By DONNA BALANCIA – Peter Hook has been given the green light in a British courtroom to move ahead with his lawsuit against former bandmates in New Order over royalties he says he’s owed. The suit is expected to go to trial.
Hook, who these days leads the band Peter Hook and the Light, is suing ex-bandmates Bernard Sumner, Gillian Gilbert and Stephen Morris, according to the BBC.
The Joy Division co-founder says when his ex-partners set up a company in 2011, they did not inform him of financial decisions and he says he’s lost about $3.5 million.
While Sumner and company say Hook’s plight has been overdramatized, Hook says he is only getting 1.25 percent of New Order’s income and feels he’s due 12.5 percent.
Hook co-wrote many of the bands famous tunes, which he still plays when performing as Peter Hook and the Light.
The High Court ruled today that Hook would be permitted to move ahead to a full trial.
Hook’s lawyer, Mark Wyeth, said: “It was as though George Harrison and Ringo Starr had got together at George’s house one Friday nignt and had acted together to divest Paul McCartney of his shareholding in the Beatles, and didn’t tell Yoko about it either.”
In a statement, Hook said he was “delighted with the decision” made on his application to High Court in London, adding both sides are spending a lot in legal fees.
New Order members say there was never any dispute about the back catalogue and that Hook is seeking money the band has been making without him. New Order’s new album, Music Complete is out now.