Conversation so far:
How did Jim Steranko learn about illusion?
By his account, Jim Steranko learned stage magic using paraphernalia from his father's stage magician act.
Where did Jim Steranko perform his illusions?
In Jim Steranko's teens, he spent several summers working with circuses and carnivals, working his way up to sideshow performer as a fire-eater.
When did Jim Steranko get into music?
Up through his early 20s, Jim Steranko formed his own band during the early days of rock and roll.
Did Jim Steranko get into trouble?
At 17, Jim Steranko and another teenage boy were arrested for a string of burglaries and car thefts in Pennsylvania.
What kind of music did Jim Steranko play?
The seminal rock and roll group Bill Haley and his Comets was based in nearby Philadelphia and Jim Steranko, who played a Jazzmaster guitar, often performed in the same local venues.
Did Jim Steranko ever go back to being an illusionist/magician?

Question: What did he do before forming his own band?
Self-contained rewrite: What did Jim Steranko do before forming his own band?