Bernard Sumner

Bernard Sumner
Sumner performing live with New Order at the Fête de l'Humanité near Paris, France, in 2012
Background information
Birth name	Bernard Edward Sumner
Also known as	Bernard Albrecht, Bernard Dicken, Barney
Born	(1956-01-04) 4 January 1956 (age 61) Lower Broughton, Salford, England, United Kingdom
Genres	Rock post-punk new wave synthpop electronica
Occupation(s)	Singer songwriter musician record producer remixer
Instruments	Vocals guitar keyboards synthesiser melodica
Years active	1973–present
Labels	Factory London Warner Bros. Parlophone Mute Triple Echo
Associated acts	Joy Division New Order Electronic Bad Lieutenant
Notable instruments
Gibson SG Shergold Masquerader Gibson ES-335 ARP Omni ARP Omni 2 ARP Quadra Homemade Powertran sequencer

Bernard Edward 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.

Sumner is widely credited in advancing UK dance music and the popularisation and technological advancement of sequencers. In the early 1990s he recorded with Johnny Marr as Electronic.

Sumner was a founding member of Joy Division, a Manchester 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.

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. Following a series of splits and reformations, the band have released ten studio albums.

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.