Bernard Sumner, Stephen Morris, and Gillian Gilbert of New Order spoke today (March 15) at this year’s SXSW and discussed becoming musicians, the evolution of their sound and growing up in Manchester.The trio were keynote speakers at the annual tech and marketing festival, in conversation with Will Hodgkinson, rock and pop critic of The Times.

Andy Burnham, Mayor of Manchester, introduced the keynote, calling New Order “the ultimate Manchester band” before adding that it was “a big statement”.The band kicked off their chat by discussing how they weren’t necessarily “anti-musicians” but they were “anti-success”, with Sumner pointing to growing up working class before “punk came along” giving him the chance to express himself, without being a virtuoso. “I didn’t want to be famous, I didn’t care about that at all.

But the big thing was, to travel around the world having fun after being suppressed and told ‘you’re no good’. Getting public recognition and being told you [actually] are good, those were the reasons.”Morris also described his trajectory to becoming a musician, joking that he couldn’t play an instrument but that “there was a rumour in rock and roll that the worst guitarist becomes the drummer.”Also they chat about @thekillers lifting their name from the bands video for ‘Crystal’ and meeting Brandon Flowers at the NME awards pic.twitter.com/apQH4DwgpJ— NME (@NME) March 15, 2023They also talked about the tragedy of Ian Curtis’ death, with Gilbert noting that some fans were disappointed that they brought a “girl” on to replace him, while also recounting the excitement of touring during those days. “We were all depressed, taking solace in drugs,” Sumner added, noting that they started to dive into new technology. “I.

New Order talk their current tour during SXSW keynote: “It’s like having a party and the drug is music”

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