We didn't play any Joy Division songs for 10 years after the start of New Order, which was a very honourable thing to do even if it meant shooting ourselves in the foot. Bernard Sumner divisionfoothonourable Change image and share on social
In Salford, we had fish in our tap water. I remember, one hot summer day, running to the toilet at playtime and dunking our heads in a sink full of water. I remember putting my head in and seeing all these little fish in it. Bernard Sumner daydunkfish share on social
If something I do now sounds like something I did in the past, it's because I played it. I can't help sounding like myself. That's going to happen. The things that I play on guitar that resonate with me are probably the same things that resonated with me when I started playing in Joy Division. Bernard Sumner divisionguitarhappen share on social
If it wasn't for John Peel, there would be no Joy Division and no New Order. He was one of the few people to give bands that played alternative music a chance to get heard, and he continued to be a champion of cutting-edge music throughout his life. Bernard Sumner alternativebandchampion share on social
With guitar, bass and drums, you've got limited horizons. Bernard Sumner basdrumguitar Change image and share on social
I'd had to cope with a lot of death and illness in my family from a young age, and that maybe gave me a bleak outlook on the world. Bernard Sumner agebleakcope Change image and share on social
The words that I'm most happy with are the ones that come from my subconscious rather than my conscious. They just feel right. I think that's the same with music, really. If you're doing an album, there's ten or eleven sets of lyrics, so you get to the point of inspiration ten or eleven times - it's difficult. Bernard Sumner albumconsciousdifficult share on social
It's disrespectful to the older generation to have long hair. They fought in two world wars; they didn't fight for us to grow our hair and look like girls. Bernard Sumner disrespectfulfightgeneration Change image and share on social
One of the things I like about music is it's an abstract art, totally abstract, where you can convey an emotion, which I find amazing. Bernard Sumner abstractamazeart Change image and share on social
If someone throws you in a pool and you can't swim, you're going to struggle. Bernard Sumner poolstruggleswim Change image and share on social