Joy Division's sound has been criticized as "a vocalist who couldn't sing, a drummer who couldn't keep time, and a bass player who thought he was playing lead guitar." Hook's flambouyant style of bass playing continued with New Order. Hook also contributed backing vocals on numerous Joy Division songs and sang lead on one New Order song (Dreams Never End in 1981).
With New Order's ever increasing use of sequenced synthesized bass, especially throughout most of 1989's Technique album, Hook's bass playing became ever more melodic and rhythmic, almost to the point where it wasn't bass anymore.
Hook also recorded two albums each with the bands Revenge and Monaco (both as bassist and lead vocalist), the latter of which scored a club and alternative-radio hit What Do You Want From Me? in 1997.
Starting in the late 1980s, Hook also worked as a producer for bands such as Inspiral Carpets and The Stone Roses.