Watch New Order play ‘State Of The Nation’ for first time since 1987

New Order performed their classic single ‘State Of The Nation’ live for the first time since 1987 at a show in Japan last night (February 25). See the footage and setlist below.

• READ MORE: “It felt like we were changing the world”: inside New Order’s seminal ‘Power, Corruption & Lies’

The Manchester band played an 18-track gig at the Zepp Namba venue in Osaka yesterday, ahead of a date at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo tomorrow (February 27).

Midway through the main set, Bernard Sumner and co. dusted off ‘State Of The Nation’. The song originally appeared as a bonus track on the CD version of the group’s fourth studio album, ‘Brotherhood’ (1986).

It was also released as a single, reaching Number 30 in UK and Number One on the UK indie chart.

Sharing a series of official photographs from yesterday’s concert, New Order reflected on “an unforgettable night in Osaka”. You can see the post below, and watch the band perform ‘State Of The Nation’ for the first time in almost 40 years.

New Order

まさかのKrafty日本語バージョンやってくれた😭 pic.twitter.com/T7ZWpmOSmB

— CHAI (@Fx50R8) February 25, 2025

excellent show!#new_order#krafty#JapaneseVersion pic.twitter.com/7dXcACGMAf

— Knits71 (@soupginger) February 25, 2025

The Osaka show also saw New Order play the Japanese version of their 2005 single ‘Krafty’ for the first time since 2012, according to Setlist.FM (watch above). Additionally, the set contained numerous hits from the group’s back catalogue as well as various Joy Division tracks.

New Order’s Osaka setlist was:

‘Transmission’ (Joy Division cover)
‘Crystal’
‘Ceremony’
‘Age Of Consent’
‘Isolation’ (Joy Division cover)
‘Krafty’ (Japanese version, first time since 2012)
‘Your Silent Face’
‘State Of The Nation’ (first time since 1987)
‘Be A Rebel’
‘Sub-Culture’
‘Bizarre Love Triangle’
‘Vanishing Point’
‘Plastic’
‘True Faith’
‘Blue Monday’
‘Temptation’

Encore:
‘Atmosphere’ (Joy Division cover)
‘Love Will Tear Us Apart’ (Joy Division cover)

Last November, New Order dropped a ‘definitive’ box set reissue of ‘Brotherhood’ featuring a digitally remastered version of ‘State Of The Nation’, as well as the ‘Japan Demo’ of the song.

Around that same time, the band addressed rumours that they were on the cusp of sharing a new album and announcing details of a 2025 world tour.

“We always want to keep our fans informed of the latest news about New Order, and we always share official news across our social media channels and our website, first,” the post began. “We are aware of news that claims the band will be releasing a new studio album and will be embarking on a world tour, news that is incorrect.”

Their 10th and latest full-length effort, ‘Music Complete’, arrived in 2015. New Order then returned in 2020 with their first material in five years: a standalone single called ‘Be A Rebel’.

When asked by NME in 2023 if any more music was coming, Sumner teased: “I tend to like working in the winter these days, to be honest. Because it’s fucking horrible.” However, the frontman remained tight-lipped when it came to any specifics.

Following this week’s Japan dates, New Order will head to Australia for shows in Perth, Melbourne, Brisbane and Sydney. They’ll also headline Kilby Block Party 2025 and Cruel World Festival in the US.

In other news, it was announced earlier this month that New Order had been nominated for the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame 2025. The appear on the longlist alongside the likes of Oasis, The White Stripes, Billy Idol and Mariah Carey.

You can view the original article HERE.