New Order’s 5 Biggest Hits in Australia

Next year will see the return of New Order to Australia for their first local tour since 2020. 

The British band will perform at RAC Arena in Perth on March 5th, Sidney Myer Music Bowl in Melbourne on March 8th, Riverstage in Brisbane on March 11th, and two shows at the Sydney Opera House Forecourt on March 14th and 15th.

The general sale began yesterday (October 31st), and tickets are likely to sell out fast, because bands don’t come much more legendary than New Order. 

Emerging out of the equally brilliant Joy Division, New Order quickly became one of the most influential bands of their era, with songs like “Blue Monday” becoming timeless classics. 

Their upcoming Australian trip is no legacy tour either. New Order continue to attract fans of all ages and generations to their shows, including during their recent headline slot at Spain’s Primavera Sound Festival. 

As for Australia, the band can’t wait to get back here. “It’s an honour to be coming back to perform in one of our favourite places. We sadly had to cancel a Melbourne show in March 2020, as a consequence of COVID and are so happy we can come back to play again,” they said when the tour was announced.

“We’ve always loved playing in Australia and are excited to be returning for a run of very special shows in 2025. Good things come to those who wait!”

New Orders 2020 tour might have fallen into trouble, but the band have been performing here for decades, stretching back to their first tour here in 1982. 

Ahead of their next visit, Rolling Stone AU/NZ decided to look back at New Order’s five biggest hits in Australia (as per their Australian chart performance), which you can check out below. 

“Touched by the Hand of God” – #15 (1987)

Originally recorded for a film soundtrack, New Order’s 15th single landed at, fittingly, No. 15 in Australia. The accompanying music video is now notable for being directed by Kathryn Bigelow, who went on to direct films like The Hurt Locker and Zero Dark Thirty. A dub remix also accompanied the single, the groovy “Touched by the Hand of Dub”. 

“Blue Monday” – #13 (1983)

For most people, this is the New Order song. This is their entry into the band’s extensive back catalogue, and what a stunning entry song it is. Now recognised as a seminal song in several genres, including synth-pop, “Blue Monday” was beloved by critics and fans alike, spending an astounding 186 weeks on the UK Independent Singles Chart.

Three years ago, Rolling Stone updated its list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time, and “Blue Monday” obviously made the cut. The song reached No. 235 on the 2021 list, but it really could have been much higher. From those first pounding notes, you’ll be hooked on “Blue Monday”, even if it’s your 100th time listening to the song. 

“True Faith” – #8 (1987)

“True Faith” might not have appeared on any original New Order album, but its quality meant it had to be included on several of the band’s “best of” compilations, including Substance 1987. Watch below as New Order play the song for the very first time at Glastonbury 1987. 

“Bizarre Love Triangle” – #5 (1986)

Another synth-pop masterpiece from the band. The critical acclaim for “Bizarre Love Triangle” almost rivals that of “Blue Monday”, and for very good reason. When Rolling Stone released its list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time list in 2004, “Bizarre Love Triangle” made it past the halfway mark to No. 204. Pitchfork, NME, Stereogum, and more major publications have also recognised its brilliance over the years since its release. 

“Blue Monday 1988” – #4 (1988)

“Blue Monday” was always going to make this list, but we bet you didn’t expect to see it appear twice. Not content with releasing their greatest song once, New Order re-released “Blue Monday” in 1988, and it outperformed the original in Australia. Another re-release would follow in 1995, because you can never re-share a song as brilliant as “Blue Monday” enough. The 1988 remix by Quincy Jones was a success outside of Australia too, reaching No. 3 in Britain and topping the dance chart in the US. 

New Order 2025 Australian Tour 

Presented by TEG Live and Double J

Tickets on sale now via teglive.com.au