Neon Musical Insight

Beginning April 11, former New Order bassist Peter Hook will be embarking on a three-week spoken word tour throughout the U.K., reports Slicing Up Eyeballs. The tour, entitled “An Evening of Unknown Pleasures: Tales from Joy Division, New Order and The Hacienda,” will find Hook delving deeply into his rather large back catalogue of music, while also introducing never-before-seen footage from his past with bands Joy Division, New Order and the Hacienda.

In discussing what will be revealed, Hook said: “We’ve got some interesting stuff that was left out of the Joy Division documentary and I’ve also decided to play a few instrumentals I like the bass on — ‘The Happy One’ and ‘Elegia,’ for example. That gets me out of talking for a few minutes. I’m renowned for my music, not for my talking, so I’ll let some of my music do the talking for me.”

In addition, Hook also is planning a special celebration for the 30th anniversary of Joy Division’s Ian Curtis’ death, in which Hook will perform a Joy Division only set at the Factory on May 18. While little is known at the moment on the event, special guests are expected to appear as well.

Full dates for Hook’s spoken word tour can be found below.

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Back in November, the Bernard Sumner-fronted Bad Lieutenant had to cancel their scheduled U.S. gigs due to issues with International Customs. In the same statement, Mr. Sumner stated that they still  plan to perform in New York, Chicago and a few other places come 2010.

Staying true to his word, Bad Lieutenant announced today just when those shows will go down, along with a San Francisco show and a quick stop at this year’s Coachella on April 17 (night 1 of 3), which will mark the bands first American performance to date.

On their upcoming American tour, Mr. Sumner had said:

“We are really looking forward to playing our songs live for our fans in the U.S. It’s been some quite time since I have played in America, and we are all very excited about the prospect.” In terms of expectations that fans should have, Sumner added: “The bulk of the set will be Bad Lieutenant songs, but we’ll also play some songs from my past, some New Order songs, some Joy Division, and a few other surprises.”

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Experimental bands Xiu Xiu and Deerhoof have announced plans to cover Joy Division’s unforgettable debut Unkown Pleasure on April 29 as part of the Austria’s Donaufestival (which runs from April 28 through May 8). Their publicist had this to say to Tiny Mix Tapes:

“It’s funny Xiu Xiu should ask Deerhoof to perform Joy Division’s Unknown Pleasures with them. Just a short time before this, Deerhoof received a MySpace comment containing a Joy Division video and the words “COVER THIS”; and then a Facebook message asking when there would be a full-on collaboration between Deerhoof and Xiu Xiu. Add to this the sheer coincidence that Ian Curtis committed suicide on May 18, Greg Saunier’s birthday, and the conclusion seemed inevitable.”

A calling in disguise maybe? Other performers set to appear at Donaufestival are Panda Bear, Fuck Buttons, Wolf Parade and more.

Xiu Xiu’s seventh studio album Dear God, I Hate Myself will be out February 23 via Kill Rock Stars.

I’ve decided to run a top 10 list of 80’s albums based on my opinion (which can be argued as being factual) solely. The 80’s unfortunately catches a bad general rap from mainstream society that typically only remembers the fond times for it’s blonde feathered bangs, and drunken metal/acoustic ballads (I’m pointing my finger at you Bret Michaels.) But I know you, the reader can recall a more innovative, and intellectual time, where bands held pretentious outlooks because they damn right deserved to. I may be talking like I lived through this colorful decade, but truth has it that I was actually only born in the middle of it. Still, these albums have changed my life, and the natural views that I have to surviving in this crazy world.

I could only imagine what it must’ve been like living and experiencing some of these bands live, and first getting your hands on a 7″ like “Unsatisfied” or ” Ceremony.” The reason why I chose to run only the top 10 (as opposed to 25 and so forth) of the decade is because I like the notion of the ten greatest albums over a ten year span. Keeps things interesting…

So without further ado, I present my Top 10 Finest Albums of the 1980’s.

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