Bernard Sumner is a British singer best known for founding the groups Joy Division and New Order. His new act is called Bad Lieutenant and is heading to Chicago.
Windy City Times: First off, I have been a fan of yours since high school! What moved you from playing guitar in Joy Division to being a singer for New Order?
Bernard Sumner: It was a necessity really with Ian Curtis dying. They were very difficult times. It seemed a bit unnatural to replace him. After the demise of Joy Division, we actually came to the states and did some recording there in New York. Originally Joy Division recorded "Ceremony" and "In a Lonely Place." Each one of us tried singing and I drew the short straw.
WCT: Well, I love your voice so I am glad it worked out.
Bernard Sumner: I had no desire to be a singer. It was like being thrown into the deep end without knowing how to swim. That's what it felt like to me but I enjoy it now. I find it easier than playing guitar.
WCT: And now you don't have to sing as much. You have someone else singing on the parts of the new album.
Bernard Sumner: Yeah, Jake Evans. He's a young guy that lives about 20 minutes from where I live. He's been playing guitar since he was five years old. He has a really good ear. He sings as well and it sort of lessens my workload a bit. We worked with Billy Corgan from Chicago and Bobbie Gillespie from Primal Scream on the last album. We worked with Neil Tennant from the Pet Shop Boys, which was a joy.
WCT: I have met Neil before.
Bernard Sumner: Great guy, that Neil.
WCT: So why form the band Bad Lieutenant?
Bernard Sumner: I enjoy working with other musicians. I don't enjoy sitting in the room on my own. Music is about communication and it is a social thing to me. I like being part of a gang, really. I think it is more fun that way. I became a musician because it looked like a fun lifestyle. It is a lot bloody harder these days. We didn't take it seriously in the early days. We took the music serious when we were in the studio and writing but once the album was done it was a license to party and have a good time.
WCT: What do you want to tell our readers about the album?
Bernard Sumner: It is a pretty positive album. It is obviously a guitar album because Phil Cunnigham is a guitarist. The core writing team is myself, Jake Evans ( whom we talked about before ) and Phil, who replaced Gillian in New Order. We wrote the album and used four different drummers. The reason for that is Stephen had personal health issues. Alex James from Blur played on four tracks.
WCT: So very eclectic.
Bernard Sumner: Yeah, a complicated lineup. The live unit is myself, Phil, Jake, Stephen and Tom.
WCT: How do you get all these groups of people together?
Bernard Sumner: A lot of them come from a small town called Macclesfield, England. It is where Ian Curtis and Stephen Morris came from. It is not where I come from. I come from the other side of Manchester. Macclesfield is probably the least cultured place in all of the U.K. but full of musicians. I wanted to be able to pick up the phone and if I need a bass player they can be at my house in 15 minutes.
WCT: You are working on a dance record with Stuart Price, who produced Madonna's album.
Bernard Sumner: It is in the pipeline. I was trying to make two albums at the same time, which was pretty stupid of me. Stuart produced Madonna [ and ] The Killers, and he also did a remix on our last album for "Jetstream." We get along very well and I want to get this done but it is just insane. These days you have to make so many tracks when you are making an album. In Joy Division days we put four songs on one side of the vinyl and four on the other. If you put any more then it would destroy the sound. These days they want 17 or 18 songs. Everyone wants extra tracks, iTunes, Japanese and a limited bonus edition. It is like writing a double album now.
WCT: I saw New Order at the Aragon last time you were in town. Will New Order ever reunite in the future?
Bernard Sumner: I don't think so. There have been too many things said and done.
WCT: So that chapter is over.
Bernard Sumner: That chapter is definitely over.
The next chapter begins with an appearance at the Park West, 322 W. Armitage, Monday, April 19, at 7:30 p.m. For tickets and information visit www.BadLieutenant.net .
