When Noel Gallagher said at Knebworth "This is History, right here right now, this is history", he was wrong. Because tonight the Manchester Apollo made history. New Order played their first ever show for 5 years, their first indoor show in the UK in 9 years, and their first show in Manchester for a decade. Despite the absence of new material, this was the best fucking gig I have ever seen - My brother spoke to somebody who had seen them 40 times, and he said it was the best gig they have ever played.

 

So what happened? Well, after a DJ set of late 70's electro such as Kraftwerks Spacelab and Giorgio Moroders Midnight Express, Rob Gretton walked on stage - or at least a fat Rob Gretton. "The band aren't quite ready yet - Hooky's on the khazi after having had a curry, Barneys taking his Prozac, and Steven the drummer and Gillian the pianist are busy working for UNICEF helping victims of land mines work keyboards. Tonight for the very last time.. please welcome... Joy Division!"

 

It all sounds too good to be true. The reception I saw for New Order was the best ever - rivalled only by Kraftwerk at Tribal gathering . "We're New order and we're going to rock the house", a blatantly joyous Barney announced. They opened with a note perfect, beautiful Regret. Next, Touched by the Hand Of God came swooping, revamped and speeded up to sound like the Arthur baker mix instead of the slowish original version from the Salvation album.

 

At this point Gillian - attired in a fetching leather jacket - strapped on a guitar, and Hooky, who seems somehow to have got fatter than ever, played with his bass rig graffitied with HELLO MUM. "This is called Isolation" and the roof came off the place. I could describe the songs and how they played them, or what they said and did, but nothing could really do justice to the fact that this was - is - the best gig I have ever seen.

 

The next few songs saw New Order play the most Joy Division songs ever, including many not played at all since 1980. Ceremony shimmered with power, Atmosphere gracefully knocked us all into submission, and Heart and Soul was just ... left us speechless. This was history being made.

 

Paradise - heavier and faster than ever - shined as the overlooked classic from Brotherhood. Confusion reigned, and Stephen spent most that song talking to his drum tech and joking... I don't actually know if he did anything in that song. And then, with then sleekest sound ever, Bizarre Love Triangle appeared, and for the first time ever, the band played live the full 7 minute 12" mix. Even Barney's eye closed, tongue poking out idiot dancing got an estatic cheer.

 

It was obvious the band had put a hell of a lot of work into tonight, each song sounds as if it has been taken apart and reassembled, revamped, reworked, redesigned. And next came the biggest example. True Faith came and the band played it better than ever, sneaking all the best bits from the 94 Perfecto mix into the track and making it sleek, graceful, and amazing. Temptation and Blue Monday followed ("This is Blue Monday or as the japanese would say bloo mundaise" - Barney), Hooky bashing his drum pad like a man possessed, and Barney and Hooky joking with each other before Barney strolled up all casual like to Gillian and chatted whilst playing her keyboards. As Blue Monday ground to a halt Barney announced "Thanks ... this is fucking great!". He was right.

 

For the encore, after an age, they returned, and played, for the first time in nine years, Run. It shimmered, it glittered. Whatever doubts anybody may have after the 1993 tour should be thrown away. They were back... and how. It was like they'd never been away. A band this good should last forever. Finally the band played Love Will Tear Us Apart. I can't describe it, but the place erupted. It was better than ever, before the lights dimmed and they played, slowly mournfully, the most amazing version of In a Lonely Place. "Ian Curtis Rest In Peace!" Barney shouted before walking off stage to his children and playing with their hair as he watched the rest of the band.

 

Hooky followed likewise, following a couple of minutes later, walking off stage still playing, before hugging his little boy and watching Stepehen and Gillian bring the best night Manchester has probably ever had to a close, in a crash of thunder and drums.

 

Set: Regret, Touched by the hand of god, Isolation, Ceremony, Atmosphere, Heart and soul, Paradise, Confusion, Bizarre love triangle, True faith-94, Temptation, Blue monday, Run, Love will tear us apart, In a lonely place.