Band of the Week: Bad Lieutenant

Posted on Oct 9th 2009 11:53AM by Stephen Dowling
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Most musicians would feel lucky to have been part of one legendary band, let alone two -- or even three. No wonder Bernard Sumner is smiling; he followed his career in Joy Division and New Order with a spell as one-half of Electronic alongside Johnny Marr.

Not content with three chart-bothering outfits, however, Sumner has set his sights on a fourth. Out of the ashes of New Order -- who have called it a day amid acrimony between Sumner and bass player Peter Hook -- has risen Bad Lieutenant, a new band which sees him teamed up with Joy Division/New Order drummer Stephen Morris for a third time.

It's something of a supergroup this time too -- Blur's bassist Alex James has taken a break from his dairy-centric activities to play bass on a few of the band's sessions, while the line up also counts guitarist Phil Cunningham (ex-Marion and New Order) and singer/guitarist Jake Evans.

Sumner first heard Evans sing at a birthday party -- cajoled into picking up a guitar and playing, he chose Neil Young's 'Heart of Gold',' one of Sumner's favourite songs. Not long after, Evans got the call from Sumner to be part of his new band.

And they've wasted no time in getting their first album out in the shops -- debut 'Never Cry Another Tear' is out on Monday (Oct. 12).

Sumner got the name of the band from the controversial 1992 film starring Harvey Keitel (thanks to longtime friend Marr), though so far the band's songs don't seem to be mirroring the film's ultra-violent plot.

Long-terms fans of Sumners previous bands may, at first, be scratching their heads at the lack of the trademark Peter Hook basslines -- for all intents and purposes it's like late-model New Order, the synths and electronics taking a backseat to chiming guitars. 'Sink Or Swim' is already being hailed in some quarters as the best song Sumner has song since New Order's 'Regret,' while 'Dynamo' has a clattering energy not far removed from the Who.

"There is some continuity to music I've made in the past," says Bernard. "But it's also very different – because different people are playing on it."

Not a New Order so much as a new beginning, then.