Joy Division stars form new band

By Damian Jones
Newsbeat reporter

Joy Division recently picked up a prize at this year's Mojo magazine awards

Ex-members of Joy Division and New Order have formed a new band.

Lead singer Bernard Sumner, drummer Stephen Morris and New Order guitarist Phil Cunningham have joined forces with Blur's Alex James for a new project called Bad Lieutenant.

The collective have recorded an album which is due out in October.

Sumner said: "I'm very proud of it, it's a very good album. It's pretty guitary too because we've got three guitarists in the band."

The singer confirmed that his new band, which also includes a number of musicians from his hometown, will be touring later this year and are planning to play a number of festivals in 2010.

We split into two factions, there's me Steve and Phil, the other is Peter Hook Bernard Sumner on New Order's split

Live footage of a track by the band entitled Sink Or Swim has already surfaced on the internet.

The project formed after New Order split up in 2007 following a public row between bassist Peter Hook and the remaining members.

Speaking about the break up, Sumner added: "We split into two factions, there's me Steve and Phil. The other is Peter Hook.

"Basically he left the band, that's all I want to say about it."

New Order formed out of the ashes of Joy Division in 1980 after late lead singer Ian Curtis committed suicide.

Their biggest hits were Blue Monday, Regret and World Cup anthem World In Motion which earned the band their only chart topper.