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Close to two decades on from his exit from New Order, bassist Peter Hook hasn’t wavered in his animosity toward his former bandmates, labeling the group a “bad cover version” of themselves.
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Hook was one of the founding members of New Order, who formed in 1980 following the death of Joy Division’s Ian Curtis. Hook, along with Joy Division bandmates Bernard Sumner and Stephen Morris, completed their initial lineup with the addition of keyboardist Gillian Gilbert. New Order would go on to receive widespread acclaim in the ensuing decades, with their biggest success in the U.S. arriving by way of 1993’s Republic, which hit No. 11 on the Billboard 200.
In 2007, New Order would split, though Hook would not return for their 2011 reformation, instead choosing to continue with his new band Peter Hook & The Light. A long-running legal battle related to the reunion would eventually be settled in 2017.
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However, in a new interview with British publication The i Paper, Hook says he retains a sense of animosity towards his former band, noting he hasn’t spoken to vocalist and guitarist Sumner in 17 years. “As most reconciliations do, once you get over the euphoric honeymoon, you soon realise why you couldn’t f–king stick them – and they, you,” he explains. “I’m not saying I’m Mr. Perfect.”
“I don’t think they’re New Order. They don’t sound like anything like them,” he continued. “I’ve watched them play songs [online] recently, and they’ve dropped the basslines and play it like some weird, bad cover version of a New Order track. So the animosity is obviously still there now.”
Hook also claimed that his thoughts are shared by audience members of contemporary New Order shows, with fans reportedly contacting him to complain about current gigs. “They’re like, ‘You can’t hear the bass!’” he noted. “Obviously, there is a certain smugness one could adopt. But I’m, obviously, way above all that.”
Hook’s comments come as he launches a series of shows with The Light in which they perform New Order’s 2001 album Get Ready in full alongside a selection of hits from both Joy Division and New Order. Launched in the U.K. this week, Hook will bring his tour to North America in May.
As it draws closer to the tenth anniversary of Faith No More’s most recent shows with vocalist Mike Patton, drummer Mike Bordin has claimed the singer is “unwilling” to perform with the band again.
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While Faith No More last performed two dates in 2016 with Chuck Mosley, Patton hasn’t fronted the group since the conclusion of their Sol Invictus Tour the year prior. However, while a global live return was slated to take place in 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic forced the band to cancel these dates.
The band were again scheduled to take to the stage in 2021, though Patton’s mental health issues (which he later explained was a diagnosis of agoraphobia) necessitated their cancellation also.
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In a new interview with the Let There Be Talk podcast, Bordin has expanded on the situation, discussing how their 2021 shows saw six months of instrumental rehearsing before Patton was set to join the band ahead of their live return.
“It came to pass that when the gear was in the truck, when it was rolling to Chicago, 36 hours before we were supposed to be on stage, and our guy [Patton] doesn’t show for the rehearsal, the one rehearsal that we’re gonna do,” Bordin recalled. “And we go to go see him and see what’s going on. ‘What the hell’s going on here? Our gear’s rolling already to the gig.’ And it was very clear that he was unable at that point to physically do it.
“We made the decision that, ‘Look, we’ve gotta support our guy,’” he adds. “It’s gonna be a s–t storm canceling f–king 75 shows, but none of us wants to be the guy that breaks his back and forces him to do something that he’s not in the position to be able to do. It wasn’t even an argument. The only argument was, ‘How the f–k did we logistically do this? Because we have to.’ I mean, we did support him in our way, and whether that’s perceived or not is beyond — I can’t control it.”
Since the cancellation of the dates, little positive information about a live return for Faith No More has been revealed. While Patton has been performing with Mr. Bungle regularly since their large-scale return to the live stage in 2022, Faith No More’s Roddy Bottum describing the band’s current status as being on a “semi permanent hiatus” in October 2024.
“So it’s my take, my position, my statement on it is that he’s gone from being unable to do the shows to clearly being unwilling to do shows with us,” Bordin continued. “And that’s heavy. That’s a big difference. That’s a big difference. And we haven’t really had much dialogue on it. … It doesn’t feel great to me. It honestly kind of hurts my feelings a little bit, but that’s personal. That’s a private thing. It’s business.
“We were never gonna force somebody to do something that they weren’t able to do,” he adds. “And now, as I say, it looks like it’s more really about being willing to do it.”
Dominic “Mick” Mazzone OAM, a revered Australian music industry veteran, has passed away, his family has confirmed.
“The family of Mick Mazzone would like to announce the sudden and sad passing of our beloved dad, brother and uncle,” a statement issued on the afternoon of Thursday, April 17 read. “A stalwart of his family, he was surrounded by his loved ones in his last days.
“He will be remembered by many in the Australian music industry, which he worked in and loved for over four decades and deeply missed by his countless friends,” it continued. “We appreciate all the love and support shown to us. His legacy will live on.”
Mazzone grew up in Torrensville, a suburb of the South Australian capital of Adelaide, where he learnt to play the guitar as a young teenager. Performing in a number of local bands, he relocated to Sydney to embark on a career in the music business. Initially working with the Brenton Roberts Band (who were under the managerial guidance of veteran promoter Michael Chugg), Mazzone soon became regarded as an “industry all-rounder” for his versatility in the fields of sound engineering, production, and tour management.
Mighty Management was established by Mazzone where he oversaw names such as Cold Chisel guitarist Ian Moss and Sydney rockers The Radiators. Mazzone also extended his focus into the world of labels, with M Records featuring The Radiators alongside hard rock outfit De Mont, who were also part of the Mighty roster.
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Working on tours for the likes of Madonna, Billy Joel, Bon Jovi, and R.E.M during their time in Australia, Mazzone later served as founding member of the Music Managers Forum, and would become a founder and trustee of the industry charity the Golden Stave Foundation. In 2018, Mazzone received a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in recognition of his contributions to the industry and his charitable endeavors.
In February 2024, Mazzone adopted the role of manager for ARIA Hall of Famers the Hoodoo Gurus, who topped the Alternative Airplay chart in 1989 with “Come Anytime,” and hit No. 3 in 1991 with “Miss Freelove ’69.” Mazzone’s promotion to the top job came after longtime manager Michael McMartin stepped down from the role, ultimately passing the following month.
In the wake of his passing, the Hoodoo Gurus shared a statement remembering Mazzone, noting they were “utterly devastated at the sudden loss of our dear friend.”
“It is impossible to convey the shock and grief we are feeling right now,” they wrote. “We have already shed many tears, and there will be many more to come, but our loss is nothing compared to the one that has been dealt to Mick’s close family and friends and, in particular, to his beloved kids, Frank, Antonia and Alex. Our hearts go out to them at this dreadful time.”
The Radiators also offered their condolences to Mazzone and his family, naming him one of their “great friends” and noting his “fantastic ear” and sharp managerial mindset.
“Mick holds a special place in our hearts, and we will forever be grateful for his time spent guiding and mentoring the Rads when we were at a low point in our career,” the band wrote. “His management helped lift us up, and without his strong, sure and steady hand, we as a band may not have been able to navigate the ‘90s.
“He will be sadly missed by so many people in the industry,” they concluded. “He was an incredible human. A quiet genius. Gone way way too soon. The world is a poorer place today, for the loss of one Mick Mazzone.”
For the past 25 years, Mazzone also served as the Technical Director and Production Manager for the annual APRA, Art and Screen Music Awards, held by copyright management organizations APRA AMCOS (Australasian Performing Right Association and Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society).
“Mick’s warmth and sense of humour were legendary among those who had the pleasure of knowing him, like we did,” said APRA Chair Jenny Morris in a statement. “His genuine kindness made everyone feel welcome and valued, creating lasting memories for all who crossed his path. His contributions to the music industry and community will be deeply missed.”
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Shein and Temu shoppers in the US, we have some bad news for you: yesterday’s price will not be today’s price beginning next week when the two Chinese-based companies raise their prices.
Spotted on The Verge, the two “ultra-cheap” retailers sent a letter to customers warning them of price adjustments due to Donald Trump’s abuse of tariffs.
Orange Mussolini has been on a roll when it comes to making our lives miserable, wrecking the global economy, while sending the US stock market into a free fall when he walked out into the White House rose garden and announced a bunch of “reciprocal” tariffs on what he called “liberation day.”
While he has since paused most of the tariffs, he raised tariffs on goods imported from China to 145 percent, with his brain-dead administration claiming that tariffs on other imports, such as electric vehicles, could hit 245 percent when added to existing tariffs.
To make matters worse for both companies, the US announced it would be eliminating the de minimis exception, which allowed goods valued under $800 to avoid tariffs. As you would expect, Shein and Temu both benefited from the exception for years.
After May 2, you can expect prices to increase on the affordable toys, clothing, and home goods that companies sell.
“Until April 25, prices will stay the same, so you can shop now at today’s rates,” Shein and Temu said to shoppers on their websites. “We’re doing everything we can to keep prices low and minimize the impact on you.”
Bruh, Donald Trump can kick rocks.
Katy Perry went to space with Lauren Sanchez, Gayle King and others on a Blue Origin spacecraft. The public and celebrities alike shared their opinions about the women being sent to space. Keep watching to find out what some Billboard staffers had to say about the trip.
What do you think of Katy Perry going to space? Let us know in the comments.
Stefanie Tanaka:
If anyone out there has $150,000, then you can go to space too.
Tetris Kelly:
All right, so Billboard squad, five ladies went to space, but everybody seems to just be mad at Katy Perry. Are we mad? What’s going on?
Jerah Milligan:
I don’t care.
Stefanie Tanaka:
I can understand why people are mad. I don’t know if I feel that strongly about it.
Tetris Kelly:
Why? What are people upset about?
Stefanie Tanaka:
I mean, a lot of people, you know, times are tough right now. It doesn’t really like look super inspiring to see, like, super rich people just going into space.
Ciara Zimring:
It’s not giving what they think it’s giving. They think it’s giving inspiring, sending a bunch of women to space, but it’s giving more sending a bunch of rich people in space, as opposed to actual female astronauts that should be sent up.
Stefanie Tanaka:
Yeah, yeah.
Ciara Zimring:
That would give more.
Stefanie Tanaka:
It’s like, it’s cool for, like, the aesthetics of it, like to see a group of women, women of color, going into space. Like, it looks good as a photo-
Jerah Milligan:
As a photo.
Stefanie Tanaka:
But it’s like, this was all funded by Jeff Bezos. They wouldn’t be going up there without him. If this is Elon Musk, people would be reacting the same way. All these billionaires are obsessed with going to space because they’re gonna leave this planet completely f—ed
Tetris Kelly:
Stefanie’s mad.
Stefanie Tanaka:
They’re going to go up there the minute this planet goes to hell because of climate change.
Tetris Kelly:
I mean, and I think the funny part to me is that you have, like, this inspirational moment, but then I feel like the whole time I watched Gayle be a part of this, she was looking scared. She didn’t even want to go. And she’s like, why am I here? How did I get on this spacecraft?
Keep watching for more!
Akon is the latest hip-hop artist to venture into the world of country. TMZ caught up with Akon as he was signing autographs in New York City and asked his thoughts about artists like Snoop and BigXthaPlug collaborating with country artists. That’s when he revealed that he’s been working on remixing songs from his catalog […]
American Idol contestant Doug Kiker died of an accidental overdose, the Denver Medical Examiner confimed Thursday (April 17). The official cause of death was the combined toxic effects of fentanyl, methadone and amphetamines, along with recent cocaine use, People reports. (TMZ broke the news.) Kiker died last month at age 32. The singer’s sister, Angela […]
Spike Lee gave fans some new details about his upcoming movie Highest 2 Lowest starring Denzel Washington and A$AP Rocky. During a recent conversation on Carmelo Anthony’s podcast 7PM in Brooklyn, Lee praised the Harlem rapper’s acting skills and said he’ll be playing Denzel’s son in his “reinterpretation” of Japanese director Akira Kurosawa’s 1963 classic […]
Ed Sheeran immersed himself in Persian culture for his “Azizam” single, and there’s no better way to visually represent that culture than a Persian wedding, which takes center stage as the theme of the track’s just-released video.
In the video released Thursday (April 17) and directed by Saman Kesh, Sheeran is seen frustrated while going through writer’s block with his producer, Ilya Salmanzadeh, in the studio.
The Grammy-winning singer/songwriter is thrust into the chaos of preparing for a Persian wedding. Sheeran gets a loaded crash coarse on all things related to the extravagant ceremony as he samples different cuisine, fashion, dancing and more to get him ready for the day.
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“When we had all finished ‘Azizam’ in the studio, I asked @ilya_music what we should do for a music video, and he said ‘you gotta do it as a Persian wedding, thats the best way to showcase all of the culture in a video,’” Sheeran wrote to IG. “I contacted @saman_kesh, who I have worked with before, who is also Persian, and asked him to basically make a video which is me going on a crash course Persian wedding. He wanted to make it like other non Persians would experience a wedding for the first time, and how full on, but fun it is.”
He continued: “I found it was so similar in ways to the Irish weddings I grew up going to, but obviously so different in other ways. Much like the rhythms and instrumentation of the song, I find our two cultures have so much intertwined similarities. But underneath it all is love and pride. I loved the day shooting, I learnt so many new things, got to experience all of it with my dad, and work with amazing people.”
The celebratory clip comes to a close with Sheeran returning from the wedding feeling inspired and ready to make another hit song, which the pop star has done plenty of in the past.
“Azizam,” which translates to “my dear” or “my beloved” from Arabic to English, is set to appear on Sheeran’s upcoming Play album. “Azizam” serves as Sheeran’s first single of 2025 jetsetting into the LP.
Like his mathematical symbol album series, Play will follow a similar pattern, including other albums coming down the pipeline like Fast-Forward, Rewind and Stop.
Sheeran stopped by The Tonight Show last month, where he premiered an unreleased single titled “Old Phone,” while “Azizam” was released earlier in April to officially kick off his new era.
Look for Play to arrive later this year and watch the “Azizam” video below.
Little Big Town is set to perform at The Women’s Cancer Research Fund’s “An Unforgettable Evening” gala, taking place Monday, April 28, at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California. Comedian, actor and writer Whitney Cummings will host the event. Actress and activist Olivia Munn will receive the Courage Award. Little Big Town, consisting […]