Bernard Sumner answers my question!

I pooped a little... Joy Division/New Order/Bad Lieutenant guitarist (and frontman of the latter two bands) answered the second round of Q&A questions on Bad Lieutenant's website today, and guess whose question got answered? MINE!

Now, I wrote this question like... two months ago, and being a Blur fanboy I was a bit annoyed that Blur's bassist, Alex James, didn't get more than just a couple inclusions on some tracks, despite being a reason the band formed in the first place. Here's my question and the answer I got from Bernard Sumner:

"JDW: While I understand that Alex James only appears on a few tracks Never Cry Another Tear, and he wasn’t in the final band because of “distance issues,” but is there any chance of him getting a more central part in the future of Bad Lieutenant? It’s a shame that a talent like his gets over shadowed by fellow Blur-mates Damon and Graham, and it seemed when he finally got his own chance to shine, he was put in the backseat again.

BS: I think that’s a matter of perception. I see all the musicians in Blur with equal standing really. Obviously, the singer is going to get a bit more attention because he is doing something different to the others, is usually the focal point for the band and is usually the biggest c***. The guitarist always looks a bit clever because he’s got so many strings and apparently knows what to do with them. The drummer is the backbone of the band and is the real underrated one. Mmm … Bass players … mmm …"

Besides being surprised that he actually answered my question, I'm a little amused/annoyed at how he dodged the question, seeming having nothing to say about bass players in the end. Thanks Barney. I guess I can consider that our first interview...

Visit Bad Lieutenant's website for the original article.

Bad Lieutenant - "Sink Or Swim"

Yes, another music update! A few months back it was announced that the remaining members of the recently disbanded New Order (minus Peter Hook basically) would be forming a new band called Bad Lieutenant, with some help on the album from the likes of Blur's Alex James and Joy Division/New Order drummer Stephen Morris. The band would release their first album, Never Cry Another Tear, in October, with the first single, "Sink Or Swim" releasing in September.

Well it turns out there's been some changes, sort of. I was under the impression the both Alex James and Stephen Morris were part of the band, but thanks to a tweet from the band on Twitter, I've been informed that they (specifically James) appear on the album, but are not members of the band itself... which is kind of disappointing because I would have loved to see Alex James get the same non-Blur success that his bandmates Damon Albarn and Graham Coxon have had.

Also, you can now listen to a "MySpace Edit" of "Sink Or Swim" on, where else, Bad Lieutenant's MySpace right now. After a few listens, it sounds to me a lot like New Order's later albums Get Ready (2001) and Waiting For The Sirens Call (2005). Thankfully it's more in the realm of Get Ready, which I liked, cause I can't say the same for Waiting For The Sirens Call. But it's just one song, and from the tag I'll assume it's not even the full version. Regardless, this version of "Sink Or Swim" at least has me excited to hear what else the band has to offer, we'll see come September.