Bernard Sumner
Encyclopedia
Bernard Sumner 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 is currently the lead vocalist of the band Bad Lieutenant
.
, 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.
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.
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.
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.
includes fellow New Order member Phil Cunningham
and Jake Evans of Rambo & Leroy. Stephen Morris of New Order and Blur bassist Alex James
also perform on the band's debut album but are not members of the band. Sumner provides vocals.
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.
, 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 remix
es, 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.
".
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
.
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
.
, New Order discography
, Electronic (band)
and Bad Lieutenant (band)
.
(Singles featuring Bernard Sumner on guest vocals and/or guitar)
He is best known as a founding member of the bands Joy Division
Joy Division
Joy Division were an English rock band formed in 1976 in Salford, Greater Manchester. Originally named Warsaw, the band primarily consisted of Ian Curtis , Bernard Sumner , Peter Hook and Stephen Morris .Joy Division rapidly evolved from their initial punk rock influences...
and New Order
New Order
New Order are an English rock band formed in 1980 by Bernard Sumner , Peter Hook and Stephen Morris...
. He also recorded with Johnny Marr
Johnny Marr
Johnny Marr is an English musician and songwriter. Marr rose to fame in the 1980s as the guitarist in The Smiths, with whom he formed a prolific songwriting partnership with Morrissey. Marr has been a member of Electronic, The The, and Modest Mouse...
as Electronic
Electronic (band)
-Albums:-Singles:-Music videos:-External links:* *...
and is currently the lead vocalist of the band Bad Lieutenant
Bad Lieutenant (band)
Bad Lieutenant are an English alternative rock band formed in 2007 following the breakup of New Order. The band consists of Bernard Sumner, Stephen Morris, Phil Cunningham, Jake Evans and Tom Chapman....
.
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 palsyCerebral palsy
Cerebral palsy is an umbrella term encompassing a group of non-progressive, non-contagious motor conditions that cause physical disability in human development, chiefly in the various areas of body movement....
, 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
David Nolan (UK)
David Nolan is a British television producer and author, specializing in music and popular culture biographies, covering subjects from the Sex Pistols to Simon Cowell. He is also a lecturer at Salford University....
, published in 2008 – on which Sumner co-operated.
Joy Division
Sumner was a founding member of Joy Division, a post-punkPost-punk
Post-punk is a rock music movement with its roots in the late 1970s, following on the heels of the initial punk rock explosion of the mid-1970s. The genre retains its roots in the punk movement but is more introverted, complex and experimental...
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
Gibson SG
At the launch of the SG in 1961, Gibson offered four variants of the SG; the SG Junior , the SG Special, the SG Standard, and the top-of-the-line SG Custom. However, Gibson's current core variants as of 2010 are the SG Standard and the SG Special...
and a Shergold Custom Masquerader), Sumner also played keyboards for synth
Synthesizer
A synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
parts and made his first vocal appearance on record singing the chorus of "They Walked In Line" on the Warsaw
Warsaw (Joy Division album)
Warsaw was the planned debut album by the English post-punk band later known as Joy Division. Recorded in May 1978 it consisted of eleven tracks, however the band was disappointed by the post-production done by RCA producers and the album was scrapped...
album. In May 1980, the band's vocalist Ian Curtis
Ian Curtis
Ian Kevin Curtis was an English singer and lyricist, famous for leading the post-punk band Joy Division. Joy Division released their debut album, Unknown Pleasures, in 1979 and recorded their follow-up, Closer, in 1980...
committed suicide.
New Order
Sumner and remaining bandmates Peter HookPeter Hook
Peter Hook is an English bass player, musician and author.He was a co-founder of the post-punk band Joy Division along with Bernard Sumner in the mid-1970s. Following the death of lead singer Ian Curtis, the band reformed as New Order, and Hook played bass with them throughout their career until...
and Stephen Morris started a new band named New Order
New Order
New Order are an English rock band formed in 1980 by Bernard Sumner , Peter Hook and Stephen Morris...
, taking in Gillian Gilbert
Gillian Gilbert
Gillian Lesley Gilbert is an English musician, keyboardist, guitarist and singer, best known as a member of New Order and a founding member of The Other Two.-Biography:...
. 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 SmithsThe Smiths
The Smiths were an English alternative rock band, formed in Manchester in 1982. Based on the song writing partnership of Morrissey and Johnny Marr , the band also included Andy Rourke and Mike Joyce...
guitarist Johnny Marr
Johnny Marr
Johnny Marr is an English musician and songwriter. Marr rose to fame in the 1980s as the guitarist in The Smiths, with whom he formed a prolific songwriting partnership with Morrissey. Marr has been a member of Electronic, The The, and Modest Mouse...
to form Electronic
Electronic (band)
-Albums:-Singles:-Music videos:-External links:* *...
. The Pet Shop Boys
Pet Shop Boys
Pet Shop Boys are an English electronic dance music duo, consisting of Neil Tennant, who provides main vocals, keyboards and occasional guitar, and Chris Lowe on keyboards....
' Neil Tennant
Neil Tennant
Neil Francis Tennant is an English musician, singer and songwriter, who, with bandmate Chris Lowe, makes up the successful electronic dance music duo Pet Shop Boys.-Childhood:...
collaborated on a number of tracks on their debut eponymous album, providing vocals. Sumner was again lead vocalist and lyricist.
Bad Lieutenant
Bad LieutenantBad Lieutenant (band)
Bad Lieutenant are an English alternative rock band formed in 2007 following the breakup of New Order. The band consists of Bernard Sumner, Stephen Morris, Phil Cunningham, Jake Evans and Tom Chapman....
includes fellow New Order member Phil Cunningham
Phil Cunningham (rock musician)
Phil Cunningham is a British guitarist who is a member of the band Bad Lieutenant. He was previously a member of New Order, where he replaced Gillian Gilbert as a band member, but with a slightly different role, with less synthesizer and more guitar work.Cunningham was also a member of the...
and Jake Evans of Rambo & Leroy. Stephen Morris of New Order and Blur bassist Alex James
Alex James (musician)
Professionally known as Alex James is an English musician, songwriter, journalist and cheesemaker. He is best known as the bass player and occasional vocalist of band Blur...
also perform on the band's debut album but are not members of the band. Sumner provides vocals.
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
Mark Reeder
Mark Reeder grew up in Manchester, England. He is a musician and record producer. At a young age, Reeder became interested in progressive rock and especially early electronic music. In his teens, he worked in a small Virgin Records store in Manchester city centre.Reeder has been living and working...
, James Bright and Teenagers.
Their debut LP, Never Cry Another Tear
Never Cry Another Tear
-Personnel:Bad Lieutenant* Bernard Sumner – vocals, guitars, keyboards, bass* Jake Evans – vocals, guitars, keyboards, bass* Phil Cunningham – guitars, keyboards, bassGuest musicians* Matt Evans – backing vocals , drums...
, was released in October 2009.
Other music
In 1981, Pauline Murray And The Invisible Girls released their last single Searching For HeavenSearching For Heaven
Searching For Heaven is the third and last single of Pauline Murray And The Invisible Girls, released in April 1981 on Illusive Records, and produced by Martin Hannett...
, 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
Factory Records
Factory Records was a Manchester based British independent record label, started in 1978 by Tony Wilson and Alan Erasmus, which featured several prominent musical acts on its roster such as Joy Division, New Order, A Certain Ratio, The Durutti Column, Happy Mondays, Northside and James and...
labelmates A Certain Ratio
A Certain Ratio
A Certain Ratio are a Post-punk band formed in 1977 in Manchester, England. While originally part of the punk rock movement, they soon added funk and dance elements to their sound. They are sometimes referred to as "post punk funk"...
remixing their song "Won't Stop Loving You". He has also recorded tracks with fellow Mancunians 808 State
808 State
808 State are a British electronic music outfit, formed in 1987 in Manchester, taking their name from the Roland TR-808 drum machine and their common state of mind...
and Sub Sub
Sub Sub
Sub Sub were an English dance act from Wilmslow, Cheshire composed of Jimi Goodwin and twin brothers Andy and Jez Williams.The threesome met at school in 1985 and became regulars at The Haçienda while composing their own material together...
. Sumner appeared as a guest vocalist (alongside Primal Scream
Primal Scream
Primal Scream are a Scottish alternative rock band originally formed in 1982 in Glasgow by Bobby Gillespie and Jim Beattie and now based in London. The current lineup consists of Gillespie, Andrew Innes , Martin Duffy , and Darrin Mooney...
's Bobby Gillespie
Bobby Gillespie
Robert Bernard Andrew "Bobby" Gillespie is a Scottish musician. He is the lead singer and founding member of the alternative rock band, Primal Scream. He was also the drummer for The Jesus and Mary Chain in the mid-1980s.- Early life :Born and raised in the south side district of Mount Florida in...
) on The Chemical Brothers
The Chemical Brothers
The Chemical Brothers are a British electronic music duo comprising Tom Rowlands and Ed Simons. Originating in Manchester in 1991, along with The Prodigy, Fatboy Slim, The Crystal Method, and fellow acts, they were pioneers at bringing the big beat genre to the forefront of pop culture.- Background...
' 1999 album Surrender
Surrender (The Chemical Brothers album)
Surrender is the third studio album by British big beat duo The Chemical Brothers, released on 21 June 1999. It features Noel Gallagher , Hope Sandoval , and Bernard Sumner as guest vocalists...
, 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
Blank & Jones
Blank & Jones is a Cologne, Germany based Trance duo, consisting of the members Jan Pieter Blank , known as Piet Blank; René Runge , better known as DJ Jaspa Jones; and the producer Andy Kaufhold...
2008 release, "The Logic of Pleasure."
He has also done several remix
Remix
A remix is an alternative version of a recorded song, made from an original version. This term is also used for any alterations of media other than song ....
es, such as Technotronic
Technotronic
Technotronic is a Belgian studio-based music project formed in 1988 by Jo Bogaert , who had already made his musical mark in the beginning of the 1980s as a part of a cover band and as a solo artist under various New Beat projects, including The Acts of Madmen and Nux Nemo...
's "Rockin' Over the Beat
Rockin' Over the Beat
"Rockin' Over the Beat" is a song by dance act Technotronic. It first appeared on their debut album Pump Up the Jam in 1989 and was released as a single the following year. It is accredited to "Technotronic featuring Ya Kid K", who co-wrote the track with Jo Bogaert .The song is an upbeat house...
" (which was featured in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III is a 1993 American live-action film, the second sequel of the 1990 live-action Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles film. It was produced by Clearwater Holdings Ltd. and Golden Harvest. This was the last Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles film released by New Line Cinema and...
soundtrack) and served as a record producer for other Factory Records
Factory Records
Factory Records was a Manchester based British independent record label, started in 1978 by Tony Wilson and Alan Erasmus, which featured several prominent musical acts on its roster such as Joy Division, New Order, A Certain Ratio, The Durutti Column, Happy Mondays, Northside and James and...
acts such as the Happy Mondays
Happy Mondays
Happy Mondays are an English alternative rock band from Salford, Greater Manchester. Formed in 1980, the band's original line-up was Shaun Ryder on lead vocals, his brother Paul Ryder on bass, lead guitarist Mark Day, keyboardist Paul Davis, and drummer Gary Whelan...
(whose second single Freaky Dancin he produced in 1986). Shark Vegas
Shark Vegas
Shark Vegas was a Berlin based New wave band, consisting of ex-Factory Records German representative, Mark Reeder , Alistair Gray , Leo Walter and Helmut Wittler...
, Abecedarians
Abecedarians (band)
Abecedarians were a Los Angeles based post-punk trio active in the mid to late 1980s, on Factory Records. The lineup was Chris Manecke , Kevin Dolan and John Blake...
, 52nd Street
52nd Street (band)
52nd Street were a British jazz-funk and R&B band formed in Manchester in late 1980, around the period in which both punk/new wave and jazz-funk rocked the club scene. Throughout the 1980s the group enjoyed success not only in the UK but also on the Billboard chart in the United States...
and Section 25
Section 25
Section 25 is an English post-punk band, best known for its single "Looking from a Hilltop" and its association with the Manchester record-label, Factory Records.-Early recordings 1977 - 1982 :...
. It is said that he will be contributing a remix to Depeche Mode
Depeche Mode
Depeche Mode are an English electronic music band formed in 1980 in Basildon, Essex. The group's original line-up consisted of Dave Gahan , Martin Gore , Andy Fletcher and Vince Clarke...
'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 RubbleBarney Rubble
Bernard "Barney" Rubble is the deuteragonist of the television animated series The Flintstones. He is the diminutive blonde-haired caveman husband of Betty Rubble and father of Bamm-Bamm 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
Technique (album)
Technique is the fifth studio album by New Order, released in 1989 via Factory Records. Partly recorded on the island of Ibiza, it incorporates Balearic beat and acid house influences into the group's electro/rock sound...
, an experience reflected in the song Round & Round. Sue (and consequently James Christopher) is a relative of Gary Barlow
Gary Barlow
Gary Barlow is an English singer-songwriter, pianist and record producer. He is frontman and lead vocalist of pop group Take That and is currently the head judge on the eighth series of The X Factor. Barlow is one of Britain's most successful songwriters...
.
Sumner lives in Alderley Edge
Alderley Edge
Alderley Edge is a village and civil parish within the unitary authority of Cheshire East and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. According to the 2001 census the parish had a population of 4,409....
, 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
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
.
Film Portrayals
Sumner has been portrayed on film twice. John SimmJohn Simm
John Simm is an English stage and screen actor. In recent years he is best known for his roles as Sam Tyler in the detective drama Life on Mars and as The Master in the revival of the science fiction series Doctor Who, but he has also starred in many highly acclaimed award-winning television...
played him in the 2002 film 24 Hour Party People
24 Hour Party People
24 Hour Party People is a 2002 British film about Manchester's popular music community from 1976 to 1992, and specifically about Factory Records. It was written by Frank Cottrell Boyce and directed by Michael Winterbottom...
, which focused on Factory Records
Factory Records
Factory Records was a Manchester based British independent record label, started in 1978 by Tony Wilson and Alan Erasmus, which featured several prominent musical acts on its roster such as Joy Division, New Order, A Certain Ratio, The Durutti Column, Happy Mondays, Northside and James and...
. In the Ian Curtis biopic, Control, he is played by James Anthony Pearson
James Pearson (actor)
James Anthony Pearson is a British actor who lives in Glasgow. He was born in Rochdale, Greater Manchester.Pearson is best known for his performance as Bernard Sumner in Anton Corbijn's film Control. He also stars in the 2009 British film New Town Killers, an action thriller for which Pearson...
.
Discography
For his Discographies with Joy Division discographyJoy Division discography
This is a discography of Joy Division, a British post-punk band formed in Manchester in 1976 that disbanded in 1980 after the suicide of lead vocalist Ian Curtis. The discography comprises two studio albums, five singles, two live albums, three extended plays, and ten compilation albums...
, New Order discography
New Order discography
The discography of the English musical group New Order consists of eight studio albums, eight compilation albums, three live albums, five extended plays, dozens of singles, twelve video releases and a number of soundtrack appearances. New Order were formed in 1980 by singer and guitarist Bernard...
, Electronic (band)
Electronic (band)
-Albums:-Singles:-Music videos:-External links:* *...
and Bad Lieutenant (band)
Bad Lieutenant (band)
Bad Lieutenant are an English alternative rock band formed in 2007 following the breakup of New Order. The band consists of Bernard Sumner, Stephen Morris, Phil Cunningham, Jake Evans and Tom Chapman....
.
(Singles featuring Bernard Sumner on guest vocals and/or guitar)
- 808 State808 State808 State are a British electronic music outfit, formed in 1987 in Manchester, taking their name from the Roland TR-808 drum machine and their common state of mind...
– "Spanish Heart" (vocals, 1991) - Sub SubSub SubSub Sub were an English dance act from Wilmslow, Cheshire composed of Jimi Goodwin and twin brothers Andy and Jez Williams.The threesome met at school in 1985 and became regulars at The Haçienda while composing their own material together...
feat: Bernard Sumner – "This Time I'm Not Wrong" (vocals/guitar, 1997) - Chemical Brothers – "Out Of Control" (vocals/guitar, 1999)
- Primal ScreamPrimal ScreamPrimal Scream are a Scottish alternative rock band originally formed in 1982 in Glasgow by Bobby Gillespie and Jim Beattie and now based in London. The current lineup consists of Gillespie, Andrew Innes , Martin Duffy , and Darrin Mooney...
– "Shoot Speed Kill Light" (guitar, 2000) - Blank & JonesBlank & JonesBlank & Jones is a Cologne, Germany based Trance duo, consisting of the members Jan Pieter Blank , known as Piet Blank; René Runge , better known as DJ Jaspa Jones; and the producer Andy Kaufhold...
feat. Bernard Sumner – "Miracle Cure" (vocals, 2008) - Hot ChipHot ChipHot Chip are an English electronic indie band. They have released four studio albums—Coming on Strong, The Warning, Made in the Dark and One Life Stand.-Formation:...
, Bernard Sumner & Hot City – "Didn't Know What Love Was" (vocals/production, 2010)