Peter Hook is suing his New Order bandmates for millions

Peter Hook, ex-bassist for New Order, is reportedly suing the band for millions of pounds in an ongoing royalty dispute.

Hook left the group in 2007, and is said to be seeking “restoration of the company’s misappropriated property, property it has held for more than 20 years,” according to his barrister Mark Wyeth QC.

New Order formed a company called Vitalturn back in 1992. After Hook left the group, they went on to form a new company, New Order Ltd., which granted them sole rights to the band name and their royalties. The company has made £7.8 million in profit since 2011, and Hook believes he is owed 12.5%. He currently earns 1.25%.

Hook’s barrister describes the situation as follows: “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.”

Judge David Cooke has ruled that there should be a full trial. “I strongly urge the parties to seek to resolve the issues between them by entering into some commercial negotiations so that they do not incur the expense of pursuing this matter to trial,” he says.

This year saw New Order releasing their ‘Music Complete’ album.

Update:

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.