I never knew my dad. My parents split up when I was three years old. My mother hated him with a vengeance until the day she died. Years later, I found out he used to come and watch me when I was drinking in Salford. I didn’t know he was there. I only found out he’d died when I had a breakdown after I’d split up with Mrs Merton [first wife Caroline Aherne]. I went to live with Mum, and she said, “Oh, Peter, I’ve got something to tell you. Your dad died three weeks ago…” I thought, “And you’re only telling me now?”
I’ve had a lot of grief in my life. [Joy Division singer] Ian Curtis, New Order, the Haçienda… I’ve started to see a therapist to help me get over New Order. My wife was sick of how, whenever it arose in conversation, I became distant. I was able to let go when the band split up. When they got back together without me it all turned around. How is my therapist going to help me with that? Dunno. That’s her job, isn’t it?
