PETER HOOK & THE LIGHT: “GET READY” AND ALL THE HITS AT LONDON’S TROXY

LIVE REVIEW | PETER HOOK & THE LIGHT | LONDON TROXY 18th April 2025 by Charlie Wright

Peter Hook & The Light are giving people the next generation exactly what they want. Not just live music, but tracks that defined a prior generation, re-imagined. Formed in 2010 by bassist and vocalist Peter Hook, formerly of Joy Division and New Order, the band welcomes Jack Bates (bass), Martin Rebelski (keyboards) David Potts (guitar) and Paul Kehoe (drums).

While coming under criticism from other New Order members and an ongoing friction between Hook and other bandmates, this project serves as a juicy way to enjoy the post-punk goodness of the 80s all over again. More importantly, for a new generation to be ushered into the world of Joy Division and New Order in style.

In Hook’s ambition to play every album recorded in their entirety live, this mini tour focused on the 2001 Get Ready record. The band took to the stage at London’s Troxy to power through the full album, hitting every one of its daring moments with precision and ease. While crowd interaction remained minimal, they made up for it with a stellar run-through.

The second half, however, involved all the hits. You can imagine how this went – mosh pits, ravenous sing-alongs and some of the finest live music you’ll ever experience. To introduce the band, the collaborator on Rebecca Hook’s book “Hacienda Threads” made an appearance.

Across an incredible setlist, Peter Hook & The Light covered the likes of Shadowplay, Disorder, She’s Lost Control and dedicated Transmission to his best friend Ken. When it came to Ceremony, a New Order track, that was dedicated to Ian Curtis, whose death was now more than 45 years ago. The band also threw in hits Blue Monday, True Faith, Temptation and finished on Love Will Tear Us Apart.

All in all, the evening clocked in at more than two hours. What more could you ask for? Fans sat gleaming from ear to ear and starry-eyed as the night came to a close. The only thing that could top this is a full New Order reunion one day, there’s still time.