street, Shudehill, Manchester. At the last minute, their place was taken by Peter Hook, Stephen Morris and Be...

FROM RUSHOLME WITH LOVE • “I'm working with Morrissey again,” says JOHNNY MARR to his old friends ANDY ROURKE and MIKE JOYCE, thus astonishing the world and adding a new frenzy to the upcoming nostalgia-fest of SMITHS CD reissues. Could it ever be so wonderful again? Will we see the return of the creative team that thrilled our bones and gave Britain its last truly great, guitar-slashing, flower-flouting youthquake? Or has the partnership been renewed for another, more mercenary reason? The NME investigation begins here - firstly with a fan's-eye account of how amazing it felt when The Smiths blossomed through the mid-’80s. JOHN HARRIS and TED KESSLER remember the highs and poll the inspired thoughts of the band’s many indie descendants - from Lush to the Manic Street Preachers. Over the page, JOHNNY ROGAN, author of The Severed Alliance and the world’s premier Smiths-watcher, talks to ex-Smiths Rourke and Joyce, reveals the bizarre machinations that have reunited Marr and Mo...