Owen Plays with Peter Hook and The Light

So I figured I should put all this down in one spot so we can remember it.

In late August of 2011, I noticed that Peter Hook was doing a North American tour playing Joy Division songs. The closest they were coming was The Metro in Chicago. Because Owen had been learning a bunch of JD songs on the bass, I had an idea that I might take part of his bass to the show and have Peter sign it. I sent a note about this to Peter through his web site.

Well, on September 2 Peter wrote back and said:

Bass players need encouragement at all times! So bring your son and his bass, but dont take it apart, you'll ruin it ha ha! To the soundcheck ? You won't get much attention but he could sit in and thence could go home? I know the owner Joe very well so doubt it will be a problem, when you get to the soundcheck ask for phil MURPHY remind me just before the gig please, regards hooky
Sent from my iPad

And an idea was born. After talking it over with Kathy to make sure it would be appropriate, I e-mailed the managers at The Metro to see if Owen could attend this 18+ show. After a week or so, the manager got back with me and cleared it.

I kept in touch with Peter via e-mail, and eventually got in touch with Phil Murphy, the tour manager, on the telephone. Owen and I were put on the backstage list and cleared to be there at the soundcheck. My pal Bill came along with us.

I picked Owen up after school (luckily he had a half day) and we got right on the road headed toward Chicago. Once in Chicago on the Dan Ryan the traffic was terrible, and we arrived at the venue at about 5:15. The soundcheck was just starting and Peter wasn't there yet. Everyone there was super nice to us as we listened to the band and the sound tech EQ the drums and get the mix right through the giant FOH speakers. The band started playing full songs, and then Peter arrived. He went up on stage and soundchecked his gear and mics, then played a bit. He noticed me and Owen and waved us up to the stage.

Owen walked up on stage during a song and stood there for a while with Peter, who was very nice to him. After a song was over, he motioned to his son Jack (the bass player in The Light) to unplug has bass and let Owen plug in. Peter plugged Owen's bass into the giant Ampeg SVT rig that was up on stage (there were two of them, one for Jack and one for Hooky). That rig was mic'd and a DI signal went to the FOH and monitors. Owen immediately started playing the bassline for "Shadowplay," and without missing a beat, the drummer started with the cymbal intro that goes with the bassline. Soon the entire band was playing and Peter looked like he was having a great time watching this little kid play his song. Peter sang the lyrics and the band did the entire song from start to finish.

Complete this later.

"So I think we should send this out to Owen, who I think is here tonight? Are you still here Owen? [waves at balcony] Because he is the future, after all. He did a great job with this next song. Better than me, really. Rather fucking embarrassing, actually."