I have had many, many memorable experiences during my many years as an indie music maniac. But none comes close to matching what occurred on this day in 2019.

The Setup- July 5, 2019

PETER HOOK & THE LIGHT played “JOY DIVISION ORCHESTRATED” with MANCHESTER CAMERATA at the world famous ROYAL ALBERT HALL in London 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 on July 5th of that year.

My son HAYDEN and I were guests of my friend PETER HOOK.

Backstage after the show Hooky asked me to introduce the band when they were to perform at St. Andrews Hall on Halloween!

I couldn’t believe it…

The Panic- October 1, 2019

Fast forward to October 1st when I email PETER as he requested. The band was going to be performing two NEW ORDER LPs “Technique” (1989) and “Republic” (1993).

In addition to the featured albums their modus is to also play an opening set of JOY DIVISION material and select NEW ORDER gems for the encore.

Hook told me they were thinking of playing the song “World In Motion” as part of the encore and asked me what I thought.

This song was recorded in 1990 as England’s theme song for The World Cup being played that year in Italy. Ironically, it was their only song to reach #1 in the charts.

[Ed. Note- The song was originally titled ‘E Is For England’ but was changed because of the overt reference to the drug ecstasy.]

I told him great, play it. He then asked me to sing the rap course that occurs in the middle of the song.

I thought he was joking.

He was not.

GULP…

The Preparation – 30 days

I started rehearsing like crazy, playing the song over and over whilst driving home from work and around town. While I probably knew the lyrics to all 200 +NEW ORDER songs, I must confess I had never paid specific attention to this singular rap chorus as it doesn’t repeat in the song.

It had been sung by former Liverpool footballer turned rapper John Barnes. The band played epoch defining dance music, but this was the only “rap” component in any of their songs.

Group member ZIO arranged for me to work with his rap performer pal FRAYDINN and his portable microphone to get ready. Thanks to you both.

The Execution- Oct. 31, 2019

I had zero nerves regarding the introduction. I composed same in my head and was ready to go- no notes needed. Public speaking has been a part of my life since high school (and perhaps earlier) so that had zero stress- just the pure thrill of being asked to do it!!

Singing a rap course on stage with my musical idol. That was a tornado of a stresser. I was so nervous I actually wrote key words in ink on my hands and had them written on a sheet in my back pocket.

The introduction went great.

A couple of blissful hours of my favourite music later, I had to go back for the song. I was both exhilarated and terrified.

And away we go and still reprise them to this day from memory

The words came to me in a breeze! I had literally burned them into my brain:

“You‘ve got to hold and give,

but do it at the right time,

you can be slow or fast but you must get to the line,

they’ll always hit you and hurt you, defend and attack,

There’s only one way to beat them – get round the back

Catch me if you can cuz I’m the Englishman and what your looking at is the master plan

We ain’t no hooligans

This ain’t a football song

Three Lions on our chest

I know we can’t go wrong!

The rest they say is history

The Proof

And, after my solo…

An incredible day in my life to say the least.

Post Gig Celebration-

Crazily, this is (SONG 666)! On Halloween no less…

You can’t make this up.

Any of it…

I hope you enjoyed.

Special Thanks to the amazing PETER HOOK and tour manager MURPH!

10/31/2019 to 10/31/2023