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Bernard Sumner
Bernard Sumner live in New York City (May 2005).
Background information
Birth name	Bernard Dicken
Born	January 04, 1956 (1956-01-04) (age 51) Broughton, Salford, England
Instrument(s)	Vocals, Guitars, Keyboards, Melodica, Percussion
Associated acts	New Order Joy Division Electronic

Bernard Sumner (born Bernard Dicken, 4 January 1956 in Broughton, Salford, Lancashire, England, and also known as Bernard Albrecht) is a British guitarist and keyboardist, originally with Joy Division. After the May 1980 suicide of Joy Division's vocalist, Ian Curtis, Sumner and remaining bandmates Peter Hook and Stephen Morris started a new band named New Order, later taking in Gillian Gilbert. Though Hook, Morris and Gilbert also contributed vocals on some early tracks, Sumner emerged reluctantly as the band's permanent lead vocalist and lyricist. Sumner has also served as a record producer for other Factory Records acts such as the Happy Mondays and Section 25.

In 1989, Sumner joined up with former Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr to form Electronic. He has also recorded tracks with fellow Mancunians 808 State and Sub Sub. Sumner appeared as a guest vocalist 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 recreating this track.

During the late 1970s and early 1980s, Sumner was also sometimes credited under the names 'Bernard Albrecht', 'Bernard Dicken' and 'Bernard Albrecht-Dicken'. In interviews,he has repeatedly refused to comment on these name changes, calling it a family matter. Fans have reported^{[attribution needed]} that originally he used his mother's surname Sumner, but upon her subsequent marriage, they both took the name Dicken. Later he changed it to Albrecht, perhaps^{[original research?]} to play off Joy Division's frequent references to Nazi themes, or in reference to Albrecht Dürer, or, as was sometimes reported,^{[cite this quote]} from a photocopier company where he worked before his musical career — then back to Sumner. He is comically known to friends and fans as 'Barney', a name that is known to annoy him greatly (the reason for the nickname was that he reputedly looked like Barney Rubble in his younger years).

He is notable^{[attribution needed]} for his many contributions to post-punk music. His guitar and keyboard playing in Joy Division was very influential. His singing, songwriting, and use of synthesizer technology for New Order has made him a major contributor to British music. Sumner is also known^{[attribution needed]} for his outrageous onstage dancing moves;^{[dubious – discuss]} an irony, due to the fact that he was instrumental in molding the rave dance culture.

During a memorable^[POV] interview on Snub TV, Sumner openly criticized^[clarify] U2's frontman Bono, calling him a "hypocrite" and a "false messiah." (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tRMmP6u1lXM)

Red Hot Chili Peppers's guitarist John Frusciante has noted in several interviews^{[cite this quote]} that Sumner is his all time favorite guitarist.

Sumner has been portayed on film twice. Firstly by John Simm in the 2002 film 24 Hour Party People, which focused on Factory Records and in the forthcoming Ian Curtis biopic Control where he is played by James Pearson.

Discography

This short section requires expansion.

(Singles featuring Bernard Sumner on guest vocals and/or guitar)

• Sub Sub feat: Bernard Sumner-"This Time I'm Not Wrong" (1997)

External links

• Joy Division Fans Club
• Bernard Sumner biography
• New Order & Joy division site
• Short bio at JoyDiv.org
• Joy Division detailed discography
• Joy Division site
• Barney's Angels — Bernard Sumner fan forum
• Full list of recordings featuring or remixed by Bernard Sumner.