Bernard Sumner

English musician

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Bernard Sumner

Sumner performing with New Order in September 2012

Background information
Also known as|

* Bernard Albrecht
* Bernard Dicken
* Barney

Born|  (1956-01-04) 4 January 1956 (age 69)
Manchester, England
Genres|

* Rock
* post-punk
* new wave
* synth-pop
* electronica

Occupations|

* Singer
* songwriter
* musician
* record producer

Instruments|

* Vocals
* guitar
* keyboards
* synthesiser
* melodica

Years active| 1973–present
Labels|

* Factory
* London
* Warner Bros.
* Parlophone
* Mute
* Triple Echo

Member of| New Order
Formerly of|

* Joy Division
* Electronic
* Bad Lieutenant

Musical artist

Bernard Sumner (born 4 January 1956) is an English musician. He is a founding member of the bands Joy Division, New Order, Electronic, and Bad Lieutenant. Sumner was an early force in several areas, including the post-punk, synth-pop, and techno music scenes, as well as their various related genres, and was an early influence on the Manchester music scene that presaged the Madchester movement of the late 1980s centred on Factory Records and The Haçienda club in Manchester. He and drummer Stephen Morris are the only two continuous members of New Order, who have also appeared on all the band's albums.

He began his career playing guitar and keyboards for Joy Division. Following lead singer Ian Curtis's death, the remaining members of Joy Division formed New Order with Sumner taking on lead vocal duties. His complex electronic compositions became less guitar-driven and more focused on electronic keyboards, synthesizers, and programming throughout the 1980s and 1990s. He formed Electronic with Johnny Marr in the late 1980s as a creative outlet outside of New Order, which continued after New Order went on hiatus in 1993. New Order became active again from 1998 through 2006, after which he returned to a more traditional rock context with the band Bad Lieutenant. He continues to record and perform with the latest iteration of New Order, which reformed in 2011.

## Early life and education

[edit]

Bernard Sumner was born on 4 January 1956 in Crumpsall Hospital (now North Manchester General Hospital) in Manchester, England. He has also used the surnames Dicken (similar to his stepfather's name Dickin) and Albrecht.[1][2]

Sumner was educated at Salford Grammar School, before joining a company who did cartoon animations for television.[3]

## Career

[edit]

Sumner with New Order in NYC, 2005

Through his long career, Sumner has played music in many overlapping genres, including rock,[4] synth-pop[5] electronica,[6] post-punk, and new wave.

### Joy Division

[edit]

Sumner was a founding member of Joy Division, formed at Salford in 1976. He and childhood friend Peter Hook both attended the fabled Sex Pistols concert at Manchester's Free Trade Hall on 4 June 1976 and whose music inspired them to perform together.[7] Widely considered one of the most influential bands of the era, Sumner was lead guitarist (his main guitars were a Gibson SG and a custom Shergold Masquerader),[8][9] as well as playing electronic keyboards[10] and made his first vocal appearance on record singing the chorus of "Walked in Line" on the Warsaw album.[11] In May 1980, after the suicide of its lead singer, Ian Curtis, Joy Division disbanded.[12]

### New Order

[edit]

Sumner and remaining band members Peter Hook and Stephen Morris started a new band named New Order, joined by keyboardist Gillian Gilbert in October 1980.[13] Though Hook, Morris, and Gilbert also contributed vocals on some early tracks, Sumner emerged as the band's permanent singer and lyricist, alongside playing guitar and keyboards.[citation needed]

Through a series of splits and reformations, the band has released ten studio albums.[when?] Sumner and Morris are the only members to be part of every lineup.[citation needed]

### Electronic

[edit]

In 1989, Sumner joined up with former Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr to form Electronic. The Pet Shop Boys' Neil Tennant collaborated on two tracks on their debut eponymous album, providing vocals.[citation needed] Sumner was their singer, guitarist, keyboardist and lyricist. Electronic released two other albums until a quiet disband in 2001 for Sumner to focus his efforts on New Order.[citation needed] Sumner occasionally appears to sing Electronic songs at Marr's concerts.[citation needed]

### Bad Lieutenant

[edit]

Bad Lieutenant included fellow New Order member Phil Cunningham and Jake Evans of Rambo & Leroy. Stephen Morris of New Order and Blur bassist Alex James also performed on the band's debut album. Sumner provided vocals, guitar and lyrics. Bad Lieutenant disbanded after New Order reformed in 2011.[citation needed]

### Other projects

[edit]

In 1981, Pauline Murray and The Invisible Girls released their last single "Searching for Heaven", which included a guitar solo by Sumner, although he was not credited in the sleeves of its 7" and 10" edition at the time.[14][15] In 1983, Sumner co-produced, with Donald Johnson, the single "The Great Divide"/"Love in a Strange Place" by the band Foreign Press. Foreign Press (aka Emergency) had had a long history with Sumner through both Joy Division and New Order.[citation needed]

In 1990, he worked with former Factory Records label mates A Certain Ratio, remixing their song "Won't Stop Loving You". He has also recorded tracks with fellow Mancunians 808 State and Sub Sub.[citation needed] Sumner appeared as guest singer and guitarist (alongside Primal Scream's Bobby Gillespie) on The Chemical Brothers' 1999 album Surrender, on the track "Out of Control"; and in a 2005 Chemical Brothers show at the Brixton Academy, Sumner appeared live onstage as a special guest on this track.[citation needed] He has also lent vocals and guitar to a track ("Miracle Cure") on German trance outfit Blank & Jones 2008 release, "The Logic of Pleasure",[citation needed] and appeared on the Primal Scream track "Shoot Speed Kill Light" from their 2000 album XTRMNTR.[citation needed]

He has produced several remixes for tracks such as Technotronic's "Rockin' Over the Beat" (which was featured in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III soundtrack).[16] He served as a record producer and/or songwriter for other Factory Records acts, including Happy Mondays, Shark Vegas, Abecedarians, 52nd Street[citation needed] and Section 25.

## Personal life

[edit]

Sumner married Sue Barlow on 28 October 1978 but they later divorced.[3]

## In film

[edit]

Sumner was portrayed by John Simm in the 2002 film 24 Hour Party People and James Anthony Pearson in the 2007 film Control.[citation needed]

## Discography

[edit]

### Joy Division

[edit]

Main article: Joy Division discography

* Unknown Pleasures (1979)
* Closer (1980)

### New Order

[edit]

Main article: New Order discography

* Movement (1981)
* Power, Corruption & Lies (1983)
* Low-Life (1985)
* Brotherhood (1986)
* Technique (1989)
* Republic (1993)
* Get Ready (2001)
* Waiting for the Sirens' Call (2005)
* Lost Sirens (2013)
* Music Complete (2015)

### Electronic

[edit]

Main article: Electronic discography

* Electronic (1991)
* Raise the Pressure (1996)
* Twisted Tenderness (1999)

### Bad Lieutenant

[edit]

* Never Cry Another Tear (2009)

### Collaborations

[edit]

* Section 25 – "Sakura" (keyboards, 1982)
* 52nd Street – "Look into My Eyes" (synthesizer, production, 1982)
* Section 25 – "Back To Wonder" / "Beating Heart" (production, 1983)
* Quando Quango – "Love Tempo" (production, 1983)
* The Durutti Column – "I Get Along Without You Very Well" / "Prayer" (production, 1983)
* A Certain Ratio – "I Need Someone Tonite" (synthesizer, 1983)
* 52nd Street – "Cool As Ice" / "Twice As Nice" (synthesizer, production, 1983)
* Paul Haig – "The Only Truth" (guitar, production, 1984)
* Marcel King – "Reach For Love" / "Keep On Dancing" (synthesizer, production, 1984)
* Quando Quango – "2 From Quando" (production, 1984)
* Section 25 – From The Hip (composer[A], production, 1984)
* Section 25 – "Looking From A Hilltop (Restructure)" (synthesizer, production, 1984)
* Section 25 – "Crazy Wisdom" (production, 1985)
* Shark Vegas – "You Hurt Me" (guitar, production, 1985)
* Paul Haig – "Love and War" (guitar, 1986)
* Section 25 – "Bad News Week" (production, 1987)
* A Certain Ratio – "Good Together" (backing vocals, 1989)
* Technotronic \- "Rockin' Over the Beat" (synthesizer, production, 1989)
* The Beat Club – "Security (Remix)" (vocals, production, 1990)
* Banderas – "This Is Your Life" (backing vocals, guitar, 1991)
* 808 State – "Spanish Heart" (vocals, 1991)
* Sub Sub – "This Time I'm Not Wrong" (vocals, guitar, 1997)
* The Chemical Brothers – "Out of Control" (vocals, guitar, 1999)
* Primal Scream – "Shoot Speed Kill Light" (guitar, 2000)
* Gwen Stefani – "The Real Thing" (backing vocals, 2004)
* Blank & Jones – "Miracle Cure" (vocals, guitar, 2008)

## Bibliography

[edit]

* Curtis, Deborah (1995). Touching from a Distance: Ian Curtis and Joy Division. London: Faber. ISBN 0-5711-7445-0.
* Bernard Sumner: Confusion – Joy Division, Electronic and New Order Versus the World, David Nolan, 2007
* Chapter and Verse – New Order, Joy Division and Me, Bernard Sumner, 2014

### Notes

[edit]

1. ^ Composer on the tracks "The Process" and "Inspiration".

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Phelan, Laurence (18 July 1999). "How we met: Johnny Marr & Bernard Sumner". independent.co.uk. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
2. ^ "Bernard Sumner Biography – the early years". www.joydiv.org. Archived from the original on 20 February 2016. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
3. ^ a b "Short bio at JoyDiv.org". Joydiv.org. Archived from the original on 6 November 2014. Retrieved 29 September 2014.
4. ^ Coplan, Chris (10 July 2014). "Joy Division/New Order's Bernard Sumner to release autobiography". Consequence of Sound. Archived from the original on 19 September 2015. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
5. ^ Sutton, Michael. "Bernard Sumner". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 18 October 2015. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
6. ^ James, Martin (23 October 2011). "Music: Live: Electronica veterans move with the times". The Independent. ESL Media. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
7. ^ Savage, Jon (July 1994). "Joy Division: Someone Take These Dreams Away". Mojo.
8. ^ "A Closer Look: Joy Division". Archived from the original on 31 January 2013.
9. ^ "History". Shergoldguitars.com. Retrieved 4 September 2024.
10. ^ Reynolds, Simon (2005). Rip It Up and Start Again: Postpunk 1978–1984. Penguin. ISBN 0-14-303672-6, p. 115
11. ^ "Warsaw - They Walked in Line Songtext". Songtexte.com. Retrieved 4 September 2024.
12. ^ Curtis 1995, p. 132.
13. ^ Savage, Jon. "Joy Division: Someone Take These Dreams Away." Mojo. July 1994.
14. ^ "Pauline Murray And Invisible Girls, The – Pauline Murray And The Invisible Girls". Discogs.com. August 1993. Archived from the original on 23 April 2014. Retrieved 29 September 2014.
15. ^ Nice, James (September 2014). "Pauline Murray \ Biography". Les Disques du Crépuscule. Archived from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 3 October 2014.
16. ^ "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles". Allmusic. 1993. Retrieved 27 December 2015.

## Further reading

[edit]

* Curtis, Deborah (1995). Touching from a Distance: Ian Curtis and Joy Division. London: Faber. ISBN 0-5711-7445-0.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bernard Sumner.

## External links

[edit]

* Bernard Sumner at AllMusic
* Bernard Sumner discography at Discogs
* Bernard Sumner at IMDb
* New Order Online – semi-official website, endorsed by the band

* v
* t
* e

New Order

* Bernard Sumner
* Stephen Morris
* Gillian Gilbert
* Phil Cunningham
* Tom Chapman

* Peter Hook

Studio albums|

* Movement
* Power, Corruption & Lies
* Low-Life
* Brotherhood
* Technique
* Republic
* Get Ready
* Waiting for the Sirens' Call
* Lost Sirens
* Music Complete

Live albums|

* BBC Radio 1 Live In Concert
* Live at the London Troxy
* Live at Bestival 2012

Compilation albums|

* Substance 1987
* The Best of New Order
* International
* Retro
* Singles
* Total: From Joy Division to New Order

Remix albums|

* The Rest of New Order
* Complete Music

EPs and other releases|

* 1981–1982
* The Peel Sessions
* The Peter Saville Show Soundtrack
* In Session
* 12″ × 12

Singles|

* "Ceremony"
* "Procession"
* "Everything's Gone Green"
* "Temptation"
* "Blue Monday"
* "Confusion"
* "Thieves Like Us"
* "Murder"
* "The Perfect Kiss"
* "Sub-culture"
* "Shellshock"
* "State of the Nation"
* "Bizarre Love Triangle"
* "True Faith"
* "Touched by the Hand of God"
* "Blue Monday 1988"
* "Fine Time"
* "Round & Round"
* "Run 2"
* "World in Motion"
* "Regret"
* "Ruined in a Day"
* "World (The Price of Love)"
* "Spooky"
* "True Faith-94"
* "1963"
* "Blue Monday-95"
* "Video 5 8 6"
* "Crystal"
* "60 Miles an Hour"
* "Someone Like You"
* "Here to Stay"
* "Krafty"
* "Jetstream"
* "Waiting for the Sirens' Call"
* "Restless"
* "Tutti Frutti"

Other songs|

* "Doubts Even Here"
* "Age of Consent"
* "Love Vigilantes"
* "Elegia"
* "Plastic"

Videos|

* Substance 1987
* New Order Story
* 316
* 511
* A Collection
* Live in Glasgow

Tours|

* North American Tour 2012

Related groups|

* Joy Division
* Electronic
* Revenge
* Monaco
* The Other Two
* Freebass
* Bad Lieutenant
* Peter Hook & The Light

Related articles|

* Discography
* Songs
* The Haçienda
* Control
* Rob Gretton
* List of tribute albums

* v
* t
* e

Joy Division

* Ian Curtis
* Bernard Sumner
* Peter Hook
* Stephen Morris

Studio albums|

* Unknown Pleasures
* Closer

Extended plays|

* An Ideal for Living
* The Peel Sessions (1986 and 1987)

Compilation albums|

* Warsaw
* Still
* Substance
* Peel Sessions
* Permanent
* Heart and Soul
* The Complete BBC Recordings
* Martin Hannett's Personal Mixes
* The Best of Joy Division
* Total: From Joy Division to New Order

Live albums|

* Preston 28 February 1980
* Les Bains Douches 18 December 1979

Songs|

* "Warsaw"
* "Digital"
* "Disorder"
* "She's Lost Control"
* "Shadowplay"
* "Transmission"
* "Komakino"
* "Dead Souls"
* "Atmosphere"
* "Atrocity Exhibition"
* "Isolation"
* "New Dawn Fades"
* "Love Will Tear Us Apart"
* "Ceremony"

Related|

* Discography
* New Order
* Rob Gretton
* Touching from a Distance
* Control
* Joy Division
* A Means to an End: The Music of Joy Division
* Earcom 2: Contradiction

* v
* t
* e

Electronic

* Bernard Sumner
* Johnny Marr

Albums|

* Electronic
* Raise the Pressure
* Twisted Tenderness
* Get the Message - The Best of Electronic

Singles|

* "Getting Away with It"
* "Get the Message"
* "Tighten Up"
* "Feel Every Beat"
* "Disappointed"
* "Forbidden City"
* "For You"
* "Second Nature"
* "Until the End of Time"
* "Vivid"
* "Make It Happen"
* "Late at Night"

Authority control databases

International|

* ISNI
* VIAF
* FAST
* WorldCat

National|

* Germany
* United States
* France
* BnF data
* Japan
* Czech Republic
* Spain
* Norway
* Israel

Artists|

* MusicBrainz

People|

* DDB

Other|

* Yale LUX

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