New Order reunited recently to help raise money for friend and video-producer Michael Shamberg, as he fights a debilitating illness. Well, some of New Order reunited. Bassist Peter Hook was sadly absent from the festivities. Not every band’s bassist is integral to its sound. Some bass players are, in fact, totally replaceable. However, Peter Hook is not one of them. Almost every New Order song has a distinct bassline and melodic lead composed by Peter Hook. His style is one of the building blocks that we associate with the post-punk sound. It’s no secret that in-fighting amidst New Order’s ranks has been an ongoing problem for decades. The hiatus between 1993’s Republic and 2001’s Get Ready was always blamed on the band members being sick of one another. But it wasn’t until the past few years that we were spectators to the public sparring between Hook and vocalist Bernard Sumner. Throughout the 80’s and 90’s New Order remained frustratingly enigmatic. Since reforming, however, the band has let its collective guard down. Nasty words have been exchanged. Infantile name calling. It’s all rather silly and easily dismissed until the remaining members decided to toy with its own legacy and reunite without Hook- a passive aggressive stunt on a mammoth scale. Hook has expressed both disappointment and frustration at the news, jokingly stating that “NEW ORDER without PETER HOOK is like QUEEN without FREDDIE MERCURY, U2 without THE EDGE, SOOTY without SWEEP!” While those are hyperbolic examples, he’s not entirely wrong. New Order without Hook is a joke. A sad joke. Replacing him on stage with two random blokes is beyond reproach. Consider my fandom revoked until this is resolved. And don’t get me started on Hook’s own legacy-flogging as he tours a Joy Division tribute band …