February 20, 2008 12:55

New Order supergroup recruit vocalist New Order Tickets

Mani, Andy Rourke and Peter Hook's Freebass takes shape

Freebass, the group consisting of The Smiths’ Andy Rourke, New Order’s Peter Hook and The Stone Roses and Primal Scream bassist Mani, have revealed their new singer.

Gary Briggs, formerly of Cornish-by-Manchester band Haven, will join the trio, alongside a number of celebrity guests.

Speaking to BBC 6Music, Peter Hook said: “We have had trouble getting it together and I have had a lot of trouble finding a vocalist and we now have another one. This is about our 15th one.”

Ian Brown, Billy Corgan, Happy Mondays’ Rowetta, Tim Burgess and Liam Gallagher are also involved in the project, reportedly contributing guest vocals.

The group has been in development since 2004, a delay Hook puts down to commitments in the members’ other bands.

He said: “We started it funnily enough, Mani and I, as a reaction because our groups New Order and Primals had been stalled, and then miraculously our groups started up again so it went on the back burner for a long time.

“Rourkie plays guitar a lot, Mani and I balance each other out. He plays low and I play high. It actually works well.”

The Shockwaves NME Awards 2008 are coming soon – and it’s time to have your say. Vote now by heading to NME.COM/awardsvote and you could win VIP tickets to the ceremony, which takes place in London on February 28.