Joy Division and New Order were collectively inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame last night. Though technically separate bands, the two acts represent a continuum; Joy Division's surviving members formed New Order after the 1980 death of Joy Division frontman Ian Curtis. Together, the groups were nominated for the Rock Hall in 2023 and 2025 before making it in this year.
Bassist Peter Hook, who left the band in 2007 and later engaged in a lengthy legal battle with his former bandmates over disputed royalties, was the only member of New Order to attend tonight's induction. In the lead-up to the ceremony, he said he wouldn't appear at the podium with the other members of the band — "not after what they did to me and my family" — but might be willing to perform with them again if they apologized.
But a reunion performance was not in the cards, as none of the rest of New Order showed. After announcing their departure from New Order in June, drummer Stephen Morris and keyboardist Gillian Gilbert, a married couple, announced that they wouldn't the attend the Rock Hall induction due to Gilbert's cancer battle. Singer-guitarist Bernard Sumner also wasn't present. Hook did not mention his former bandmates in his speech and, in the press room afterwards, he reiterated there would never be a reunion because of what they did to him and his family.
In New Order's stead, Hook was joined by Deftones and Chvrches' Lauren Mayberry to play a pair of classics. Hook and company did Joy Division's iconic "Love Will Tear Us Apart" with Deftones' Chino Moreno on lead vocals. Then Mayberry took the lead for New Order's also-iconic "Bizarre Love Triangle."
Joy Division and New Order were inducted last night by Trent Reznor who covered Joy Division's "Dead Souls" on The Crow soundtrack in '94. Reznor, Deftones, and Mayberry's appearances were not announced in advance. This year's performers and presenters were all a surprise and the event did not livestream. It will air on ABC on Dec. 8, then stream on Disney+. However, there was an audience in LA's Peacock Theater, so you can watch some video below.
