PETER HOOK IS SUING "DISAPPOINTED" NEW ORDER

In a new row over royalties, New Order’s former bassist Peter Hook is suing his ex-bandmates for millions of pounds.

Hook has claimed he is £2.3 million out of pocket after the three other bandmates set up a company without him to handle their income in 2011, “pillaging” the group’s assets.

Having left the legendary Manchester band in 2007, the remaining members created the new company, granting it worldwide exclusive rights to the New Order name and related sources of income for a decade – a move described by Hook’s lawyer as “clandestine, premeditated and deliberate.

"It was as though George Harrison and Ringo Starr had got together at George’s house one Friday night and had acted together to divest Paul McCartney of his shareholding in the Beatles, and didn't tell Yoko about it either."

Hook is currently receiving 1.25% of the band’s income, but wants up to 12.5%. The bassist was either intent on "obstructing" the trio from continuing their success as New Order or to “rejoin the band”, the trio’s lawyer claimed.

At a High Court hearing, Judge David Cooke ruled that Hook was not acting out of "spite" and allowed him to lodge legal papers against the group.

Now the trio have responded publicly to Hook’s lawsuit against them, speaking to the NME:

“Obviously the band are disappointed that Peter is pursuing this claim in this particular way.

“The reports so far take a number of things out of context. Peter still, for instance, receives his full share of all back catalogue royalties. This dispute relates only to the share of income he takes from our work without him since 2011. Not much more we can say as nothing has been decided by the Court on the facts other than he has a right to proceed with the claim, so this matter is still in play.

We're getting on with life and concentrating on touring and promoting our new album.”