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 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.