Peter Hook has joked about rejoining New Order because the band are now so "happy".
The bassist, who recently hit out at his former bandmates for starting a Joy Division Twitter account without telling him, spoke to Richard Smirke at Billboard before writing his own review of Bernard Sumner's memoir Chapter and Verse.
Hook acknowledged that he was the first of the band to start "the whole bloody book thing" and admitted to enjoying the earlier parts of the book, but took issue with the accuracy of the latter period covered.
"It is a shame, not just for us and the fans, but maybe also for the book stores who won't know whether to file this novel under fantasy or tragedy," Hook quipped.
He added of his and Sumner's sparring: "We banged heads all the time and always have done ever since we started out. That's what always made our music so exciting and intense."
Hook continued: "Realising how good we were, when the two of us argued, for the sake of mankind, maybe we should carry on arguing."
He claimed that he split the band because he could "no longer tolerate" Sumner's behaviour, adding: "I am delighted but rather surprised to see such an about turn with him so seemingly happy in the book, loving touring, loving the fans, and loving life."
New Order formed following Ian Curtis's suicide in 1980. Joy Division's surviving members Hook, Sumner and Stephen Morris were joined in the new group by Gillian Gilbert.
The band split in 1993, but reformed in 1998 with their original lineup.
Gilbert took part in the recording sessions for 2001's Get Ready, but was later replaced by Phil Cunningham so that she could care for her and Morris's children.
New Order again split acrimoniously in 2007.
While Sumner initially maintained the band would continue without Hook, they briefly dissolved, with Sumner, Morris and Cunningham working with Jake Evans and Tom Chapman as Bad Lieutenant.
In 2011, Sumner, Morris and Gilbert reunited as New Order, with Chapman replacing Hook, prompting several outbursts from the exiled founding member.
Hook last year described the current New Order lineup as a "New Order tribute band" and added: "They are as much New Order as I am Joy Division.
"In a funny way, now that I'm New Order, they are as much New Order as I am New Order."
Earlier this month, the revised New Order lineup signed a deal with Mute Records to release a new album.
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