Birth name Bernard Edward Sumner Books Chapter And Verse Role Musician | Name Bernard Sumner Years active 1973–present | |
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Born 4 January 1956 (age 68) Lower Broughton, Salford, Lancashire, England ( 1956-01-04 ) Genres Rockpost-punknew wavesynthpopelectronica Occupation(s) Musiciansinger-songwriterproducer Instruments Vocalsguitarkeyboardsmelodica Labels FactoryLondonWarner Bros.ParlophoneMuteTriple Echo Music groups Spouse Sue Barlow (m. 1978–1989), Sarah Dalton Children James Christopher Sumner, Dylan Christian Sumner, Finley Emil Sumner, Tess Iona Sumner Albums Similar Gillian Gilbert, Ian Curtis, Peter Hook | ||
Bernard sumner new order joy division chapter and verse book launch 29 09 14
Bernard Sumner (born 4 January 1956), also briefly known as Bernard Albrecht, is an English singer, songwriter, musician and record producer. He is a founding member of both Joy Division and New Order, and is widely credited with the latter band's move towards electronica and synthpop.
Contents
- Bernard sumner new order joy division chapter and verse book launch 29 09 14
- Bernard Sumner Acoustic Session
- Joy Division
- New Order
- Electronic
- Bad Lieutenant
- Other projects
- Personal life
- Film portrayals
- Discography
- References
Sumner is widely credited in advancing UK dance music, and the popularisation and technological advancement of sequencers. In the early 1990s, he collaborated with former Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr as Electronic.
Bernard Sumner "Acoustic Session"
Joy Division
Sumner was a founding member of Joy Division, a Salford band formed in 1976. The band is widely considered one of the most influential bands of the era. Primarily known as the band's lead guitarist (his main guitars were a Gibson SG and a Shergold Custom Masquerader), Sumner also played keyboards for synthesizer parts and made his first vocal appearance on record singing the chorus of "They Walked In Line" on the Warsaw album. In May 1980, the band's singer, Ian Curtis, committed suicide, resulting in Joy Division's end.
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. 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. Through a series of splits and reformations, the band have released ten studio albums.
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. Sumner was their singer, guitarist, keyboardist and lyricist.
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.
On 2 July 2009, Sumner confirmed that the single "Sink or Swim" would be released on 28 September 2009 and would be the first off their album Never Cry Another Tear. The single was hosted for free on the band's website prior to its physical release, it was followed by a digital bundle release with remixes of the song by Mark Reeder, James Bright and Teenagers. As a result of the 2011 reformation of New Order, Bad Lieutenant are now on hiatus.
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. 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.
In 1990, he worked with former Factory Records label sharers A Certain Ratio remixing their song "Won't Stop Loving You". He has also recorded tracks with fellow Mancunians 808 State and Sub Sub. 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. He has also lent vocals and guitar to a track ("Miracle Cure") on German trance outfit Blank & Jones 2008 release, "The Logic of Pleasure". Sumner also appeared on the Primal Scream track "Shoot Speed Kill Light" from their 2000 album XTRMNTR.
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) and served as a record producer for other Factory Records acts including Happy Mondays (whose second single "Freaky Dancin' "he produced in 1986), Shark Vegas, Abecedarians, 52nd Street and Section 25.
Personal life
Sumner was educated at Salford Grammar School. From 1976 to 1979, Sumner was employed at the animation studio Cosgrove Hall Films as an artist on Jamie and the Magic Torch. He married Sue Barlow (born 1956) on 28 October 1978. They have a son James Christopher (born 1983). The couple divorced in 1989, just before the release of Technique, an experience reflected in the song "Round & Round".
Sumner lives with his second wife, Sarah Dalton. They have three children: Dylan Christian (born 1992), Tess Iona (born 1994) and Finley Emil (born 2003). He is a fan of the football club Manchester United.
He is commonly known as "Barney", although he is reportedly not fond of the name. An early Joy Division bootleg credited him as "Barney Rubble". Brandon Flowers (of the Killers) has dubbed him the "Chairman of the Beat". Sumner's autobiography Chapter and Verse was published in 2014.
Film portrayals
Sumner has been portrayed on film twice. John Simm played him in the 2002 film 24 Hour Party People, which focused on Factory Records. In the Ian Curtis biopic, Control, he is played by James Anthony Pearson.
Discography
For his discographies with Joy Division discography, New Order discography, Electronic (band) and Bad Lieutenant (band).
(Singles featuring Bernard Sumner on guest vocals and/or guitar)