New Order Gets The Hook

New Order’s split looks to be turning ugly as bass player Peter Hook has threatened to take former fellow members Bernard Sumner and Stephen Morris to court if they try to carry on without him.

In May, Hook surprised the other two by telling Manchester’s Xfm Radio the act had split after 30 years together and that he would be working with Perry Farrell’s new band, Satellite Party.

Sumner, who plays guitar and keyboards, and percussionist Morris immediately released a statement saying the band hasn’t split and they would be carrying it on.

Now "Hooky," as he’s known in the band’s home city of Manchester, has posted a note on his MySpace profile saying, "This group [New Order] has split up! You are no more New Order than I am!

"You may have two thirds, but don’t assume you have the rights to do anything ‘New Order-ey’ because you don’t. I’ve still got a third! But I’m open to negotiation. See you in court!"

The band, once a flagship for Manchester’s Factory Records, began as Joy Division but re-formed as New Order following the 1980 suicide of singer Ian Curtis, just before the act’s first US. tour and the release of their now-famous "Love Will Tear Us Apart" single.

Some have claimed that, prior to Curtis’ death, all members agreed to not continue under the same name should any member leave.

The band has survived hiatus periods before. It did little between 1993 and 1998, and then re-grouped to make the 2001 Get Ready album.