New Order, the band that came out of Joy Division after the death of Ian Curtis, will perform live for the first time in five years at a pair of European shows. The last time the group played together was November 2006.
Noticeably absent from the lineup is bassist Peter Hook who left the band in 2007; however, keyboardist Gillian Gilbert is returning after a six year absence for family obligations. The rest of the lineup is Bernard Sumner (vocals/guitar), Stephen Morris (drums), Phil Cunningham (guitar) and Tom Chapman (bass).
The reunion comes as a bit of surprise as, earlier this year, Morris told the U.K.'s Guardian that he didn't expect the group to ever work together again. "There's no future for New Order. It's hard to draw a line under everything, but I think we have."
Both shows (Brussels on October 17 and Paris on October 18) are benefits for film producer Michael Shamburg who previously produced a number of the group's videos and has been ill since 2005. Sumner told BBC6:
"Michael has been with us from the very start. Initially he was in charge of Factory New York, then became creative producer for all our early videos.
He brought our attention to the early works of Directors such as Kathryn Bigelow, Gina Birch, Robert Breer, Peter Care and Phillipe Decouffle. Michael is very ill and needs constant medical attention. We want to help him, and these shows will contribute financial support towards his ongoing care."
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