New Order reform for two benefit shows without Peter Hook

New Order have announced that they will play two benefit gigs in October, but that bass player Peter Hook will not be part of the line-up.

The Manchester band will play the Ancienne Belgique venue in Brussels on October 17 and the La Bataclan venue in Paris on October 18 to raise money for film-makerMichael Shamberg, who is struggling with a debilitating illness.

New Order will be joined at the gigs by keyboard player Gillian Gilbert, who hasn't performed with the band for over 10 years. Bass duties will be filled by Tom Chapman, who was part of frontman Bernard Sumner's recent project Bad Lieutenant.

The band said of the shows and their relationship with Shamberg:

Michael [Shamberg] has been with us from the very start, initially he was in charge of Factory New York, then became creative producer for all our early videos. He brought our attention to the early works of directors such as Kathryn Bigelow, Gina Birch, Robert Breer, Peter Care, Phillipe Decouffle, Jonathan Demme, Robert Frank, Paula Greiff, Robert Longo, Bailie Walsh & William Wegman. Michael is very ill and needs constant medical attention. We want to help him, and these shows will contribute financial support towards his ongoing care.

Though Peter Hook has yet to comment on the announcement, recent history suggests he is unlikely to be supportive to the group performing without him.

He said in 2007 when it was suggested that Sumner and drummer Stephen Morriswould continue playing under the name New Order:

You are no more New Order than I am! You may have two thirds, but don't assume you have the rights to do anything 'New Order-ey', because you don't.