Bad Lieutenant (band)
| Company type | Supergroup |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 2008 |
| Founder | Bernard Sumner, Phil Cunningham, Jake Evans |
| Defunct | 2011 |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom |
| Products | Music albums, singles |
| Website | www |
Bad Lieutenant was a British alternative rock supergroup established after the second dissolution of New Order. The lineup consisted of former New Order members Bernard Sumner and Phil Cunningham, together with Jake Evans from Rambo & Leroy.
The band's name was inspired by the 1992 film Bad Lieutenant, directed by Abel Ferrara. The title was suggested when Sumner visited Johnny Marr’s home, where a friend of Marr was watching the movie.
Formation
In May 2007, Peter Hook of New Order announced on British radio station XFM that his collaboration with Bernard Sumner had ended. Although initial statements from a band representative denied this, Sumner later confirmed in 2008 that there were no plans to produce further albums under New Order.
Bad Lieutenant came together in 2008, featuring Sumner, Cunningham, and Evans. Their first album, Never Cry Another Tear, included contributions from New Order’s Stephen Morris (drums), Jack Mitchell (drums), Tom Chapman (bass), and Alex James of Blur (bass). In July 2009, Morris highlighted his participation on several tracks and expressed excitement about working together again. For live performances, Morris handled drums while Chapman played bass.
2009–2011: Never Cry Another Tear
On 2 July 2009, Bernard Sumner announced that the single "Sink or Swim" would be released on 28 September 2009 as the lead track from Never Cry Another Tear. Initially, the single was offered as a free download on the band’s website before its physical release. This was followed by a digital bundle featuring remixes by Berlin-based producer Mark Reeder, James Bright, and The Teenagers.
The group toured across the UK during October and November 2009. Four planned dates in the United States were cancelled, and they supported the Pet Shop Boys on their British Pandemonium Tour. A U.S. tour scheduled for April 2010 was also cancelled due to the Icelandic volcano eruptions.
"Twist of Fate" was issued as the second single on 22 March 2010 accompanied by a remix of "Poisonous Intent." This release was followed by a digital package containing remixes by Mark Reeder, AK47, Koishii & Hush, and James Bright. The band organized a fan competition to produce the official music video for this track.
During the summer of 2010, Bad Lieutenant performed at various European festivals and supported Ian Brown at a Manchester show, featuring songs from their album alongside material from New Order and Joy Division.
They also recorded a cover version of "In the Ghetto" for the charity compilation Key To Change, which supported Centrepoint, a UK organization addressing youth homelessness.
On 17 February 2011, Jake Evans announced via MySpace that new material was in development; however, no release dates were disclosed.
On 11 March 2011, Bad Lieutenant was confirmed as headliners for the Friends of Mine Festival at Capesthorne Hall scheduled for 20 May. Other performers included The Charlatans, The Lightning Seeds, and Buzzcocks.
Following Sumner and Cunningham’s rejoining of New Order, Bad Lieutenant entered an indefinite hiatus. Meanwhile, Evans pursued solo projects and supported New Order during their early 2012 tour.
Band members
- Bernard Sumner – vocals (lead and backing), guitar, keyboards
- Phil Cunningham – guitar, keyboards
- Jake Evans – vocals (lead and backing), guitar, keyboards
- Touring personnel
- Stephen Morris – drums
- Tom Chapman – bass guitar
Studio album
| Year | Album information | Highest chart rankings | |
|---|---|---|---|
| UK | FR | ||
| 2009 | Never Cry Another Tear
|
70 | 89 |
Singles
| Year | Title | Album |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | "Sink or Swim" | Never Cry Another Tear |
| 2010 | "Sink or Swim Remix Bundle" | Never Cry Another Tear |
| 2010 | "Twist of Fate" | Never Cry Another Tear |
| 2011 | "Twist of Fate Remix Bundle" | Never Cry Another Tear |