Bernard Sumner

Bernard Sumner
Bernard Sumner of New Order, live at the Hammerstein Ballroom, New York City, 2005.
Background information
Birth name	Bernard Sumner
Born	4 January 1956 (1956-01-04) Manchester, England
Genres	Post-punk, alternative dance, synthpop, house, electronic, alternative rock
Occupations	Musician, composer, multi-instrumentalist
Instruments	Vocals, guitar, keyboards, synthesizer, melodica, percussion
Years active	1975–present
Labels	Factory, London, Warner Bros., Parlophone, Triple Echo
Associated acts	New Order Joy Division Electronic Bad Lieutenant

Bernard Sumner (born 4 January 1956), also known as Bernard Dickin, Bernard Dicken and Bernard Albrecht is an English singer-songwriter, guitarist, keyboard player and producer.

He is best known as a founding member of the bands Joy Division and New Order. He also recorded with Johnny Marr as Electronic and was the lead vocalist of the band Bad Lieutenant.

Surname

Sumner has used the surnames Dicken and Albrecht in the past and had always refused to explain why he has used different names. He has also been reluctant to discuss his family background. In 2007, it was revealed his mother had cerebral palsy, and that he had been adopted by his stepfather John Dickin. Sumner was his mother's maiden name, and is the name that appears on his birth certificate. The revelations about his past were made in a book about his life, Bernard Sumner: Confusion: Joy Division, Electronic and New Order Versus the World by David Nolan, published in 2008 – on which Sumner co-operated.

Joy Division

Sumner was a founding member of Joy Division, a post-punk band formed in 1976. The band are 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 synth 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 vocalist Ian Curtis committed suicide.

New Order

Sumner and remaining bandmates Peter Hook and Stephen Morris started a new band named New Order, taking in Gillian Gilbert. Though Hook, Morris and Gilbert also contributed vocals on some early tracks, Sumner emerged as the band's permanent lead vocalist and lyricist.

Electronic

In 1989, Sumner joined up with former Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr to form Electronic. The Pet Shop Boys' Neil Tennant collaborated on a number of tracks on their debut eponymous album, providing vocals. Sumner was again lead vocalist 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 but were not members of the band. Sumner provided vocals and lyrics.

On 2 July 2009, Bernard Sumner confirmed that 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.

Their debut LP, Never Cry Another Tear, was released in October 2009.

Other music

In 1981, Pauline Murray And The Invisible Girls released their last single Searching For Heaven, whose main song featured Sumner on guitar, 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 band Foreign Press and 'The Great Divide'/'Love in a Strange Place'. 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 labelmates 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 a guest vocalist (alongside Primal Scream's Bobby Gillespie) on The Chemical Brothers' 1999 album Surrender, on the track "Out of Control", and in the 2005 Chemical Brothers show at the Brixton Academy, Sumner appeared live on stage as a special guest on this track. He recently lent vocals to a track ("Miracle Cure") on German trance outfit Blank & Jones 2008 release, "The Logic of Pleasure."

He has also done several remixes, 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 such as the Happy Mondays (whose second single Freaky Dancin' he produced in 1986). Shark Vegas, Abecedarians, 52nd Street and Section 25. It is said that he will be contributing a remix to Depeche Mode's upcoming remix album.

Personal life

He is commonly known by the nickname "Barney," but he has said he is not fond of being called that. An early New Order bootleg credited him as "Barney Rubble".

His first marriage was to Sue Barlow (born 1956) on 28 November 1978. They have a son James Christopher (born 1983). They divorced in 1989, just before the release of Technique, an experience reflected in the song Round & Round. Sue (and consequently James Christopher) is a relative of Gary Barlow.

Sumner lives in Alderley Edge, Cheshire with his second wife, Sarah Dalton, who was reportedly in the "Round & Round" music video, however, as she is rarely seen in public, it is difficult to confirm which one she is. They have 3 children: Dylan Christian (born 1992), Tess Iona (born 1994) and Finley Emil (born 2003). He is a fan of Manchester United.^{[citation needed]}

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)

• 808 State – "Spanish Heart" (vocals, 1991)
• Sub Sub feat: Bernard Sumner – "This Time I'm Not Wrong" (vocals/guitar, 1997)
• Chemical Brothers – "Out Of Control" (vocals/guitar, 1999)
• Primal Scream – "Shoot Speed Kill Light" (guitar, 2000)
• Blank & Jones feat. Bernard Sumner – "Miracle Cure" (vocals, 2008)
• Hot Chip, Bernard Sumner & Hot City – "Didn't Know What Love Was" (vocals/production, 2010)

Bibliography

• Bernard Sumner: Confusion – Joy Division, Electronic and New Order Versus the World, David Nolan, 30 August 2007

External links

• Bernard Sumner at the Internet Movie Database
• New Order & Joy Division site
• Full list of recordings featuring or remixed by Bernard Sumner.