Bernard Sumner is an English singer, songwriter, musician and record producer. He is a founding member of both Joy Division and New Order. Sumner has also been credited with advancing UK dance music and popularising the use of sequencers. In the early 1990s, he collaborated with former Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr as Electronic.
Musical career
Joy Division
Sumner was a founding member of Joy Division, a Salford band formed 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 were inspired to form a band. The band is widely considered one of the most influential of the era. Primarily known as the band's lead guitarist, Sumner also played keyboards for synthesizer parts and made his first vocal appearance on record singing the chorus of "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 has 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.
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 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 had had a long history with Sumner through both Joy Division and New Order. 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. Sumner appeared as guest singer and guitarist on The Chemical Brothers' 1999 albumSurrender, 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 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" and served as a record producer and/or songwriter for other Factory Records acts including Happy Mondays, Shark Vegas, Abecedarians, 52nd Street and Section 25.
Personal life
Sumner married Sue Barlow on 28 October 1978. Their son, James, was born in 1983. They divorced in 1989. Sumner lives with his second wife, Sarah Dalton, and their three children. He is a fan of the football clubManchester United.
Film portrayals
Sumner has been portrayed on film twice. John Simm played him in the 2002 film 24 HourParty People, which focused on Factory Records. In the Ian Curtis biopic, Control, he is played by James Anthony Pearson.
