Peter Hook aka“Hooky”, legendary bassist for two of the most influential bands of the past 3 decades, New Order and Joy Division, is back in the studio working on a new project - Freebass. Spearheaded by Hooky, alongside fellow Mancunian bassists, Andy Rourke (The Smiths) and Mani (Stone Roses / Primal Scream). The debut album is set for release in late 2008 / early 2009. Contributing vocalists include Billy Corgan, Pete Wylie, Rowetta, Howard Marks, Tim Burgess, Bobby Gillespie, and Ian Brown. Recent addition, Liam Gallagher, will also reportedly be stepping into the studio to contribute to the project.

In addition to Freebass, Hooky is keeping the legendary club he co-owned with late Tony Wilson (Factory Records), The Hacienda, alive and well. While the club closed its doors in 1997, the music continues on, from Manchester and out to the rest of the world, as The Hacienda Tour finds Hooky DJing alongside long time residents and esteemed regulars, Mike Pickering, Graeme Park, A Guy Called Gerald, Shaun Ryder (Happy Mondays), 808 State, Andrew Weatherall, Bobby Langley, and other special guests along the way. The Hacienda Tour will touch down for the first time in Miami at this year’s Winter Music Conference on Friday, March 28th.

Over the past five years, The Hacienda, and the Manchester music legacy have been portrayed in critically acclaimed British films. Michael Winterbottom’s, “24 Hour Party People”, and Anton Corjbin’s, “Control.” Hooky has recently penned his own memoirs on the exploits of The Hacienda, to be released this fall, 2008, titled, “How Not to Run a Club”. The book delves further into the trials, tribulations, and behind the scenes tales that took place between the years of 1982 to 1997.

Joy Division and New Order were responsible for generational classics, “Love Will Tear Us Apart”, “Blue Monday”, “Bizarre Love Triangle”, “Thieves Like Us”, “Crystal”, and “Regret”. Both bands musical influence inspired countless artists, the likes of The Killers, Hot Chip, The Enemy, Primal Scream, Moby, Pet Shop Boys, Sasha, and The Chemical Brothers, to name but a few. The musical impact of the The Hacienda is associated with the rise of acid house and rave culture, and it is considered by many, to be the birthplace of the 90s sound.

Presently committed to Freebass and carrying on the spirit of The Hacienda, throughout the success of his endeavors, Hooky remains as passionate, and down to earth, as when he first started his musical career. “I’m astounded by the fact that we’re still here, and still sane. It’s a very rich experience without a shadow of a doubt. I’ve just been in America DJing, and the guy who’s promoting over there is an old friend of mine from The Hacienda days. It was funny cos’ we were both sat there chatting about it all, all the people you’ve seen come and go, it’s been amazing.” – Peter Hook

Listen to The Hacienda / Factory Records - Radio One Essential Mix

Info on The Official Hacienda WMC Party March 28th - Miami

Hooky on Freebass . . .
“Freebass is like a cross between Northern Soul, New Order, Primal Scream, The Stone Roses and The Smiths, which is a perfect cocktail, it’s a bit like The Stranglers’ Jean Jacques’ solo LP, “The Euroman Cometh”.

“We didn’t know what was gonna happen when the three of us got together (Hooky, Mani and Rourkie) and I thought it was quite important cos the three of are very well known in our own right as bass players to do it properly. On about four of the tracks, there’s about nineteen ideas already, the three of us are playing bass on it, and lo and behold, those two mesh together perfectly as one monster bass line, playing around each other and of course, as I have the luxury of being more melodic and higher I always appear on top of those two, to take all the glory I suppose.”

Hooky on The Hacienda . . .
“Rob Gretton loved being ahead of the time at The Hacienda, along with Mike (Pickering) and everyone else so when acid house happened, I think that to the people that mattered in Manchester that cultural change had already happened. They were just waiting for the rest of the world to catch up. It was that coincidence of the Happy Mondays, New Order, Ibiza, Ecstasy and the music and it all came together. I don’t think it was down to one or the other. I think it was a very lucky combination of it all coming together, the convergence.”

Hooky on DJing, and The Hacienda Tour . . .
“Djing gave me a love of music again because I had a reason to go seek music out whereas I had gone off it., I like the challenge, the adventure, and also when you turn up at these places on your own it can be very exciting. You never know what’s gonna happen, I’m so grateful to the people who bring me over for letting me enjoy myself, they let me play my music and really enjoy it”

Hooky on the films . . .
“A funny thing about 24 Hour Party People, it caught only a little bit of it but not the whole thing, its fucking frightening, all the experience and how much you’ve actually been through.”

“Control is fantastic, I was really proud of Anton, he’s done an amazing job. It’s wonderful and so moving, it’ll definitely get you.”

Hooky on the continuing influence of Manchester Music . . .
“I don’t know why Manchester’s had such an influence. If you knew the answer to that, you’d be a very, very rich man. Manchester’s just very, very lucky. I just go round the world and I can laugh my bollocks off cos I can say I come from Manchester and people are like “fucking hell”. It’s a god given gift to come from Manchester, it’s ridiculous. Not only did they give us Joy Division, The Hacienda, New Order, and Acid House, but Manchester United, how lucky can you be in one lifetime”?