Now this, THIS, is interesting...

Just imagine: the year is 1983, Blue Monday is storming the charts, and the band that recorded it are called ... the Radical Jesuits?

A forthcoming book of previously unpublished notes by the late Rob Gretton, former manager of Joy Division and New Order, reveals that New Order almost didn't become New Order. After the suicide of Ian Curtis, Joy Division compiled a list of potential new names. Alongside New Order, Gretton and the band considered monikers including Arab Legion, Voices Crying, Dharma Bums, the Radical Jesuits and Man Ray. They liked Man Ray so much they even highlighted it on the list.

The list of What Might Have Been appears as part of 1 Top Class Manager, to be released on October 7. The full-colour, 220-page paperback compiles diary entries, letters, to-do lists, posters and excerpts from 20 notebooks kept by Rob Gretton between 1978 and 1980.

Gretton died of a heart attack in 1999, but the collection was compiled by his widow Lesley Gilbert.

Speaking of Hooky

I don't want to fucking talk about it. Am in mourning. Bands that I love shouldn't be allowed to split until AFTER I've seen them in concert.

Shit.

New Order have split up, according to bassist Peter Hook.

As previously reported the band denied they were splitting earlier this year despite drummer Stephen Morris being quoted as saying: "We should stop for a while."

Digital

Yes, this is New Order playing "Digital," the Joy Division song they haven't done in years. Yes, that is my favorite actor, John "24 Hour Party People; Life On Mars" singing alongside Bernard. The person he portrayed in 'Party People.' And my first crush, Peter Hook. I need to lay down now.

New Order - Blue Monday

New Order- Temptation

Please let me introduce my dual childhood crushes, Bernard "Barney" Sumner- rocking the short-shorts, and Peter "Hooky" Hook- on whom I find the tank top/short ponytail combo irresistible. Only on Barney and Hooky, mind. Anyone else, yeeeech.

May I point out that I was 9 when this was recorded.

And yes, though I was style-challenged, I was a rock-snob before the age of ten.

My other favorites? Ms. Aretha Franklin and The Spinners.