New Order dedicate Bestival show to Ian Curtis

Manchester group play four Joy Division songs during headline gig

New Order played a hit-heavy set at Bestival in the Isle of Wight last night (September 8) drawing from a vast back catalogue, including four Joy Division songs.

The band started with instrumental ‘Elegia’ before breaking into ‘Crystal’ – with a specially made video featuring a young band, not unlike the original. Each song had a video as backdrop, with ‘True Faith’ featuring the iconic and award-winning promo for the track, which famously featured sign language.

After New Order’s first Joy Division offering ‘Ceremony’, the singer said “muchas grasias” to the crowd, before joking “that’s ‘thank you’ in Italian”. He also later noted that Gillian Gilbert, in a glittery dress, looked like Lady Gaga.

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Sumner complained of a cough throughout, lamenting: “I need to stop smoking those cigarettes. I’ve got my first smoker’s cough. Or it might be one of those burger vans. I sound like Morrissey up here.”

Unsurprisingly the biggest cheers of the night were reserved for the opening beats of ‘Blue Monday’ as well as their rousing encore version of the Joy Division classic ‘Love Will Tear Us Apart’.

Bernard dedicated the song to “Ian [Curtis] and all festivals everywhere”. ‘Forever Joy Division’ then appeared in massive letters across the backdrop giving way to a picture of Ian Curtis. Sumner finished by saying Bestival “is the best festival”, before adding: “I hope you enjoyed it as much as we did!”

Kirsty Harsley, 28, of Southampton, said: “I’ve been a fan of New Order for so long but I’ve never managed to see them until now. They lived up to it. I was worried they wouldn’t fulfill my expectations but they exceeded them. Brilliant.”

Urfan Ahmed from Bristol, 23, added: “I really enjoyed them. They’re one of my favourite bands so I guess I’m biased. I was worried how they might be without Peter Hook but once they get going you forget all about that. The guy had his parts down perfectly.”

Delphine Aucouturier from Lyon in France, 24, was less enthused: “They were okay. I got a bit bored. I love loads of Manchester bands including Joy Division but I’m just not that crazy about New Order. Two Door Cinema Club on before were much more exciting.”

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New Order played:

‘Elegia
‘Crystal’
‘Regret’
‘Ceremony’
‘The Age of Consent’
‘Isolation’
‘Krafty’
‘Here to Stay’
‘Bizarre Love Triangle’
‘586’
‘The Perfect Kiss’
‘True Faith’
‘Blue Monday’
‘Temptation’
‘Transmission’
‘Love Will Tear Us Apart’

Two Door Cinema Club played an energetic set before New Order, drawing mostly from singalong favourites from ‘Tourist History’, peppering their set with songs from new album ‘Beacon’.

“Good evening Bestival, how are you?” shouted singer Alex Trimble, before adding to a crowd dressed mostly in wildlife fancy dress, “You’re looking wonderful, you’re looking absolutely marvellous!”

During ‘Do You Want It All’, Trimble began on piano before getting up to play guitar. The crowd burst into spontaneous applause, as they clapped along with the instrumental section of the song.

Elsewhere, there was disappointment as Azealia Banks cancelled late on Friday night. She was replaced by The Other Tribe, who performed a set dressed as zombies and savages. King Krule also cancelled though Jessie Ware – who was moved up the bill thanks to Banks’ no show – mesmerized the Big Top.

Bestival continues today (September 9) with performances from Sigur Ros, Bat For Lashes, Chas & Dave, Orbital, Friendly Fire, Spiritualized and Totallly Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs. Stevie Wonder will close the festival in Isle Of Wight with a headline show on the Main Stage.

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