Peter Hook - Unknown Pleasures (book)
Unknown Pleasures: Inside Joy Division
Author: Peter Hook
Released: January 2013
I recently had this book passed on to me from my dad, who had read it from cover to cover in a couple of days and really enjoyed it. He was well aware of how big a Joy Division fan I am, so he knew I was going to really like it also, and he was spot on.
I have to say that this was one of the most entertaining, if not the best, rock-star/celebrity biography that I've tackled to date. I’ve read more than a few in my time, some of which were so up their own ass, it put me right off the bands concerned.
“Hooky” [sic] writes in an unpretentious conversational writing style that shoots straight from the hip. There's none of the usual overblown “I'm so special, oh! pity me I’m so hard done by” bullshit from this particular author. This is an incredibly honest, detailed and informal tongue-in-cheek insight into the surprisingly short but turbulent career of Joy Division. Even the stereotypically boring pre band / pre fame family life tales are well worth checking out here.
Peter Hook's northern plain speaking style is a refreshing change from the flowery prose, and long unnecessary factual third-person pieces of dross that are rife amongst autobiographies. There’s even a series of timelines further detailing the important moments of his life and career, conveniently situated between the individually dated and short but info packed chapters.
Let's cut to the chase, Unknown Pleasures: Inside Joy Division covers everything, from unscrupulous associates, jealous other bands, inherent nepotism and broken promises by pretend friends. Then there's the teeth-pullingly painful recording sessions with Martin Rushent, and the expected every-good-story-starts-with-a-drink tales documenting all the on the road debauchery and mischief.
The similarities between the early day's trials & tribulations of Warsaw/ Joy Division eerily mirror the shit and good times I’ve experienced on my musical journey both as a band member and solo performer over the last few years, and I’m sure readers who are/ were in bands have had very similar experiences . The inner band squabbles, disagreements with the management etc etc, all still go on today, and it’s possibly even worse now than it was back in the day. We laughed as we put names to the history-repeating incidents documented within these pages. But let’s not forget the many genuine people you meet along the way, as well as the fans and the gigs which counteract all the other crap and make everything worthwhile.
Furthermore, Hooky adds some current reflections on Joy Division, New Order, the famous Hacienda money pit and his own personal life. I’m not going to give specific examples, read the book.
35 years later and some things still haven't changed, and In my opinion Peter Hook’s “Unknown Pleasures” is a must read for any longtime/ newbie 'Joy Division' disciple.
My new favourite book!
Steven Donnelly - September 2013.
Rating: 10/10
Get the book now:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Unknown-Pleasures-Inside-Joy-Division/dp/1849833605/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1379097658&sr=1-1-catcorr&keywords=joy+division+unknown+pleasures+book
‘Peter Hook and the Light’ play The Limelight 2, Belfast on 23rd November!
Author: Peter Hook
Released: January 2013
I recently had this book passed on to me from my dad, who had read it from cover to cover in a couple of days and really enjoyed it. He was well aware of how big a Joy Division fan I am, so he knew I was going to really like it also, and he was spot on.
I have to say that this was one of the most entertaining, if not the best, rock-star/celebrity biography that I've tackled to date. I’ve read more than a few in my time, some of which were so up their own ass, it put me right off the bands concerned.
“Hooky” [sic] writes in an unpretentious conversational writing style that shoots straight from the hip. There's none of the usual overblown “I'm so special, oh! pity me I’m so hard done by” bullshit from this particular author. This is an incredibly honest, detailed and informal tongue-in-cheek insight into the surprisingly short but turbulent career of Joy Division. Even the stereotypically boring pre band / pre fame family life tales are well worth checking out here.
Peter Hook's northern plain speaking style is a refreshing change from the flowery prose, and long unnecessary factual third-person pieces of dross that are rife amongst autobiographies. There’s even a series of timelines further detailing the important moments of his life and career, conveniently situated between the individually dated and short but info packed chapters.
Let's cut to the chase, Unknown Pleasures: Inside Joy Division covers everything, from unscrupulous associates, jealous other bands, inherent nepotism and broken promises by pretend friends. Then there's the teeth-pullingly painful recording sessions with Martin Rushent, and the expected every-good-story-starts-with-a-drink tales documenting all the on the road debauchery and mischief.
The similarities between the early day's trials & tribulations of Warsaw/ Joy Division eerily mirror the shit and good times I’ve experienced on my musical journey both as a band member and solo performer over the last few years, and I’m sure readers who are/ were in bands have had very similar experiences . The inner band squabbles, disagreements with the management etc etc, all still go on today, and it’s possibly even worse now than it was back in the day. We laughed as we put names to the history-repeating incidents documented within these pages. But let’s not forget the many genuine people you meet along the way, as well as the fans and the gigs which counteract all the other crap and make everything worthwhile.
Furthermore, Hooky adds some current reflections on Joy Division, New Order, the famous Hacienda money pit and his own personal life. I’m not going to give specific examples, read the book.
35 years later and some things still haven't changed, and In my opinion Peter Hook’s “Unknown Pleasures” is a must read for any longtime/ newbie 'Joy Division' disciple.
My new favourite book!
Steven Donnelly - September 2013.
Rating: 10/10
Get the book now:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Unknown-Pleasures-Inside-Joy-Division/dp/1849833605/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1379097658&sr=1-1-catcorr&keywords=joy+division+unknown+pleasures+book
‘Peter Hook and the Light’ play The Limelight 2, Belfast on 23rd November!