Hooky's salute to legend Andy

PETER Hook led an emotional applause tribute at the Star and Garter to the pub's popular landlord Andy Martin, a fortnight since his untimely death.

- DIANNE BOURNE

Manchester music legend Hooky was performing a special Joy Division set at the historic pub in a fundraising gig.

Andy had been excitedly helping to organise the gig alongside Peter and the charity before falling ill last month. He died on March 29 after the sudden illness aged 52, leading to heartfelt tributes from across the Manchester music and hospitality industry.

Hook and his band The Light performed a unique Joy Division set at the gig on Friday night kicked off by playing the same setlist the band played at their very first Manchester gig as Joy Division at the Pips club in the city in 1978 and followed by their greatest hits.

But before the start of the music, Peter paused to ask fans to pay tribute to the Star and Garter's Andy who has been praised for his support of the grassroots music scene in Manchester over the past 20 years.

Peter said: "I was going to say let's hold a minute's silence, but he wasn't the kind of guy who liked silence.

"So, Andy," he said before leading a rousing round of applause and cheers from across the venue.

Peter also paid tribute at the gig to his bandmate Ian Curtis, who died on the eve of the band's first American tour in 1980, dedicating Love Will Tear Us Apart to the singer at the finale of the night.