Peter Hook has responded to the recent news that New Order will reform for two benefit gigs without him.

Earlier this week New Order announced details of two benefit gigs, which are set to take place in Europe later this year.

The band will perform in Brussels on October 17 and Paris on October 18 in aid of their friend Michael Shamberg.

New Order's line-up will feature Stephen Morris and Bernard Sumner, but no Peter Hook, who left in 2007.

In a statement Peter Hook said: ''I first I heard about this on Monday and it has taken me completely by surprise! Everyone knows that NEW ORDER without PETER HOOK is like QUEEN without FREDDIE MERCURY, U2 without THE EDGE, SOOTY without SWEEP!''
 
''On a more serious note, I do not understand the decision THE OTHER THREE have taken. I wish they had approached me first. I do not agree with the methods they have used and feel it would have been courteous and professional to have spoken to me in advance of the announcements. It is very sad.''

The two gigs will mark New Order's first live shows since 2005. It is not clear whether there are any plans for New Order to perform in the UK.