Photo: WENN
Good news for fans of New Order - the band have signed to the acclaimed Mute record label, meaning that new material is on the way.
The post-punk turned dance-rock legends have not written or released anything since 2005's Waiting For The Sirens Call - largely due to the subsequent departure of bassist Peter Hook.
But now, it has been announced that the band have signed to Mute for their next album. Mute has been a home to the likes of Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds, Depeche Mode, Plastikman and Moby,Goldfrapp, Erasure, Plastikman, Liars, Can and Cabaret Voltaire through over the years.
"This is an exciting new chapter for both Mute and New Order and I feel privileged to be working with artists with such a long, creative and successful history," said Mute boss Danny Miller. "When the possibility of us working together first came up, I was invited to hear some of the new material and immediately had no doubts whatsoever that Mute would be the right home for New Order. We've already had a number of creative conversations, and I am looking towards an exciting future”.
The band added: "New Order are delighted to be signing to Mute. We couldn't imagine a better place to be than working with Daniel Miller and his team. Mute has a superb roster of artists and a history that complements our own. In many ways joining the label feels like we are coming home, returning to our independent roots."
New Order have been touring extensively in recent years, giving fans a taster for new material with new track 'Drop The Guitar', which you can check out below.
It remains to be seen what former bassist Peter Hook will make of the news. After leaving the band in 2007, Hooky went on to slam frontman Bernard Sumner in an interview with Gigwise for 'stealing the band' from him.
Hooky opened up about his decision to tour his back catalogue as albums in their entirety with new band, The Light - slamming Sumner for 'lazily' touring the same greatest hits.
"We did start in smaller venues you know, we didn't grow into big ones overnight," said Hooky. "It's a weird one, because the first gig we did with Joy Division, there was nobody there - just one guy sweeping the floor. Then when you look at doing something Glastonbury where it's 125,000 people, what you have to say to yourself is that as long as it's somewhere in the middle, it doesn't matter."
He continued: "I do think this is what spurred Bernard into getting New Order back - is that he toured with Bad Lieutenant and couldn't stand the shitholes. I will bet you a pound to a thousand that that's what it was. He must have been sat there, thinking 'I can't be doing with this - I'm stealing New Order off that bastard!'"
"It's really nice to be able to do what I'm doing without having to compromise with another musician. Now twatto has gone back to New Order and their greatest hits, so he must be having to compromise."
Below: Photos of New Order, Johnny Marr and more live at Jodrell Bank
