Bernard Sumner

{{Infobox musical artist

| image = New Order - Fête de l'Humanité 2012 - 013.jpg

| alt = Sumner playing a guitar and singing into a microphone onstage

| caption = Sumner performing with New Order in September 2012

| birth_name =

| alias = {{hlist|Bernard Albrecht|Bernard Dicken|Barney}}

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1956|01|04|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Manchester, England

| genre = {{hlist|Rock|post-punk|new wave|synth-pop

|electronica}}

| occupation = {{hlist|Singer|songwriter|musician|record producer}}

| instrument = {{hlist|Vocals|guitar|keyboards|synthesiser|melodica}}

| years_active = 1973–present

| label = {{hlist|Factory|London|Warner Bros.|Parlophone|Mute|Triple Echo}}

| current_member_of = New Order

| past_member_of = {{Plainlist|

}}

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

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.{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/how-we-met-johnny-marr-bernard-sumner-1107290.html|author-first1=Laurence|author-last1=Phelan|title=How we met: Johnny Marr & Bernard Sumner|date=18 July 1999|website=independent.co.uk|access-date=4 May 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201043137/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/how-we-met-johnny-marr-bernard-sumner-1107290.html|archive-date=1 December 2017}}{{cite web|url=http://www.joydiv.org/bernardsumner.htm|title=Bernard Sumner Biography – the early years|website=www.joydiv.org|access-date=4 May 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160220060712/http://www.joydiv.org/bernardsumner.htm|archive-date=20 February 2016}}

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

Career

File:Barney2005.jpg

Through his long career, Sumner has played music in many overlapping genres, including rock,{{cite magazine | url=http://consequenceofsound.net/2014/07/joy-divisionnew-orders-bernard-sumner-to-release-autobiography/ | title=Joy Division/New Order's Bernard Sumner to release autobiography | website=Consequence of Sound | date=10 July 2014 | access-date=18 October 2015 | author=Coplan, Chris | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150919070411/http://consequenceofsound.net/2014/07/joy-divisionnew-orders-bernard-sumner-to-release-autobiography/ | archive-date=19 September 2015 | df=dmy-all }} synth-pop{{cite web | url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/bernard-sumner-mn0000759339 | title=Bernard Sumner | publisher=AllMusic | access-date=18 October 2015 | author=Sutton, Michael | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151018210717/http://www.allmusic.com/artist/bernard-sumner-mn0000759339 | archive-date=18 October 2015 | df=dmy-all }}

electronica,{{cite web | url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music-live-electronica-veterans-move-with-the-times-1044355.html | title=Music: Live: Electronica veterans move with the times | work=The Independent|publisher=ESL Media | date=23 October 2011 | access-date=18 October 2015 | author=James, Martin | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305151627/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music-live-electronica-veterans-move-with-the-times-1044355.html | archive-date=5 March 2016 | df=dmy-all }}

post-punk, and new wave.

=Joy Division=

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.{{cite magazine |last=Savage |first=Jon |author-link=Jon Savage |date=July 1994 |title=Joy Division: Someone Take These Dreams Away |magazine=Mojo}} 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),{{cite web | url=http://www2.gibson.com/News-Lifestyle/Features/en-us/Gibson-Recommends-Joy-Division.aspx | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130131120825/http://www2.gibson.com/News-Lifestyle/Features/en-us/Gibson-Recommends-Joy-Division.aspx | archive-date=31 January 2013 | title=A Closer Look: Joy Division }}{{Cite web|url=https://www.shergoldguitars.com/history.html|title=History|website=Shergoldguitars.com|access-date=4 September 2024}} as well as playing electronic keyboardsReynolds, Simon (2005). Rip It Up and Start Again: Postpunk 1978–1984. Penguin. {{ISBN|0-14-303672-6}}, p. 115 and made his first vocal appearance on record singing the chorus of "Walked in Line" on the Warsaw album.{{Cite web|url=https://www.songtexte.com/songtext/warsaw/they-walked-in-line-7bd5166c.html|title=Warsaw - They Walked in Line Songtext|website=Songtexte.com|access-date=4 September 2024}} In May 1980, after the suicide of its lead singer, Ian Curtis, Joy Division disbanded.{{sfn|Curtis|1995|p=132}}

=New Order=

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.Savage, Jon. "Joy Division: Someone Take These Dreams Away." Mojo. July 1994. 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.{{cn|date=March 2025}}

Through a series of splits and reformations, the band has released ten studio albums.{{when|date=March 2025}} Sumner and Morris are the only members to be part of every lineup.{{cn|date=March 2025}}

=Electronic=

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.{{cn|date=March 2025}} 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.{{cn|date=March 2025}} Sumner occasionally appears to sing Electronic songs at Marr's concerts.{{cn|date=March 2025}}

=Bad Lieutenant=

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.{{cn|date=March 2025}}

=Other projects=

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.{{cite web|url=http://www.discogs.com/Pauline-Murray-And-The-Invisible-Girls-Untitled/release/685055|title=Pauline Murray And Invisible Girls, The – Pauline Murray And The Invisible Girls|date=August 1993 |publisher=Discogs.com|access-date=29 September 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140423234738/http://www.discogs.com/Pauline-Murray-And-The-Invisible-Girls-Untitled/release/685055|archive-date=23 April 2014}}{{Cite web|url = http://lesdisquesducrepuscule.com/pauline_murray.html|title = Pauline Murray \ Biography|date = September 2014|access-date = 3 October 2014|website = Les Disques du Crépuscule|last = Nice|first = James|url-status = live|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141006095425/http://lesdisquesducrepuscule.com/pauline_murray.html|archive-date = 6 October 2014|df = dmy-all}} 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.{{cn|date=March 2025}}

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|date=July 2018}} 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.{{cn|date=March 2025}} He has also lent vocals and guitar to a track ("Miracle Cure") on German trance outfit Blank & Jones 2008 release, "The Logic of Pleasure",{{cn|date=March 2025}} and appeared on the Primal Scream track "Shoot Speed Kill Light" from their 2000 album XTRMNTR.{{cn|date=March 2025}}

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).{{cn|date=March 2025}} He served as a record producer and/or songwriter for other Factory Records acts, including Happy Mondays, Shark Vegas, Abecedarians, 52nd Street{{cn|date=March 2025}} and Section 25.

Personal life

Sumner married Sue Barlow on 28 October 1978 but they later divorced.{{cite web|url=http://www.joydiv.org/members.htm|title=Short bio at JoyDiv.org|publisher=Joydiv.org|access-date=29 September 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141106202306/http://www.joydiv.org/members.htm|archive-date=6 November 2014}}

In film

Sumner was portrayed by John Simm in the 2002 film 24 Hour Party People and James Anthony Pearson in the 2007 film Control.{{cn|date=March 2025}}

Discography

=Joy Division=

Unknown Pleasures (1979)
Closer (1980)

=New Order=

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=

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

=Bad Lieutenant=

Never Cry Another Tear (2009)

=Collaborations=

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{{Efn|Composer on the tracks "The Process" and "Inspiration".|name=|group=upper-alpha}}, 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

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 =

References

External links

{{Allmusic|class=artist|id=mn0000759339}}
{{discogs artist}}
{{IMDb name|id=0838858|name=Bernard Sumner}}
[http://www.neworderonline.com New Order Online] – semi-official website, endorsed by the band

Category:1956 births

Category:Living people

Category:English alternative rock musicians

Category:English synth-pop new wave musicians

Category:English male new wave singers

Category:English new wave singers

Category:British alternative rock singers

Category:English rock guitarists

Category:British alternative rock guitarists

Category:English lead guitarists

Category:English male guitarists

Category:English rock keyboardists