Peter Hook: “Every AI song that has ever been written is shit”

Peter Hook has taken aim at songs written with the help of AI, saying that each one created has always been “shit”.

The former New Order and Joy Division bassist weighed in on the ongoing debate around the use of artificial intelligence to help create music during an appearance on the XS Noize podcast, stating that he is firmly against using the technology to create art.

When posed the question, Hook went on to compare the output to that of the music from icons like David Bowie, and imply it is insulting to those who honed in on their craft for years.

“When you look at someone as good as David Bowie at writing songs and marvel. ‘Drive-in Saturday’, ‘The Prettiest Star’. The guy was a genius,” he explained. “Songwriting is an art you cannot teach. AI is proof… Every AI song that has ever been written is shit.

“They’re crap because there’s something intangible that human beings have that a song captures.”

The 68-year-old – who now acts as frontman for his band Peter Hook And The Light – is one of the countless artists who have used their platform to speak out against the rise of AI in songwriting in recent years, including Brian May, Ed Sheeran and John Lydon.

One of the most prolific instances of an artist speaking out, however, came from Bad Seeds frontman Nick Cave, who described the concept as “a grotesque mockery of what it is to be human”. He later added that he wanted AI platforms like ChatGPT to “fuck off and leave songwriting alone”.

Similarly, Guns N’ Roses members Slash and Duff McKagan also weighed in on the debate, with the former saying that the use of the technology “does not really thrill me” and the latter telling NME last year that he had no plans to let AI “affect my creativity”.

Former Oasis members also spoke out after a UK band used AI to imagine what the Britpop icons might sound like if they were to reform and release a new album.

At the time, Liam hailed what he’d heard of the album, writing: “It’s better than all the other snizzle out there,” while Noel Gallagher told NME during an interview: “These fucking idiots have clearly got too much time on their hands and too much money that they can afford the technology to fucking piss around doing that for a laugh.”

While artists such as Grimes have embraced the idea of AI being used to help aid songwriting, countless names have taken the alternate stance. For instance, over 200 artists including Billie Eilish, Robert Smith, Stevie Wonder and Nicki Minaj previously signed an open letter put together by the Artists Rights Alliance, warning against the “predatory” use of AI in music.

Similarly, MPs suggested earlier this year that musicians and celebrities should be protected against AI deepfakes by law, and Sony Music, UMG and Warner Records all sued two AI brands for copyright violations. News of the latter also came shortly after Sony Music slammed Google, Microsoft, OpenAI and other tech firms over claims of unauthorised AI songs.

It has sparked backlash from the film industry too, as actors have been increasingly involved – whether willingly or unwillingly – with AI in recent times.

For example, Scarlett Johansson opened up about her disagreement with artificial intelligence company OpenAI after they allegedly used a voice similar to hers for a new ChatGPT system.

As for Peter Hook, Peter Hook & The Light have are set to continue their huge 2024 world tour later this month, which will see the band play the ‘Substance’ albums from Joy Division and New Order in full.

From August 31, the North American run starts at History in Toronto, Canada. Stops throughout September include Boston, Chicago, San Diego, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle and more.

They’ll conclude with one final stretch across the UK and Ireland that starts in York’s Barbican Hall on October 10, followed by cities including Glasgow, Nottingham, Oxford, Birmingham, Belfast, Dublin and more. Visit here for remaining tickets.