Bernard Sumner
(1956-present)

Aged 68

Bernard Sumner (born 4 January 1956) is an English singer, musician, songwriter, and record producer. He is a founding member of the bands Joy Division, New Order, and Electronic. Sumner was an early force in several areas, including the post-punk, synthpop, and techno music scenes, as well as their various related genres, and was an early influence on the Manchester music scene that presaged the "Madchester" movement of the late 1980s centered on Factory Records and The Haçienda club in Manchester. He began his career playing guitar and keyboards for Joy Division. Following lead singer Ian Curtis's death, the remaining members of Joy Division formed New Order with Sumner taking on lead vocal duties. His complex electronic compositions became less guitar-driven and more focused on electronic keyboards, synthesizers, and programming throughout the 1980s and 1990s. He formed Electronic with Johnny Marr in the late 1980s as a creative outlet outside of New Order, which continued after New Order went on hiatus in 1993. New Order became active again from 1998 through 2006, after which he returned to a more traditional rock context with the band Bad Lieutenant. He continues to record and perform with the latest iteration of New Order, which reformed in 2011.

DbPedia
Wikidata Wikipedia

band member of Joy Division 1976-80 and band member of New Order 1980

Commemorated on 1 plaque

Kenion St Music Building Cargo Studios first floor 1977 to 1984 Tractor Music ground floor 1977 to 1983 Suite 16 Studios both floors 1984 to 2001 From 1977 onwards this building saw an endless stream of bands from Manchester, Liverpool and from all over the British Isles, pass through its doorways as it became the place for groups to record, and to buy and hire their equipment. Joy Division recorded here from 1978 onwards and had their bass equipment custom built on the ground floor

Kenion Street, Rochdale, United Kingdom where they recorded (1978)