Peter Hook: "We didn't sell out"

Peter Hook has said that the reason for the continued respect given to Joy Division and New Order is that they never conformed for the sake of success.

The bassist told Metro that despite the bands losing most of their money to the Haçienda nightclub, the venue "changed the world musically and culturally".

Hook said: "You can't buy class. New Order and Joy Division get a lot of respect. I wonder if we were as big as U2 if we'd still be thought of in that way.

"We didn't sell out and kept true to ourselves. We were a bit awkward, like square pegs who wouldn't be bashed into round holes."

He added: "I'm very grateful to Rob [Gretton, manager] and Tony [Wilson, of Factory Records]. They let us keep that identity which still lasts today."

Hook starts speaking tour 'Unknown Pleasures with Howard Marks' in Birmingham this Sunday.

According to NME, he will also be joined by special guests to play Joy Division's debut album in full at his new FAC251 nightclub in Manchester on May 18, the 30th anniversary of frontman Ian Curtis's suicide.