Peter Hook Is Suing Former Bandmates In New Order

Peter Hook is currently suing his former band members over their choice in a new distrution of the band’s royalties.

Former members of the band New Order have just entered into legal dispute with each other over royalties. More specifically, Peter Hook, the band’s bass player and current member of Peter Hook and the Light, is suing his former bandmates Bernard Sumner, Stephen Morris and Gillian Gilbert, according to Pitchfork. Back in 2011, the before mentioned trio of band members set up a new company to take care of the New Order’s finances and Hook claims that he wasn’t included in the company. He claims that he has lost out on more than 2.3 million pounds, which is about 3.5 million in American dollars.

Hooks has lawyered up with Mark Wyeth QC and he is building their case based on the idea that the band member’s move was “clandestine, premeditated and deliberate,” according to Pitchfork, who received their information from BBC. Wyeth actually told the court, “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.”

The other band members have chosen David Casement QC to represent them who has said that Hook’s claims were “completely misconceived” and has actually gone on record as saying that his motive is to “obstruct” the trio’s success or an attempt to “rejoin the band,” as reported by Pitchfork through BBC.

The band has allotted Hook a 1.25% stake in the New Order’s income and feels that is the fair share that he should receive. However, Hook feels his stake should be more around the 12.5% range.

The High Court Judge has chosen to strike down the idea that Hook has an ulterior motive to obstruct or join the band and has given him the clearance to proceed with a full trial on his case.

In a statement exclusive to Rolling Stone, Hook said, “I’m naturally delighted with the decision made on my application to the High Court in London last week. It found in my favor and justifies the stance I have taken. The Judge made a number of important points when giving his judgment and rejected a lot of the Defendants’ submissions. Both sides’ costs in this case are very substantial. I was obviously pleased that the Judge ordered the Defendants to pay mine. I’m very happy with the outcome and it bodes well for the future. I am grateful to my legal team for the hard work which went into achieving this judgment.”