Peter Hook’s historic gig in honour of his former Joy Division band mate Ian Curtis is to be recorded.

The So This Is Permanence... show, at which Hook and his band The Light will play the complete works of Joy Division at disused Christ Church in Macclesfield on May 18, sold out in eight minutes.

The response encouraged Hook to invite in concert recording crew Live Here Now, who will now commit the show - expected to last over three hours - to a three CD package to raise more money for the Epilepsy Society and the conservation trust for the Grade II listed church.

The Light have previously worked with Live Here Now on the Hebden Bridge Tapes, which saw the band play six albums by Joy Division and New Order over three nights.

Peter Hook and The Light

Speaking exclusively to the Manchester Evening News, Peter Hook said: “As soon as we announced this thing (the concert), it was oversubscribed. Over 10,000 people applied for less than 500 tickets.

“Singing 46 songs is enough for me to worry about! It’s an incredible amount of work and the last thing I’m interested in is recording it or videoing it - but I’ve been very humbled and very pleased by the amount of people that want to celebrate it and hear it.

“For me, the celebration of Ian’s talent and impact on music - and on the world as a whole - is what was important. But now that reaches a lot of people.”

In their short time as a band, Joy Division released only two albums - 1979’s Unknown Pleasures and 1980 follow up Closer, put out after Ian’s death - and never played a live show in Macclesfield. Compilation albums Still and Substance, both released after the band had gone on to form New Order, made the Top 10.

Photographer Kevin Cummins - MIF
Kevin Cummins

So This Is Permanence... with begin at 4.30pm on the lawn outside Christ Church where Kevin Cummins - the band’s official photographer - will discuss his work with journalist and broadcaster John Robb (free entry).

Nearby art gallery Charles Roe House, on Chestergate, has also opened I Remember Nothing, a free exhibition of Joy Division photographs and art by Martin O’Neill, Joe Cheetham and Nick Oldham, open until June 28.

Peter Hook And The Light will perform Joy Division’s entire back catalogue again at Manchester Academy on October 30 as part of a national tour.

You can buy the album here