John from Texas wins Peter Hook Signature BB Bass Guitar
A big thank you to our friend and music legend, Peter Hook who has raised £4,000 for the Epilepsy Society by auctioning a Peter Hook Signature BB Bass Guitar.
The winning bidder at the online auction was lifelong fan John Walker from Dallas, Texas whose brother was diagnosed with epilepsy in his early ‘20s.
John said: “My oldest brother has fought epilepsy his entire life and I have watched that struggle. So whenever possible I do what I can to support him and the fight to find a cure. To watch him deal with that has always been hard. Any little way I can help find a solution to epilepsy is something I will always be part of.”
The limited-edition guitar donated by Yamaha Guitars was signed by Peter. John also received a complete set of Joy Division and New Order vinyl LPs, courtesy of Warner Music UK, signed by Hooky. The signed bass and the LPs were handed over to John Walker personally by Hooky during a concert at Austin in Texas.
Peter Hook – also known as Hooky – was a founding member of seventies band Joy Division. The band’s lead singer and lyricist, Ian Curtis had epilepsy and tragically died at the age of 23. Peter Hook has been a loyal supporter of the charity ever since.
Commenting on his support for the charity, the singer said: “Without Ian Curtis and his help in the group I would never have achieved half of what I have done. To lose him as we did to a terrible disease was heart-breaking and my hope and ambition is that nobody will suffer in the same way ever again.”
The £4,000 raised by John’s winning bid will help to support the charity’s dedicated epilepsy Helpline which provides emotional support and information to people affected by epilepsy.
Nicola Swanborough, Head of External Affairs at the Epilepsy Society said: “True friendship lasts a lifetime, but Hooky’s friendship with Ian Curtis, has lasted much longer. The money raised through the auction of this guitar will help to ensure that our Helpline is there for anyone to call in their darkest moment. Music can be healing in so many ways and this generous gift is truly one of them.”
Winning bidder, John explained more about why he bid in the auction: “I have been listening to Joy Division since I was a teenager. Given the charity and my connections with epilepsy, I thought it was a good thing to support and an opportunity I could not pass up. I am not a guitarist; I am just a fan. I pretty much spent my youth working in music stores and concerts and still attend as many shows as possible.”
For John it was almost surreal meeting Hooky at Austin for the signing and handing over of the guitar after winning the bid. John added: “You can never know what to say to someone whose music has had an impact on your life. After all music, especially when we are young, shapes so much of who we are and who we will be. Hooky and the other members of New Order and Joy Division gave me something that is irreplaceable and for that all I can say is thank you.”